WAKE AT NOON’S DEATH INTERRUPTS PLATE CELEBRATIONS
1997-2010
Eight years ago around this time, Wake at Noon was a Queen’s Plate starter and on the big day, he finished 5th behind Scatter the Gold in an effort that was so much better than anyone could have expected. Blessed with blazing speed, that unique high head-carriage and a whole lotta guts, Wake at Noon was not thought to be one who could do well at 1 1/4 miles but he gave it a heck of a shot.
Over the years, Wake at Noon became a fan favourite, a popular one to write about and the subject of much discussion and debate as he got older and went through many retirements and comebacks.
When he raced at Fort Erie in later life, in allowance events, the noise about him still racing got louder.
But Wake at Noon, the 2002 Horse of the Year, champion sprinter and older horse, could not do as good in the
breeding shed as he did on the track. He had a few foals here and there, but finally was not getting any mares in foal.
Yesterday, at the age of 13, he was brought down from Select Stud in Kettleby, Ontario for a Woodbine workout to see if he still had that racing edge.
The rest, as they say, is history, as Wake at Noon broke down yesterday and was euthanized.
http://www.thestar.com/sports/horseracing/article/830321–wake-at-noon-13-dies-on-woodbine-track
Nostrils flared, dragon fire,
Thundering hooves, tail bent high prancing to desire
A noble steed, an artistic breed
The paintbrush strokes most valiantly placed
God’s breath exhaled, the flash of speed
Wings tucked and ready to fly
Not once does he not try, such awesome desire
Nostrils flared, full of fire
Strong, sinewy, heart pounding with desire
I bred, I boast, and claim that he is mine
I feel the red blood pumping through my veins
But like the wind, this noble steed is the magic of the breed
Look and catch him if you can but his awesome splendor is as stalking as the flash of light in the starry darkness of the night
(Interestingly, this was the poem read by Bruno Schickedanz at the 2003 Sovereign Awards for his HORSE OF THE YEAR, WAKE AT NOON, when that horse won 3 awards.)
PLATE NEWS
Embur’s Song out, expect ‘Majesty in
It appears as if there will be 13 horses in the Plate on Sunday with the news yesterday that EMBUR’S SONG will race in the Bison City Stakes in her next race instead of the Bison City.
The news that Embur’s Song will compete in the Bison City may sway the interests of MOMENT OF MAJESTY (how’s that name for a hunch bet?) to ante up $25,000 and supplement the filly to Sunday’s race.
Moment of Majesty was a super 2nd in the Woodbine Oaks and peaked at the right time, perhaps she has another big race in her for Sue Leslie, Curtis Joseph and Don Meehan.
THE FIELD (with jockeys)
BIG RED MIKE (E. Da Silva)
ch.g.3 by Tenpins(Smart Strike) – Regent n’Flashy(Vice Regent)
Terra Racing Stable Nicholas Gonzalez
D’S WANDO (E. Wilson)
b.c.3 by Wando(Langfuhr) – Silver Taler(Bold Ruckus)
D’s Stable, Riviera Racing Stable and Yorktech Racing Stable Ian Black
DARK CLOUD DANCER (J. Castellano)
dk b/.c.3 by Storm Cat(Storm Bird) – Dancethruthedawn(Mr. Prospector)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
GIANT’S TOMB (Mike Smith)
ch.c.3 by Awesome Again(Deputy Minister) – Song of the Wild(Gone West)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
GHOST FLEET (R. Dos Ramos)
dk.b.c. Arch – Destroy
Jim Dandy Stables Sid Attard
HOTEP (P. Husbands)
b.c.3 by A.P. Indy(Seattle Slew) – Eye of the Sphynx(Smart Strike)
Sam-Son Farms Mark R. Frostad
MOBILIZER (J. Jones)
dk b/.c.3 by Motivator (GB)(Montjeu (IRE)) – Kris Is It(Kris S.)
Stronach Stables R. L. Attfield
MOBTHEWARRIOR (E. Ramsammy)
dk b/.g.3 by Mobil(Langfuhr) – Little Warrior(Woodman)
Andrew V. Fredericks Gregory de Gannes
ROAN INISH (D. Moran)
dk b/.f.3 by Elusive Quality(Gone West) – Inish Glora(Regal Classic)
Robert J. Costigan Carolyn Costigan
SMART SKY (C. Sutherland)
b.c.3 by Sky Mesa(Pulpit) – Flashy n Smart(Smarten)
C. Scott Abbott Racing Stable Ltd. Michael J. Doyle
VICAR STREET (T. Pizarro_)
chc Vicar – Sudden Profit
Rocco d’Alimonte/Frank Annecchini Catherine Day Phillips
WHO WE GUNNA CALL (G. Olguin)
dk b/.c.3 by Ghostzapper(Awesome Again) – Touch Dial(Phone Trick)
Castle Peak Farm, Ltd. Tino Attard
Also possible - MOMENT OF MAJESTY (R. Landry)
WITH APPROVAL 1986-2010
Snoopy won 1st Triple crown in decades
BLOOD-HORSE REPORT –
Canadian Great With Approval Dies
By David Schmitz
With Approval, a Canadian Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner as a homebred for the Willmot family’s Kinghaven Farm and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, died June 21. The 24-year-old son of Caro stood at Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud near Newmarket, England.
“We will greatly miss With Approval at Lanwades,” Rausing said in a statement. “He was a true gentleman to work with; very fertile and a most attractive horse. We hope that the several fillies he sired whilst at Lanwades will continue to keep his name in lights, both whilst racing and in the future, as broodmares.”
Rausing privately acquired With Approval prior to the 2006 breeding season because she wanted to re-introduce the Grey Sovereign sire line to England. With Approval, who was standing at the time at Fred Seitz’s Brookdale Farm near Lexington, was a great-grandson of Grey Sovereign (by Nasrullah).
With Approval captured the 1989 Canadian Triple Crown (the Queen’s Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, and the Breeders’ Stakes) and was voted Canadian Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male. His dam, Passing Mood (by Buckpasser), was voted Canada’s Broodmare of the Year that same year.
BIG CARD AT HASTINGS TOMORROW
The Province – Excerpt
Hastings is expecting you on Canada Day
Organizers hoping to lure fans with three major stake races in a festival atmosphere
By Tom Wolski, The Province June 30, 2010 1:04 AM
Attendance and wagering continue to grow at Hastings and Thursday’s holiday racing card should fuel this trend.
Three major stake races are on tap as part of a recent move by Hastings management to showcase their very best horses in a festival atmosphere.
Choosing which race will be the most entertaining and profitable could prove difficult.
For fans of horses with familiar names, the $50,000 Lieutenant Governor’s may be your choice. It’s a small race but doesn’t lack interest, especially with old-timer Spaghetti Mouse going for his 13th win and drawing closer to $1 million in earnings.
His rivals include Almost Time, a winner of $211,958, and Teide ($322,063) from red-hot Dino Condilenio’s stable.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Hastings+expecting+Canada/3219115/story.html#ixzz0sKuhZWRJ
I am absolutely infuriated about the death of Wake At Noon. This horse had absolutely no business being on the track. I hope there is a full investigation. I guess nobody learned from Incitatus.
Jen, you mean 10 years ago, not 8. He was 3 10 years ago, which makes this workout even more distasteful than it was.
How can Woodbine allow a horse to train who isn’t eligible to run? I thought in order for a horse to race at 12 for example, they have to win at 11.
It is one thing for a millionaire horse to be running in cheap claiming races for new connections, but when they run for the same owner, there is something definitely wrong.
This was even beyond that. It is downright disgusting.
What repercussions will the connections of Wake AT Noon face? The lack of horsemanship put on display by this incident makes it apparent that licenses must be revoked.
An industry black eye in the making.
shame on you Bruno, Shame on you!!
Just another display of brono,s Stupidity. Hes another mike gill throw that idiot out the gate! Great story Jenn
I agree, he should at the very least be ruled off for life – preferably something much, much worse. As he had to lie about the horse’s ID to get him on the track…there had better be serious repercussions.
Wake At Noon gave his all to this owner and this is the way he repays him. Ièd like to say this is dispictable, but somehow that word doesn’t do Wake At Noon justice. Bruno, if you are reading this I hope you have alot of sleepless nights due to this. Disgraceful!
when wake atnoon was 3 he won the acheivement woodstock and the queenston. 3 stakes in 15 days, 1-5 in the plate trial he staggered home 3rd. still they ran him in the plate after missing training. still a courageous 5th at 1 1/4 mile. then saratoga twice ant the woodbine mile. despite all abuse he survived. over raced and medicated he endured to make 1.600 000
wakey earned and deserved a better fate. if ever a horse should have been able to enjoy his life it was wake at noon. to die at 13 on the training track is a disgrace. didnt his earnings pay his pension. he earned it. bruno u are a very very greedy man. you didnt deserve to own wakey. shame shame on you.
I am disgusted with what happened to such a nice horse. I heard that Woodbine banned trainer Tom Marino. The trainer should be disciplined but the main culprit is owner Bruno Shickendanz. What will Woodbine do to “Butcher Bruno”? Isn’t this the same guy that had a mysterious barn fire then collected insurance money?
Jen,
This story (Wake At Noon) is wrong on so many levels. Now I read that the plan was to send the horse to Mountaineer. Then what, running in bottom claimers, and possibly a trip to the slaughterhouse? My God, if owners will not take responsibility to look after the interests of their horses humanely, they should be penalized, and severely. This event will result in more bad publicity for an industry that has more than its share of problems (can you say “PETA”?), and the people responsible must face real consequences.
Very, very sad! I called the race office to express my outrage and they assured me that severe sanctions would be taken. They’ll announce them after this weekend. They don’t want to spoil the Queen’s Plate.
Wake At Noon’s fate is very tragic.
Both the named trainer(Tom Marino)
and Bruno should be ruled off for life.
The trainer is suppose to know the rules. He does the in slips.
I hope some poor person in security booth that checks who’s coming in and out doesn’t take the fall for this blatant disregard for the rules of racing!
I think 2 big egos caused this sad situation.
This is not the first time ( problems ) and a great horse has to die for it . Shame on a greedy man! Sending a horse to Mountaineer is probably the last race of it’s life or close to it but the fact that Wake at Noon made 1.6 million was just not not good enough . How did he get on the track ? Who checked his tattoo ?
I can’t help but wonder if this old warrior was INSURED. If he was it would answer a lot of questions.
Bravo to the stewards at Woodbine.
The death of Wake at Noon is such a disgusting atrocity that Mr. Schikedanz should be barred for life and never allowed to return… ANYWHERE,EVER!!!There is never a better time than now for every racetrack in North Americe to take a stand. As an owner who has had horses that were no longer fit to run there are many ways to give a horse a good home. One horse whom i had a lot of dollars invested in with no return on investment is wiling away his days at G. Ross Lord Park giving blind kids a pony ride. My trainer and I as well as hundereds of owners have given our horses away to numerous people over the years knowing that they went to a good home. Very few owners have ever owned a horse who gave his all and accumulated 1.6 million in earnings over his career. What kind of sick person looks at his 13 year old horse who hasn’t raced in 3 years and sees $ signs in the form of cheap claiming races at Mountaineer Park when this horse owes him nothing and Bruno owes this horse a happy retirement. Racing desperately needs “GOOD INK” and happy stories to restore our industry to its past glories and attract new people. What Bruno did was criminal and he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and locked up.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for exposing the sad story of Wake at Noon. After reading your original story I was thrilled to read today that Bruno Schickendanz is barred indefinitely from Woodbine. I hope Fort Erie follows suit. It is about time these irresponsible owners were held accountable.
RIP Wake At Noon. This is a very sad story. The owner shows an astonishing lack of empathy for his horses. One of the hardest things for horse lovers in the racing industry to understand is how horses can be treated as mere possessions. Another black mark on our game. For shame.
The death of Wake at Noon was tragic on so many levels. Woodbine should never have allowed him on the track. Bruno Shickendanz should have known better and surely doesn’t need the money that bad.
I know that the powers to be will now over react and the Track Vet will most likely be biased and prejudiced against any older horses. I just hope cooler heads prevail and we judge a horses ability to run based on his health, condition and the reputation of his trainer.
Don’t judge all owners based on the selfish act of one.
WHY DID WOODBINE LET HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE????