A favorite and well-established ranch in Valley View, Texas.
Phone: (940) 665-7961
Posted via web from Susie Blackmon’s Posterous
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Ahmed Zayat was the nation’s leading thoroughbred owner two years ago, and many of his 200-plus horses frequently visit the winner’s circle in the nation’s biggest races. In fact, one of his colts, Eskendereya, is the early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby after running away with the $250,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes in Florida last Saturday.
But even as his horses have excelled on the track, Zayat has struggled to keep his empire afloat, becoming entangled in legal and financial troubles. He perhaps has also run afoul of racing officials because of a relationship with convicted bookmakers.
In a lawsuit filed in December, Fifth Third Bank asserted that Zayat had defaulted on $34 million in loans. Zayat countersued, saying that Fifth Third’s officers employed “misleading, deceptive, and predatory practices.”
This month, he filed for bankruptcy protection for his Zayat Stables.
*****Read the rest of the story here.
So here we are after a late Saturday in February, trying to divine what may happen on the first one in May when the best 3-year-olds in the nation line up for the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby.
The horses may change, but there are some familiar faces among Triple Crown-minded trainers. Todd Pletcher is once again loaded. He won three of the four major prep races over the weekend and, in Eskendereya, his Fountain of Youth winner, he could have his best chance yet to break his 0-for-24 record in the Derby.
- Read the rest of the New York Times article here.
Beautiful cards that arrived today from the artist, Victor Burdick. Aren’t they something! ( The sun spots are courtesy of me… ;-( )
Visit Victor’s website to see his beautiful Western art and photography.
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Loving my cards by @westernart1 ~ VictorBurdick.com on 12seconds.tv
The very talented photographer, Victor Burdick (VictorBurdick.com), does amazing drawings too. Cowboys, horses and cattle… what else is there?
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The showdown between the undefeated mare Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, the unbeaten 2009 Horse of the Year, is once more on at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. The track%u2019s president, Charles J. Cella, agreed to move the date of the Apple Blossom Invitational back nearly a week, to April 9, and restored the $5 million purse if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta show up.
The matchup looked dead Wednesday when Rachel Alexandra%u2019s trainer, Steve Asmussen, said his 4-year-old filly would not be in top condition by April 3, the original date for the race. He will most likely prepare Rachel Alexandra for the Apple Blossom with a $200,000 stakes race on March 13 at the Fair Grounds, where Rachel Alexandra is based.
That race, which is yet unnamed, is for 4-year-old fillies and older mares.
Recommend More Articles in Sports � A version of this article appeared in print on February 12, 2010, on page B11 of the New York edition.
