Wake at Noon, 13, dies on Woodbine track

[ValerieA 350]

I watched this horse run in 2003 (the year I moved to Toronto) and then again in 2007. There are a few people who have to answer for this, the horse should not even have been allowed on the backstretch at Woodbine. Bruno Schickendanz (not to be confused with Gustav, who is an excellent horseman and person) only worries about the $, and should be sanctioned. There are rumours on the 'net right now that they are not accepting any of his horses to be entered in a race, and they may ban him indefinitely, but those are only rumours and my contacts at WB have not gotten back to me to confirm or deny yet.

RIP, Wake at Noon.

Jennifer Morrison

Special to the Star

Queen's Plate week at Woodbine racetrack is usually a time for celebration, but the death of a Canadian horse of the year has left the racing community in shock.

Wake at Noon, Canada's top thoroughbred in 2002 and old by equine standards at 13, broke down and was euthanized on the Woodbine training track Tuesday morning.

The horse, which earned $1.6 million in 2002, had been shipped in early Tuesday by owner Bruno Schickedanz from his farm, Select Stud in Kettleby, Ont., for a training move under the care of trainer Tom Marino.

"It was a freak thing I am told," Schickedanz said in a telephone interview. "He spooked from another horse and took a bad step. I feel terrible about it.

"This horse was my friend. I would pat him every day. But in racing, unfortunately, these things happen."

Wake at Noon was a good fifth in the 2000 Queen's Plate, won by Scatter the Gold, and has competed in the Breeders' Cup but had not raced since November 2007. According to Woodbine rules, any horse older than 10 that has not won in the last year isn't eligible to race at the track.

Woodbine officials didn't want to comment until all the horse's connections had been contacted, but Jamie Martin, executive vice-president of racing for Woodbine Entertainment, said a full investigation was already underway.

"We're looking into it," Martin said. "I have the same concerns as everyone else. We will make some decisions as soon as we talk to all of the parties."

He said the investigation would include trying to determine how a horse that was ineligible to race at Woodbine got past security and onto track property. An ineligible horse isn't granted a stall, even if it's just for a few hours for a workout.

The horse, also named champion sprinter and older horse in 2002, had been retired to stud duty in the spring of 2004 but returned to racing that fall. He continued to race through 2005, then started three times in 2006 and three more times in 2007 before retiring again.

"He was not getting many mares in foal," said Schickedanz. "This spring he was shooting blanks, so he has been training at my farm for a few months.

"I wanted to send him to Woodbine and see what he would do in a workout. He's been acting like a 3-year-old at the farm. I had plans to send him to race at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia."

Wake at Noon began his career in September, 1999, and raced 67 times with 21 wins, including 12 stakes victories. His frontrunning style made him a fan favourite over the years.

Dr. Candice Allen, who was nearby when the accident happened, performed the euthanization. Allen declined comment on the incident.

Link

Edited July 1, 2010 by ValerieA

[IndigoSkies 168]

Thousands of people were slaughtered around the world yesterday from shores of Somalia to all the way around the world to shores of San Franscico. And I don't care about a frigging horse.

[ValerieA 350]

Thousands of people were slaughtered around the world yesterday from shores of Somalia to all the way around the world to shores of San Franscico. And I don't care about a frigging horse.

So don't read the post, or leave a comment on it. 'Nuff said.

[Darnell 8,478]

Thousands of people were slaughtered around the world yesterday from shores of Somalia to all the way around the world to shores of San Franscico. And I don't care about a frigging horse.

Weren't you going to make special time, and 'fix the wikis' ?

How's that coming along, anyway ?

[IndigoSkies 168]

Weren't you going to make special time, and 'fix the wikis' ?

How's that coming along, anyway ?

I edited a few of wikis so far. The way wikis are written are very um... foreign, simple. I'm afraid that making it more concise will make it difficult for foreign people to comprehend it. So I'm treading this slowly. Is there a particular page that you want me to edit next?

[IndigoSkies 168]

-fk, db again-

Edited July 1, 2010 by IndigoSkies

[Nagishkaw 510]

I edited a few of wikis so far. The way wikis are written are very um... foreign, simple. I'm afraid that making it more concise will make it difficult for foreign people to comprehend it. So I'm treading this slowly. Is there a particular page that you want me to edit next?

Like N8tive Americans?

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Thousands of people were slaughtered around the world yesterday from shores of Somalia to all the way around the world to shores of San Franscico. And I don't care about a frigging horse.

Yet, paradoxically, you are still alive. I guess it's true that only the good die young.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Please stop it with the personal attacks and the baiting comments. Also, please try to stay on topic. If you wish to discuss editing wikis, please start a separate comment and don't continue to derail this one.