The High Flying Gelding
|
|
I love horse racing. I’ve been a fan of it since I watched Rags to Riches win the Belmont Stakes in 2007. There are two kinds of horse racing, flat and steeple chasing. I’m not a fan of steeple chasing, but one day I saw a video about an amazing horse, and he was a steeplechaser. This horse was McDynamo.
Not many people have heard of McDynamo, but I’m sure a lot of people know who is half-brother is. Barbaro. Both McDynamo and Barbaro are sired by Dynaformer.
In 2006, all eyes were are Barbaro and his tragic fight for survival at the New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania after he broke down in the Preakness Stakes. Less than 20 minutes away, McDynamo was battling to be steeple chasing’s most accomplished star. One quote describes McDynamo and his career:
“A horse gallops with his lungs, perseveres with his heart, and wins with his character.” -Frederico Tesio
McDynamo’s great success as a steeplechaser was not what his connections had originally anticipated. A gelding, McDynamo was bought for flat racing for $82,000 at the Keeneland yearling sale in September 1998. McDynamo’s owner was so excited and he couldn’t wait for his horse to start racing. After McDynamo was brought to his new home, his owner soon found out that McDynamo was a very nervous horse, and claustrophobic. He doesn’t like being in his stall, the starting gate, or in a trailer. Once McDynamo went in the starting gate at Delaware Park and he was the favorite for the race. He was the last horse to load and before they could close the hind gates, McDynamo backed out, dumped his rider, jumped the rail, and ran loose for 20 minutes. Then a trainer came over to McDynamo’s owner and said, “That horse should be a jumper.”
He raced on the flat as a 3 and 4 year old. McDynamo had lost 7 of 9 starts, so his owners tried him over hurdles. He was sent to a steeplechasing trainer. He was a great jumper. He jumped like a deer, and made up more ground jumping then he did running. It was almost like he was flying. He could take off 20 feet from the hurdle and land 20 feet away from it…that’s how confident McDynamo was when he jumped.
McDynamo won his first jump race by 4¼-lengths at Far Hills Races on October 20, 2001. In October 2002, McDynamo won his first graded stake, the Foxwood Supreme. He blew away his competition, winning it by a stunning 19 lengths. He then went on to win 9 of his 11 starts as a steeplechaser. He had an undefeated year as a 6 year old which included wins in the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase, and the Grade 1 Colonial Cup. McDynamo had found his place to shine.
“It’s amazing to me, he’s got a lot of fans, and even his competitors became his fans.” - Sanna Hendriks, McDynamo’s trainer.
McDynamo went on the win the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase 3 more times. He won that race in 2004, 2005, and 2006. He also won the Colonial Cup two more times. He won that race in 2003, 2005, and 2006. In the end, he the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Steeplechase horse in 2003, 2005, and 2006.
It was McDynamo’s last Breeders’ Cup race in 2007, his 7th year racing at Far Hills, which was the most memorable to the people that loved him. All the cards were supposed to be against him and he was the oldest horse running that day. No horse was in the double digits except for him…he was 10 years old. According to his trainer...it was incredible.
“At the final jump in the Breeders’ Cup! McDynamo by five! A fifth straight Breeders’ Cup!”
McDynamo went on the place 6th in the Colonial Cup and it was a sign that it was time for him to move on. His owners wanted to retire McDynamo in a timely matter so that he doesn’t get hurt so his 6th place finish was a blessing to them.
Today, McDynamo is now living happily and sound with his trainer doing something that he loves….foxhunting.
McDynamo, the high-flying gelding has become a legend, as well as the leading money-winning American steeplechaser of all time
McDynamo will be remembered as one of the best in one of the toughest of equine sports. |
|
|
Stay Untamed
good article! Sounds like a cool horse!
good article! Sounds like a cool horse!
|
May 26, 2011
• 3,044 views
|
|
|
|
NOT USED
Wow I never knew that Barbaro had a half brother who was famous.
Wow I never knew that Barbaro had a half brother who was famous.
|
May 26, 2011
• 3,184 views
|
|
|
|
ImaCoolCowgirl
WOW!! I've never followed Steeple Chasing but this is pretty cool!! Its a bummer he's a gelding....but horse cloning is become more popular with acomplished geldings in the eventing world.
WOW!! I've never followed Steeple Chasing but this is pretty cool!! Its a bummer he's a gelding....but horse cloning is become more popular with acomplished geldings in the eventing world.
|
May 26, 2011
• 3,008 views
|
|
|
|
No Walkin Farms9
Great article. I'm not that into Steeplechasing either. I remember reading about in the Thoroughbred books and that's about as far as my education (if you could even call it that lol) went. McDynamo sounds like a great horse.
Great article. I'm not that into Steeplechasing either. I remember reading about in the Thoroughbred books and that's about as far as my education (if you could even call it that lol) went. McDynamo sounds like a great horse.
|
May 26, 2011
• 3,046 views
|
|
|
|
|
May 27, 2011
• 3,010 views
|
|
|
|
weezapony
What a great horse. It was nice to learn about him! :D
What a great horse. It was nice to learn about him! :D
|
May 27, 2011
• 3,004 views
|
|
|
|
Chris Antley Memorial
MOD
Great article! Very well-written. I ♥ McDynamo!
Great article! Very well-written. I ♥ McDynamo!
|
May 27, 2011
• 3,057 views
|
|
|
|
Soul Horse
wow what an amazing horse it seems that sire of barbaro and mcdynamo has some great bloodlines.
wow what an amazing horse it seems that sire of barbaro and mcdynamo has some great bloodlines.
|
May 27, 2011
• 3,041 views
|
|
|
|
|
May 28, 2011
• 3,221 views
|
|
|
|
Carpe Diem
Love it! Very pretty horsey and great article :)
Love it! Very pretty horsey and great article :)
|
May 28, 2011
• 3,008 views
|
|
|
|
T W I
Wow, what an amazing horse with such a heart. I'm glad they recognized his potential!
Wow, what an amazing horse with such a heart. I'm glad they recognized his potential!
|
May 28, 2011
• 3,050 views
|
|
|
|
|
May 31, 2011
• 3,003 views
|
|
|
|
|
May 31, 2011
• 3,023 views
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 4, 2011
• 3,092 views
|
|
|
|
Cruisin Past Curfew
I know Barbro! I have a book on him :)
I know Barbro! I have a book on him :)
|
Jun 16, 2011
• 3,003 views
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 16, 2011
• 3,024 views
|
|
|
|
FreeRein
this was a really good article
this was a really good article
|
Jun 19, 2011
• 3,003 views
|
|
|
|
|
Dec 3, 2011
• 3,058 views
|
|
|
|
Froggy
i liked ur article it was cool! nice horse!!!
i liked ur article it was cool! nice horse!!!
|
Dec 4, 2011
• 3,030 views
|
|
|
|
|
More News by Wanderin Boy Memorial
|
|
One big thing on Ponybox is graphics. With graphics and photos you can personalize your own page. On Ponybox, you can have a banner and a profile photo on your profile page... you can even have your own photo albums! On the leg ...
|
|
Handicappers in horse racing can be right or they can be wrong. On March 12, 1988, a horse was born and after one big race this horse had handicappers questioning themselves and wondering “What did I miss?”
This foal was Arcan ...
|
|
In 1990, a chestnut colt was born. His sire was the American Triple Crown Affirmed. He bore a striking resemblance to Affirmed. The colt was slender and graceful, and soon he began to deport himself with dignity and professiona ...
|
|
My ponybox barn on Morgan, Wanderin Boy Memorial, is dedicated to Wanderin Boy. I dedicated my barn to him because his life and career is a story about overcoming adversity and never giving up. I’m sure many people struggle with ...
|
|
It was the day everyone was waiting for, the Breeders' Cup Classic. Everyone wasted to see Zenyatta, the Queen of Racing. It was her day, her day to make history. She danced walking to the paddock, and she danced walking to the ...
|
|
I had my first horse show in five years on Sunday, August 1. I did the 2 foot hunter courses with Chili. It was my first time showing 2 foot. Chili was the only pony out of the 9 people that were in my classes ...
|
|
We adopted a dog from the SPCA about 7 years ago. His name is Arlo, and he's a black lab mix. Nobody wanted him, and no one could even walk him. Well, 7 years ago we had our black lab die from cancer. We brought the extra dog food ...
|
|
It was about 3 years ago when I first laid eyes on him. He was a little grey Welsh Pony with big brown eyes. He had arrived at the farm that I ride at with two other horses. They all came from the same farm. I didn’t know it th ...
|
|
|