alonewiththemoon | proof that some modern thoroughbreds do run like they used to

Good old Evening Attire just won a fairly big stakes race at the ripe old age of ten, breaking a 16-year-old track record for a mile and a half--not only is he still running, but he's running at a mile and a half! Granted the competition wasn't much, but still, you can't argue with a broken record. One of the reasons he's still running is that he's a gelding and so there is no financial incentive to retire him, but his connections did actually try to give him the retirement they felt he'd earned a few years ago. He wasn't having any of it and was sulky and surly until he was brought back to the track. So they'll race him as long as he's sound. I find his longevity and stamina so heartening, and I hope whatever was done so right with him can be done with other horses, whether it was breeding or training or both. I saw him run (and won money on him :) in the Mass Cap several years ago when he was still iron grey; when I saw him run last year he was silver, but looking just as sharp.