Last week, Toby’s Corner won the Wood Memorial and stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
Beyond the surprise of many fans that Uncle Mo had been defeated for the first time in his career, a few other folks were shocked when Toby’s Corner won the race. Namely, the connections surrounding the winning colt.
After the Wood, Trainer Graham Motion commented that he hadn’t expected Toby’s Corner to beat Uncle Mo in the race. In fact, Motion stated that he had never even discussed the idea of Toby’s Corner starting in the Kentucky Derby with Dianne Cotter, Owner and Breeder of the colt.
The trainer was unsure if the Cotters even knew that he had nominated Toby’s Corner to the Triple Crown.
Yet, in a few golden seconds, Toby’s Corner delivered a victory that would provide him with the necessary graded earnings to start in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. And, in the same moment, the home-bred colt also gave Cotter and Motion the opportunity to point toward a highly-elusive prize, namely, a win in the Kentucky Derby.
Many onlookers completely missed the beauty of the victory for Toby’s Corner and his connections.
Instead, as Toby’s Corner made his way to the winner’s circle after the Wood Memorial, many fans fixed their eyes on Uncle Mo as he passed the stands in a third-place finish. The colt garnered more attention through his lone defeat than the actual winner of the race received in his spirited victory.
And, since the Wood, Uncle Mo has been subject to scrutiny that falls nothing short of brutal. The bulk of the news stories from the Wood Memorial don’t focus on the victory of Toby’s Corner, but rather, the fact that Uncle Mo finished third in the race.
Further, many racing fans are relishing in the loss of Uncle Mo in comment threads from related articles and blog posts. A lot of the opinions focus on highlighting any flaw they can find on the colt. In some cases, the comments are downright mean-spirited and hateful, not only to Uncle Mo, but to the spirit of racing itself.
There is no value in tearing down Uncle Mo, or any other horse, for competing in a race and losing it.
And conversely, there is no respect for the achievement of Toby’s Corner, or any other winning horse, if we fail to celebrate the victory.
I am fan of horse racing. As a fan of horse racing, I am a fan of horses. Being a fan of horses, I respect the achievements of Uncle Mo and Toby’s Corner in their own right, without comparison or criticism to the other athlete.
Whether a horse wins or loses a race, the equine athletes in our sport deserve respect during and after every outing.
This isn’t just racing. It’s horse racing. And, respect for the horses should remain the first priority above the outcome in a race.
A few decades ago, a thirteen-year-old boy in a working-class neighborhood in New York would take the bus to the racetrack with twenty dollars and the Daily Racing Form as a guide.
He was simply a fan of racing.
As a fan, the horses would cascade past him in the post-parade, deliver a fleeting glimpse of themselves in the home stretch and pause for quick photo in the winner’s circle. At the time, the experience was enough for Mike Repole to get on the bus with a few bets and a dream of owning a fast racehorse someday.
He was simply a fan of racing.
In the following decades, Repole would become known for being the co-founder of Glaceau, the company that introduced Vitaminwater, as well as the Chairman of the Board for Pirate’s Booty snacks and the health-conscious Energy Kitchen fast food restaurant chain. Yet, in six years of owning racehorses, Repole wouldn’t be known in the racing world for a graded stakes victory. He was winless in all of his graded starts as an owner.
However, Repole remained an owner and fan of racing.
As he maintained his stable, Repole continued to search for the “fast racehorse” that he had envisioned in his youth. And finally, a two-year-old bay colt showed up and silenced any doubt that Repole had found “the one.”
In his debut, Uncle Mo delivered a 14 ½ length maiden victory for Repole at Saratoga. Shortly thereafter, the colt proved to be blessed with speed as he won the Champagne Stakes in an authoritative 4 ¾ length victory that gave Repole his first graded win as an owner. In his last outing, Uncle Mo showcased his talent during a captivating victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
All eyes turned to Uncle Mo. It appeared that a new dream was beginning in the racing world.
It is a dream for all fans of racing.
With an undefeated record and astonishing speed figures, Uncle Mo is currently poised as the horse that can deliver the dream of winning the Triple Crown. He is beyond the “fast racehorse” that Repole wished for as a boy. Uncle Mo is the kind of horse that racing enthusiasts have wished for since 1978.
And, Repole wants to share Uncle Mo with every fan of racing.
Uncle Mo has a page on Facebook and Twitter. Fans could see a photo of Uncle Mo posing in a tuxedo for the Eclipse Award ceremony, where he ultimately received the Best Two-Year-Old Male Award in a fan-focused acceptance speech from Repole.
Uncle Mo also posts videos and photos about his activities, including a picture of Repole feeding the horse his favorite treat, Pirate’s Booty “Smart Puffs.” Recently, Uncle Mo posted a video of him galloping at Palm Meadows to show his progress in training. In the past few days, hundreds of people have viewed the clip.
Finally, fans are encouraged to talk to Uncle Mo through his Facebook wall. Uncle Mo is hoping to receive a few valentines from his admirers on February 14 and is looking forward to hosting a virtual “birthday celebration” on his foaling date of March 10 via Facebook. If you want to join the festivities, you can follow Uncle Mo through clicking here.
And, after decades in the sport, Repole doesn’t lose sight of simply being a thirteen-year-old fan of racing. As fate would have it, Uncle Mo started out on Facebook through a thirteen-year-old girl named Rebecca Case who created a page for the horse.
She is simply a fan of racing.
When Repole learned that Rebecca Case had made a page for Uncle Mo, he asked his connections to contact the thirteen-year-old racing fan with a small request: He wanted to help the girl with her Uncle Mo page and keep her updated on the horse.
Today, Case and Uncle Mo’s connections work together to make the horse accessible to fans. And as a team, they prove that some dreams never grow old.
Uncle Mo is the dream of a thirteen-year-old racing fan, both today and decades ago.
And, Uncle Mo could deliver a dream to many racing enthusiasts who marvel over whether he can win the Triple Crown.
Yet, whatever Uncle Mo accomplishes in his career, one thing is certain. Uncle Mo isn’t just a “fast racehorse” or a “Triple Crown prospect” in the eyes of Repole. He is part of an experience that should be shared with anyone, young or old, that is simply a fan of racing.
As Uncle Mo points toward his three-year-old debut, Mr. Repole has graciously agreed to answer my questions about the horse. The interview appears below.
JW: Prior to his first victory, did you believe that Uncle Mo had the potential to be a special horse?
MR: I was always excited about Uncle Mo. He was always the best on the farm in Florida where I break 25 of my yearlings. We knew he was the best on the farm, but you’re never sure when your horse is still at the farm.
Then, we went to Todd Pletcher’s barn around May. Todd trains the best two-year-olds in the country and usually has three or four horses in the Derby. When Todd Pletcher tells you that he’s training eighty horses and Uncle Mo is the best horse, you get excited.
But, being the best in the morning, doesn’t always translate to being the best in the afternoon. ‘Show Time’ is a lot different than practice.
Until Uncle Mo raced in his maiden at Saratoga, I didn’t know what to expect. Then, I was awed by his performance, as were many people. And, after that, I started to think and dream. He’s lived up to every expectation since his first race.
JW: At the Breeders’ Cup, you personally led Uncle Mo into the winner’s circle after he won the Juvenile race. How did you feel as you approached the winner’s circle with him?
MR: I just felt like a thirteen-year-old kid at the track, cashing a two-dollar bet. It was just such a great and genuinely happy moment. It was something that you dream about and you think about. And then, you shoot your dreams and goals as high as they can go.
It was an amazing accomplishment to watch a horse race in the Breeders’ Cup that you can call your own. It is an accomplishment for any owner.
But then, to actually win, it was a great racing moment. Just in that moment right there, I felt like a thirteen-year-old at the track for the first time and getting spoiled.
I am a racing fan before I am a racing owner. I just happen to be a racing fan that owns horses. There was no bigger ‘racing high’ at that moment. It was one of the greatest days of my life.
JW: Do you think Uncle Mo has the potential to win the Triple Crown?
MR: I would say, ‘Think Big, Dream Bigger.’
Whether Uncle Mo has the potential or not, we’ll know the answer on June 11 at the Belmont, or we may even find out at the Kentucky Derby.
But, I can’t tell you that I’m not dreaming of winning the Kentucky Derby or that I’m not dreaming of winning the Triple Crown. I’ve been dreaming of this for almost thirty years. The only difference now is that I have a horse that has the potential to actually do it.
As for his potential, I have no doubt. But, a lot has to happen in the meantime. It takes a lot of luck. A lot of great horses have not won the Kentucky Derby or the Triple Crown. A lot of great horses have won one or two of those races, but didn’t win the Triple Crown.
Yet, I think for racing and racing fans, whether it is Uncle Mo or some other horse, it would be great for the sport and great for racing fans.
JW: Could you describe some of Uncle Mo’s personality traits and favorite items?
MR: Every time I go to the barn, I give Uncle Mo an extra carrot or two. He gets a few extra peppermints. He gets Pirate’s Booty Cheddar Puffs. Todd doesn’t give him the Cheddar Puffs, but he knows I bring them to Uncle Mo.
Uncle Mo doesn’t act like a young three-year-old. When he is laying down or he is at the back of the stall, I will call him by saying, “Hey Mo.” He will come right over and put his head on my shoulder.
He is like a monster on the racetrack, but he has a totally different personality in the stall. He is just happy-go-lucky and has a great personality. You don’t need a treat for him to come over to you. He is just a great horse.
Uncle Mo is also a very smart horse. Todd has always told me that not only is Uncle Mo one of the most talented horses he’s ever had, but he has the brains to go with it. He just does everything right. He is the model student. He doesn’t have any bad habits.
And finally, he does everything right the first time, no matter what he has been asked. Even Todd is amazed. It’s scary to be honest with you.
JW: You have made a strong effort to give Uncle Mo’s fans access to him. What makes this principle so important to you?
MR: It goes back to me being a racing fan for thirty years. The only access that I had as a fan was looking at the workouts and those types of details about each horse.
Now with social media, Uncle Mo has a Facebook page with a following of almost 2,000 fans. It is growing every day and every week. The way I see it, people want to know more about this horse. His site visits are going up on a regular basis. He has a Twitter account and he tweets things that are coming up and things that he has planned.
When Mo speaks, he might get fifty comments behind it. And, even when he doesn’t speak, people are constantly commenting on his wall. I see it. They say things like, ‘I wish you the best of luck,’ ‘Happy Birthday, Mo,’ or ‘You look great, Mo.’
The sport has to put something out there for the fans. It just can’t be about fractions, workouts, entries and the ultimate race day. It has to be more than that. Before the Superbowl, there is going to be a lot of hype and players talking about what they are doing. I think that racing fans need to be more involved as well and know what the horses are doing.
To me, even if I didn’t own Uncle Mo, I would want to know things like when he planned to workout, which race he was being pointed toward and what he was doing. For example, we put up a video of Uncle Mo the other day just galloping. It was only nine seconds long, but it received tremendous amounts of views. It is just something that many other people aren’t doing, but I wish they would do it, because I am a racing fan first. I am just fortunate enough to own horses.
I think it is important to involve the racing fans a lot more than they are being involved. Racing has so many passionate fans. I’ve always said, ‘If I get a special horse, I want to accommodate the fans.’ The most important thing that the industry needs to do is be accessible and accommodating to the fans. It’s very simple. We just need to take care of the horses and the fans.
JW: When you began going to racetrack, did you ever imagine you would own a horse like Uncle Mo?
MR: I’m sure it was because I was naïve, but I did. I wish I could tell you that I am shocked that this is happening. But, I had dreams about having a horse like Uncle Mo.
After Uncle Mo won the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, someone asked me if I was thinking about the Kentucky Derby. I said, ‘I’ve been thinking about it for the last thirty years. Why would tomorrow be any different?’
JW: It was reported that you donated $50,000 of Uncle Mo’s winnings from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to five different organizations that care for rescued racehorses. What led to this decision?
MR: Before being an owner, I never understood where horses went after they stopped racing. I didn’t know if the owner had a farm and if they just lived on a farm afterward.
When I became involved in racehorse ownership, I realized that owners have a responsibility when a horse is done racing. There is a responsibility to make sure that your horse finds the best possible home in the future.
Under the radar, I have been donating for years. I have been donating to many horse rescues and always making sure that my horses found a home. I have people that send me letters about horses that I used to own and were claimed from me when they were racing. They want me to try to help them get their horse at the end of their racing career and I have helped people get back their horse. To me, it is a great thing.
I also have received letters from previous owners of horses that I owned as they approached the end of their racing career. When the horse was done racing, they wanted the horse to come back to them. Some of those people raised that horse on their farm and they wanted them to come home at the end of their career.
So, once a horse gets to a certain level where they would just be running for small claiming races, I just stop running the horses and give them back to the person who asked for their horse to come home. And, they are appreciative. They often send me a letter and it confirms to me that I’ve done the right thing.
I think I had an opportunity with Uncle Mo when I made a donation to those rescues after winning a big race. I wanted to say, ‘This is what I am doing and maybe others should follow suit.’ A person owns a horse from the time they begin racing until the moment the horse is given a good home. Every horse that I am connected with gets a home.
My donation was not only part of supporting horse rescue, but also, a way to thank the people who devote themselves to taking care of retired racehorses. I have the utmost respect for them.
JW: What is your favorite story from your experiences with Uncle Mo?
MR: I actually have two stories about Uncle Mo.
The first story was on the race track. To me, it was bigger to win the Champagne Stakes than the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. I was the New York Racing Association’s leading owner in 2009, and, at that point, also in 2010, when Uncle Mo was pointing toward the Champagne Stakes. But, there was one thing I had never done before – I had never won a graded stakes race.
As we entered the Champagne, I felt a lot of pressure. Uncle Mo was going from a maiden to a Grade I race. During the race, I kept thinking that he couldn’t keep going that fast and keep it up for a mile in his second start.
When he pulled away by almost five lengths and nearly broke the track record, it was just an amazing moment to see one horse come along and take away the pressure of wanting to win a graded race. And, my whole family was there for that moment. My wife, my parents, my brothers, my grandmother… everyone.
The Breeders’ Cup was a great victory. But, that Champagne win, it was such a special moment in my life. When I raced horses in graded stakes in the past, I used to always watch the other owners go down to the winner’s circle after winning a graded stakes as they were surrounded by reporters and I would wonder, ‘Is that ever going to be me?’ When Uncle Mo gave me my first graded stakes win, it was a very rewarding moment.
The second thing I enjoy about Uncle Mo is visiting with him. There is a lot of stress owning a horse like him. I am nervous for the horse.
After the Breeders’ Cup, I spent an hour and half with him. He has a calming effect. Uncle Mo has this attitude and confidence that says, ‘Why are you nervous? I’m not nervous.’ Whenever I get nervous, I just go and visit him. He just has a way of saying, ‘Don’t be nervous. I’ll take it from here.’
In November, The Saturday Post started an annual fan poll to allow racing enthusiasts to cast their picks for their favorite champions in various categories during the 2010 racing season. The votes are in. Take a look at our fan favorites!
Horse of the Year – Zenyatta.
By an overwhelming 97 percent of fan votes, Zenyatta commanded a solid victory for “Horse of the Year” in our racing poll.
During her career, the great mare commanded rock star power through claiming victory after victory in nineteen consecutive outings. She is the highest female earning racehorse of all time in North America. She won the most consecutive Grade I victories in the sport. She pulled three “three-peats” in the Clement Hirsch, Lady’s Secret and Vanity. Finally, Zenyatta made history through becoming the first female to ever beat the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009.
Beyond the record books, Zenyatta brought many intangibles to the sport. She delighted fans with her dizzying ‘dance routines’ in the paddock, video footage of her guzzling a Guinness in her stable and invited everyone to take a “virtual ride” on her back through a helmet camera she used during a workout.
She also brought the sport into the national limelight. Zenyatta was featured as one of the most powerful women of 2010 in Oprah’s magazine, as well as a figure in the “Society” section of W fashion magazine. She claimed ownership of Los Angeles in her billboard entitled, “This Is My Town,” as part of a marketing campaign for the L.A. Dodgers Baseball Team. Finally, Zenyatta’s segment on 60 Minutes served as the first time the show had ever filmed a piece on a racehorse.
Simply put, Zenyatta delivered a show that was unimaginable before she began her racing career. She made people wonder. She made people cry. She made people marvel at her beauty. And, in the process, she added excitement to the sport for both long-time enthusiasts and newcomers.
Best Older Male Horse – Blame. With 65 percent of votes in his favor, Blame won the fan poll for Best Older Male Horse. During his career, Blame won nine races in thirteen career starts and retired with career earnings of $4,368,214. In 2010, he won three Grade I victories, including the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Best Older Female Horse – Zenyatta. Aside from “Horse of the Year,” 86 percent of fans also voted for Zenyatta as the “Best Older Female Horse.” Goldikova served as the second choice in the fan poll for this category.
Best Three-Year-Old Male Horse – Lookin’ at Lucky. Preakness-winner Lookin’ at Lucky won best “Three-Year-Old Male Horse,” capturing 74 percent of the votes in our racing poll.
Best Three-Year-Old Filly – Blind Luck. With five Grade I wins, Blind Luck won “Best Three-Year-Old Filly” with 85 percent of fans voting in her favor.
Best Two-Year-Old Male Horse – Uncle Mo. With an undefeated record in three starts as a two-year-old, including his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Uncle Mo has won “Best Two-Year-Old Male Horse” in our fan poll with 80 percent of the votes.
Best Two-Year-Old Female Horse – Awesome Feather. With a six-race undefeated record, Awesome Feather has won the fan vote for “Best Two-Year-Old Female Horse,” with 78 percent of votes in her favor.
After tearful goodbyes and long last gazes, racing has bid its’ final farewell to one great mare. Zenyatta touched the very soul of her fans in a way that few believe they have seen in their lifetime.
And, for those who love Zenyatta, they may wish that she could have raced forever if such a dream were possible in reality. I certainly wish it was.
So, should we just close our racing programs now and stand outside her stall?
Not in my view.
You see, this isn’t the first saddening goodbye ever spoken or written about in the world. And, when I think of one of the most beautiful farewells in literature, The Grapes of Wrath comes to mind in the moment where Tom Joad has to leave his mother. In the famous passage, he conquers the finality of a farewell.
It is the moment where he marvels at the idea that human beings may not simply hold one solitary soul, but rather, they are all part of a larger soul that includes everyone. He realizes that if this is true, there really is no finality in a farewell. She would see him again. Although it may not be in the flesh, his “ghost” would appear in nearly every human act that embodied a part of his spirit.
I view racing in the same way.
The soul of racing isn’t defined in one single horse, although it may seem like it when you are in the presence of a great one. In my mind, every horse is part of the soul of this sport. The ones that get beaten in a race are as necessary as the ones that deliver the dream. There is no victory without a defeat.
And, if every racehorse embodies the soul of the sport, you’ll see a flash of Zenyatta in plenty of races in the future. There is no finality in her farewell.
You can see a flash of Zenyatta in Awesome Feather, an undefeated two-year-old filly with six career starts, including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
And, the spirit of Zenyatta appears when you see Turbulent Descent being hand-ridden toward her third victory at Hollywood Park in her perfect two-year-old season.
You can see a glimpse of Zenyatta when two-year-old Cathy’s Crunches wins three consecutive stakes races in a row, including an outing against male horses.
And, you can see Zenyatta in Uncle Mo, who is stirring attention across the racing world as we wonder exactly what dreams he may behold.
Finally, you’ll see Zenyatta in stories throughout the ages. It would be nearly impossible to talk about the Belmont at length without reminiscing about Secretariat’s otherworldly performance. I don’t think you could talk about finding a fairy tale at auction without mentioning Seattle Slew. And similarly, you’ll see the spirit of Zenyatta when the next filly steps into the gates at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
There is no finality in her farewell so long as fans look to the future of racing. She is part of the soul of this sport. And, a “Flash of Zenyatta” could appear in any race.
In my view, the greatest honor to give Zenyatta is to watch for those fleeting moments. Because, in the heart of those moments, you’re seeing part of her spirit as well.
I can’t wait to see her again, even if it is in the flash of a moment.
And, I’m looking toward the future to find that moment.
Note: As a new year approaches in racing, The Saturday Post will begin a regular segment. The site will feature compilation videos of standout horses that are making their journey on the trail toward the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
I would personally like to invite the friends and readers of The Saturday Post to email me directly with any of your picks for Triple Crown hopefuls that you feel should be featured in the coming months. You can email me at jenniferjwirth@yahoo.com.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to everyone who has read this site, shared a link, provided an interview or posted a comment throughout the year. In a single year of writing this blog, I have met some of the kindest people in the world and had some of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Thank you to everyone. I look forward to hearing from you in 2011! - Jennifer Wirth
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Saying “Uncle!” used to mean you had given up in a contest.
Remember that one? “Uncle!” is a word that has resolved countless childhood conflicts throughout the ages.
Once you recognized your opponent had you licked at arm wrestling or a thumb war, “Uncle!” was the magic word that conceded the match. And, upon uttering the word, it was time to walk away in humiliation and heal your wounded ego in private.
That used to be what saying “Uncle!” meant between two-year-olds in contests.
And then, Uncle Mo showed up and changed the game for two-year-old racehorses.
Say “Uncle!” if you’re winning well beyond daylight.
Say “Uncle!” if you’re breaking your maiden by 14 ½ lengths in your first lifetime start.
Say “Uncle!” if you just won a Grade I race on your second outing at a track.
In his two career starts, Uncle Mo has proven that screaming “Uncle!” isn’t what it used to be back in the day.
It’s all about winning now.
Uncle Mo, owned by Mike Repole, may be the best two-year-old pointing toward the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile on November 6, 2010. In six years of owning horses, Repole was 0-26 in graded outings. And then, Uncle Mo showed up.
On August 28, 2010, Uncle Mo delivered a stunning 14 ½ length maiden victory at Saratoga in his first lifetime start. It wasn’t your ordinary maiden. Uncle Mo led the field through the entire race and earned a 102 Beyer figure in that outing. He is currently tied with Boys at Toscanova for the best figure of the year by a juvenile from his maiden start. (Click photo to see video footage of the race)
After his maiden victory, Uncle Mo jumped directly into Grade I territory. He entered the Champagne Stakes as his second career start and delivered an authoritative 4 ¾ victory. In that race, Uncle Mo also gave Repole his first Grade I win as an owner.
And, Uncle Mo won the Champagne Stakes with pure style. His finishing time was 1:36.51 in the Champagne – only a fifth of a second away from the stakes record set by Devil’s Bag in 1983. Uncle Mo beat Secretariat and matched Seattle Slew in his finishing time at the outing. (Click photo to see video footage of Champagne Stakes)
So now, Uncle Mo heads to the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile to attempt a three-peat of victories.
I’m screaming “Uncle!”
And, I’m marveling at Uncle Mo.
It’s all about winning now.
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Last week, Toby’s Corner won the Wood Memorial and stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
