The mules are back!

[Pronzini]

The June 18th entries at Stockton are online and the first race up is for mules going 350. Mule racing is so much fun. There's always one named something Nelson, they run until they are double digits old and usually in every race one entrant has my favorite breeding line in all of racing --by Unknown out of Unknown bred in Idaho. :)

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/instant.cgi?type=int&country=USA&track=STK&date=2009-06-18&race=1

[pinkdiamondracing]

I used to train racing mules in CA when I lived there!!! Was very successful in 2000,2001 & 2002-- had some nice mules from Bar JF ranch-- the fastest one being Bar JF Party Animal-- I also had a really nice one named Miss Tillie who won a couple a year for me--- I love the mules too!!!

[LaurieB]

Why aren't there any pictures in this thread? :D

I love mules. :yes:

[Pronzini]

Why aren't there any pictures in this thread? :D

I love mules. :yes:


Here's some pictures for you!

http://www.muleracing.org/photopage.htm

[LaurieB]

Thanks Pronzini! What a great link. :)

Sweetwater Sterling (at the top of the page) is gorgeous.

[Texarkana]

We need video links! I love watching them run! I want to train mules in my next life.

[Barnfairy]

Ahh, hybrid vigor.

Witness the awesome technology employed in broadcasting in this classic match race (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuXcLdqcylY).

[Kyzteke]

The June 18th entries at Stockton are online and the first race up is for mules going 350. Mule racing is so much fun. There's always one named something Nelson, they run until they are double digits old and usually in every race one entrant has my favorite breeding line in all of racing --by Unknown out of Unknown bred in Idaho. :)

http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/instant.cgi?type=int&country=USA&track=STK&date=2009-06-18&race=1

Alittle OT, but afew years back some guy paid Idaho State a ton of $$$ to clone some of his best racing mules. I think they got three foals.

Does anybody know if those clones ever did any good on the track?

So what's a good time for a top racing mule?

[Kyzteke]

Here's some pictures for you!

http://www.muleracing.org/photopage.htm

Cool site!

Are those jocks huge or are the mules really small? Some of those guys look pretty big.

[BabyGoose]

I want to see a video!

[FuManSlew]

They did race the cloned mules. Their names were Idaho Gem and Idaho Star, I remember reading about them in our local Reno paper when they raced in Winnamucca. They were clones of Taz, I assume the same Taz from the above video but not for certain. Not sure how they did or are doing in their racing careers. I love the mules. I think the next partnership I go in to should be with mules :yes:

[pinkdiamondracing]

Sweetwater Sterling was the sire of the majority of the mules I used to train. Bar JF Ranch owns him, and he is a really nice jack. He's got a nice mind which he passes on to his foals.

[Pronzini]

Great video but I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find footage of the original Del Mar match race in 2002. I went that day and the atmosphere was so fun. I think I still have my Black Ruby button somewhere. "Who has the best ass at Del Mar?" or something like that (which if you know Del Mar, they're not just talking about mules. :D )

And yes racing mules tend to be on the small side and their jocks tend to be a little larger anyway so it does get some getting used to when you see them in a walking ring. Even better is when they start to bray :)

[Elly Mae II]

So what kind of mare do they use to get a racing mule? Thoroughbreds? Quarter Horse? Do they ever race them against horses? I too wonder how their times compare.

[pinkdiamondracing]

Lots of racing mules are out of running Quarter Horse mares, some are out of TB mares, and Bar JF Party Animal, well, he was out of an Apache Double Appaloosa mare which made him doubly bred to be stubborn!!!:lol::lol:
He had to be snubbed to a pole to get a bath, dallied to the pony horse and pulled to the paddock, saddled on the walk, dallied to the pony through the post parade, and dallied into the starting gate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once out of the the starting gate, he could never be counted on not to do something stupid, like duck left or right at the finish line, costing him several wins, including outrunning Black Ruby once at Winnemucca in 2002.( I cheerfully could have strangled him bare handed that day)!!!:mad::mad:
Black Ruby's owner came up to me after that race and said " I am sure glad that F-ing mule never runs straight-- you had me beat at the paddock til he ducked left and right!!"

[LaurieB]

OK, wait a minute...somebody needs to explain this to me. How can Sweetwater Sterling be a leading sire of racing mules? I thought mules were sterile and you got them by crossing a mare with a jack. :confused:

[JER]

well, he was out of an Apache Double Appaloosa mare which made him doubly bred to be stubborn!!

I have an Appy mule. His preferred -- and actually only -- gait is the walk.

No racing for him. :lol:

[Plumcreek]

OK, wait a minute...somebody needs to explain this to me. How can Sweetwater Sterling be a leading sire of racing mules? I thought mules were sterile and you got them by crossing a mare with a jack. :confused:

Sweetwater Sterling is the top photo (the halter photo) in the link posted above. He is a jack.

[LaurieB]

Sweetwater Sterling is the top photo (the halter photo) in the link posted above. He is a jack.

LOL, I must be very slow tonight. I thought he was a mule. :lol:

Thanks for cluing me in.

[awm]

go to youtube & put mule in----
a great video is extreme mules!
Black Ruby vs. Taz is there, also----

there is some big $$$$ in the mule racing!
Ann

[Pronzini]

And Jo de Nelson wins the first. :D

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/STK061809USA1.pdf

[Calamber]

Wowee, these mules look like some of the ones I once saw in a vey nice mule fanciers magazine. Does anyone know the mag I am talking about? I am moving to the west coast soon and want to look up some of these fast big ears!

[Pronzini]

A heads up for mule fans --Sarah Nelson, one of the sports heavyweights, is making her 2009 debut on Wednesday in the first at Stockton. The morning line has her at even money. :)

She's 10 now but at one point she owned most of the mule records (and may still for all I know) and she beat Black Ruby.