Racing To her death

In 1975 the famous filly Ruffian was entered in the Belmont Stakes. The race was advertised as the second greatest battle of the sexes, coming two years after the tennis match between Bobby and Billy. Her rival was the Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. It was argued before, and has been since, that she was physically unprepared for the grueling race. The build up and number of spectators were unprecedented. A half mile into the race Ruffian was ahead by a neck when she shattered her right front ankle. Her jockey was unable to pull her up. She raced on, pulverizing her leg bones as they tore through her skin, leaving her hoof flopping with each stride. She was only three and her life was taken. Ruffian's trainer was named Frank Whiteley Jr. Mr. Whiteley died Friday at the age of 93.

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Running in the 2006 Preakness Stakes Barbaro broke his right hind leg in more than 20 places. I watched the the video of his injury innumerable times, and then promised myself I would never watch another horse race. I followed his progress every single day on the veterinary center's website. After eight months of treatment Barbaro was euthanized. He was not yet four.
"Obsessing over that individual injury misses the bigger picture, which shows that horse racing routinely devours its stars", states Pat Ford, writing for ESPN on the death of Barbaro.----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Barbaro's breeders were Roy and Gretchen Jackson. They also bred a horse named George Washington. Last October at the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park, George Washington, the two-time European champion, who was running on dirt for the second time and in mud for only the first, had to be euthanized on the track after suffering multiple fractures to his right front leg.

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Michael Matz was Barbaro's trainer. When I was a junior equestrian Matz was one of the most successful and acclaimed show jumpers on the circuit. I've no idea when or why he turned to horse racing. Until two days ago he trained another horse named Chelokee. Last year Chelokee won the first running of the Barbaro Stakes. Friday Chelokee broke his right front leg while racing at Churchill Downs. The injury is similar to Barbaro's, only to a different leg. His prognosis is still unknown.

Hurricane Irene Has Passed And has Caused Lots of Damage!!!

These are the Pics Of my Backyard :

All Over NYC:

Hurricane Irene Is Coming !!

This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow). The orange circle indicates the current position of the center of the tropical cyclone. The black line, when selected, and dots show the National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast track of the center at the times indicated. The dot indicating the forecast center location will be black if the cyclone is forecast to be tropical and will be white with a black outline if the cyclone is forecast to be extratropical. If only an L is displayed, then the system is forecast to be a remnant low. The letter inside the dot indicates the NHC's forecast intensity for that time:

D: Tropical Depression – wind speed less than 39 MPH
S: Tropical Storm – wind speed between 39 MPH and 73 MPH
H: Hurricane – wind speed between 74 MPH and 110 MPH
M: Major Hurricane – wind speed greater than 110 MPH



Notes And Tips To stay Safe:ALBANY, N.Y. — State officials say the best thing pet owners can do for pets stressed by Hurricane Irene is to keep them close.

The New York State Office of Emergency Management is providing several tips to keep pets safe in the coming days as the hurricane hits the Eastern Seaboard.

First, keep your pets with you.

If you have to leave pets for shelter, assume you will be gone at least a week and provide enough food and water.

Consider crating pets when you are with them to make them feel more comfortable, but don't leave them in crates if you leave.

The state also urges pet owners to consider using pet-friendly hotels and kennels to provide a safe haven.DANGER: Gas Leaks

Check for gas leaks in all of your appliances that use gas, such as water heaters, gas dryers, gas cooking stoves and gas heating systems.
If you smell gas, turn off the main gas valve and call the gas company from a neighbor’s house. If you shut off the main gas valve, you will need a professional to turn it back on.

DANGER: Portable Generators

Use portable generators only outdoors in a well-ventilated area away from windows and doors. Never use a portable generator indoors or in an attached garage. As gasoline in a generator burns, it emits toxic carbon monoxide gas into the air.
Protect portable generators from direct exposure to rain and water. Portable generators are typically not weatherproof and can pose the risk of electrocution and shock if used in wet conditions.

DANGER: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning

Install CO alarms in your home. Because carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless and tasteless, these alarms are the only devices that can sniff out and warn you of poisonous CO gases.
Install CO alarms on every level of your home, including the basement and other locations required by law. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before installing the alarm.

DANGER: Electrical Appliances

Use proper electrical connections, such as UL-Listed extension cords, when using appliances inside or outside your home, or when using a portable generator to run power to the house.
Do not turn on electrical items or touch circuit breakers when you are wet, or unplug wet appliances until they have been checked by a professional. Even products such as lamps and vacuum cleaners should not be used until they are completely dried out and no longer pose the risk of electrical shock.

DANGER: Damage to Home Wiring

If you have experienced significant damage or flooding, you will need a professional technician to check all wiring in your home for shock and fire hazards. This could include anything from circuit breakers to outlets and light switches.

PROPERTY PROTECTION: Checklist

Be proactive in preventing as much damage as possible by investing in products such as UL-Listed roofing materials and systems. UL tests for fire, wind and uplift resistance as well as material and product performance, making sure your home can stand up to stormy weather.