Bodog Beat

With four first place Curlin has made the most money this year. (AP Images)

Expert handicappers are still scratching their heads over what has been one of the most unpredictable years in horse racing history. There was the switch from turf to synthetic surfaces, which made betting on the Breeders’ Cup challenging to say to say the least. And who could forget Big Brown, the strapping thoroughbred who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes and gave an entire nation reason to believe that 2008 would finally see a Triple Crown winner. 

As a result of career ending injuries, less than stellar performances or by sheer choice of their owners, Big Brown and other champion horses have instead made an early exit and are now enjoying the retired life. 

Here’s a quick look at some of the horses that in addition to making the headlines, also made us a few extra bucks at the ticket window:

Horse Racing’s 2008 Retirees

Big Brown

Earlier this week close to 400 interested buyers stopped by Big Brown’s stall at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky to take a peek at the stalwart stud. The 2008 Kentucky Derby and 2008 Preakness Stakes winner was on course to take on Curlin at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, but was withdrawn from the big showdown due to an injury he suffered during training. An early retirement was imminent. 

When asked what doubts these potential buyers might have had with regards to Big Brown, Three Chimneys Farm owner Robert Clay said, “I think it was the unknown, the mystery that has surrounded the horse, the ownership, and the trainer, and the hype. Now they’re focusing on the animal.”

Big Brown’s career earnings on the year topped $3.5 million.

Ginger Punch

Ginger Punch, the 2007 Eclipse Award winner for Champion Older Female, joins the ranks of the newly retired to become a broodmare for breeder/owner Frank Stomach. The feisty five-year-old who won the 2007 Ladies’ Distaff (now the Classic), can add another dozen wins to her credit, a half-dozen second place finishes, and two third-place finishes in 22 starts. Add to that her 2007 Go for Wand win, Ruffian Handicap win, and First Flight Handicap win makes this female fit for breeding.

Henrythenavigator

He finished second at the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, first at the Stanjamesuk.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I), first at the Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I), first at the St. James’s Palace Stakes (Eng-I) and first at the BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Goodwood. Henrythenavigator won or placed in 10 of 11 races and earned a cool $2,750,538 throughout his illustrious career. 

And he now calls Ashford Stud his home.

So you can imagine how thrilled Ashford manager Dermot Ryan feels about having this accomplished thoroughbred at his stables.

“It’s great to have a horse of Henrythenavigator’s class and bloodlines retiring here,” said Ryan. “Twice he won in record time at Royal Ascot, twice he beat Epsom Derby winner New Approach, three times he beat Raven’s Pass, and four times he won at the group I level.”

Midnight Lute

The only thoroughbred to win back-to-back runnings of the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Midnight Lute has retired to Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Kentucky. The 5-year-old Real Quiet horse will go for $20,000 in 2009. Midnight Lute retires from horse racing with career earnings of $2,690,600 and wins in 6 of 13 starts. Other highlights of this champion sprinter include the Grade 1 Forego and Grade 3 Perryville stakes, posting a 124 Beyer Speed Figure in the Forego. 

Gaff

Heiligbrodt Racing’s two-time Grade 3 winner Gaff will enjoy his retirement years at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Florida. The 6-year-old Maria's Mon horse raced for $569,513 from wins in 8 of 23 starts, including five stakes wins and four wins on turf. 

Capitano

This one is a no-brainer. The 7-year-old, multiple-stakes-winning son of Belong to Me has retired to stud at Fox Tale Stud in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. Capitano’s stakes wins include the 2005 Rolling Green Breeders’ Cup Handicap on turf, the 2006-07 Turf Paradise Handicap on grass, and the 2008 Ligature Stakes. To his credit, Capitano won or placed in 20 of 36 races and earned $576,894.

Not-Yet-Ready-to-Retire Thoroughbreds

And then there are all those horses whose winnings continue to impress and fatten our wallets. Thanks in large part to thoroughbreds like Curlin, Commentator, Raven’s Pass, and Zenyatta (to name a few), we can all look forward to another fabulously fortuitous year at the races.

But just for fun, here’s your 2008 leaderboard: 

2008 Top 10 Money Leaders in Thoroughbred Racing:

Name                      Purses                              Starts     1sts    2nds    3rds                  

1. Curlin                  $5,294,000                        6            4        1        0    

2. Big Brown            $3,576,700                         7            6        0        0    

3. Raven's Pass        $3,524,787                        8             3        4        0    

4. Conduit (IRE)        $2,372,262                        6             4        1        1    

5. Zenyatta             $2,090,580                          7              7        0        0    

6. Goldikova (IRE)     $2,056,742                        7             4        2        1    

7. Forever Together  $1,803,993                        7             4        0        2    

8. Benny the Bull      $1,753,080                        4             4        0        0    

9. Go Between         $1,655,000                         6             2        3        0    

10. Proud Spell         $1,514,840                        8             4        2        2 

With the action in full swing down under in Australia, plus a full fall card at Aqueduct and Churchill Downs, there’s still plenty of horse racing bets to be won at the Bodog Racebook.