Photos/News about Broodmares

[Starine]

Oy! That's a face only a mother could love.

[Miss Woodford]

And the picture below is a late addition to the article.
RP Bloodstock‏ @rpbloodstock
Late entry to our George Washington gallery: the Lope De Vega colt ex Date With Destiny in the care of Mick Easterby http://bit.ly/2zlxovr

Are they sure he isn't half Standardbred?

[oldgraymare]

are we sure a Belgian didn't jump the fence?

[BaroqueAgain1]

I've known some Belgians...and their heads were prettier than this.
That white spot on his muzzle doesn't exactly flatter him, either.

[oldgraymare]

Can't imagine how heavy headed he must be to ride. You would develop some strong wrists that's for sure. No dressage in his future.

[Northport]

Don't think he will inherit Granddad's "Gorgeous George" Mantel

[Flanders]

I'm someone who can usually find beauty in any horse....however that one I am having a real hard time. Its not just his head either, I find him unappealing in so many ways. Poor sad looking boy.

Edit to add: I just realized he is a yearling, hopefully he grows out of some of that awkwardness.

[Ridan_Remembered]

The good thing is that looks don't win races. If he's got any talent, his looks won't matter. And who knows, perhaps he will be the epitome of the "ugly duckling" story.

[serenassong]

The good thing is that looks don't win races. If he's got any talent, his looks won't matter. And who knows, perhaps he will be the epitome of the "ugly duckling" story.

Let's hope. I have seen photos of John Henry as a wee one, and definately not part of the pretty pony club. Even as an adult, he was not the best looking- but sure could run.
Read a story that Slew out rejected from a sale due to his conformation- another one- but I thought he turned it around later on.

[Ridan_Remembered]

For those who are interested, DRF posted two new photos of Songbird in her paddock at Timber Town Stable, where owner Mandy Pope boards her broodmare band. Songbird was wearing front wraps. She was turned out with Welcoming, a beautiful daughter of Tapit out of Stormy Welcome by Storm Cat. Stormy Welcome's maternal granddam is the famous daughter of Secretariat named Weekend Surprise, dam of A. P. Indy, Summer Squall and five other graded stakes horses. Indy, of course, sired Pulpit, sire of Tapit. Welcoming has three crosses of Secretariat through his daughters Terlingua and Weekend Surprise.

https://www.facebook.com/DailyRacingFor ... 2072320187

@Serenassong, the great Sunday Silence was considered to not be correct in the stifle and front legs, but look what he accomplished after being rejected by some of the most savvy horsemen and women in North America. There is an article on Bloodhorse.com about the Ben Walden Jr. dispersal (https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... -walden-jr). In it, Mr. Walden said, "My interest over the years has been pedigrees, and in some ways the business has passed me by. There is such a profound focus on the individual today. If you stand in the winner's circle at Saratoga you will see the emphasis on physicality, and I'm still a pedigree guy. Sometimes when you reach for those deep families you have to sacrifice on the physical side and that's worked against me a little bit over the last five or six years. Everybody wants that beautiful individual, and they don't care so much about pedigree."

I think failure to appreciate the importance of pedigrees is a profound mistake. For example, I love Songbird a lot, but if I was able to purchase one of the two mares shown in the linked DRF piece, I would take Welcoming because of her incredible bottom line and broodmare's pedigree.