Friday Reads

 Obituary:  Champion racehorse and top sire Bernardini, 18, had to be euthanized earlier today as a result of laminitis, Jonabell Farm announced.  He was the 2006 Preakness winner and also won the Eclipse Award for champion three-year-old for that year.

He was a son of celebrated sire A.P. Indy out of a Quiet American daughter Cara Rafaela.  He was the first classic winner owned by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai, a major player in horse racing since the 1980s but has had a bit of controversy in recent months.

Back to Bernardini.  From the article:

"Bernardini was one of a kind," said Godolphin USA director of farm operations Michael Banahan. "From the day he was born, he exuded class. He was that crop's best foal, best yearling, and best racehorse. His brilliance was only surpassed by his wonderful character. He will be sorely missed by all on the farm but especially by his handler for the past 15 years, Philip Hampton. It was an honor to be a custodian of this classic-winning stallion whose legacy will live long as a broodmare sire."

_____

I am not looking forward to the Delta variant, now that the school year is going to start in about 3 1/2 weeks.

However, it is declining rapidly in India.

_____

Rhode Island should think about becoming a country for just this reason.

_____