Post by Big Tee© on Jan 29, 2006 10:01:03 GMT -5
January 28, 2006
George Teague Jr. stepped into the national limelight as trainer and co-owner of Rainbow Blue, Canada's 2004 Horse of the Year. Now, he has added a big-name client.
Teague is training five two-year-old horses for former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman at Harrington Raceway, The Delaware News Journal reports.
Foreman has created a lucrative endorsement career outside boxing, promoting a line of cooking appliances that carry his name and serving as a spokesman for Meineke, among other companies.
"I've had the horses with me for a little over a month," said Teague, who operates a successful stable with his sister, Brenda Teague. "He bought the horses at the yearling sale at Harrisburg [Pa.] in November. Brian Webster, who runs the sales in Canada, introduced me to George's two nephews.
"His nephews are the people I talked with and who bought the horses for him. They sent the horses to me from Texas. I see this as yet another good opportunity for us."
Teague got his first chance to spend time with Foreman when he visited Harrington on Thursday with some members of his family to see the horses. Foreman also joined Teague that night during the racing card at Dover Downs.
"I think this is all something new for George," Teague said. "I do know he developed a fondness for horses and has a farm in Texas. I think he actually has been riding these horses. That really won't hurt them at this age. Now they have been handled, are settled and should be ready for training."
Teague declined to mention the names of the horses because it is so early in their training schedule.
"They are all bred pretty well," Teague said. "They will probably start racing in July."
Teague said he has 39 two-year-olds in his stable, and about 70 horses overall.
Teague also said Rainbow Blue, sidelined most of last year because of an injured tendon in her left front leg, could be ready to start full training next week.
"Everything is going right, and I think she can come back stronger than before," said Teague, who has eight wins from the 30 horses he has started since January 1. "She jogs every morning, six days a week. She has been 100 percent for two or three months."
Rainbow Blue, a five-year-old daughter of Artiscape, is co-owned by Teague and his sister along with Kevin and Ron Fry, all of Houston, Del.
Teague said he is in no hurry to get Rainbow Blue into a race. He plans to run her in at least four qualifying races before making a start in a regular race, most likely in April or May at the Meadowlands.
Given that, it doesn't appear that Rainbow Blue will race at Dover Downs before the meet ends in April. Last April, she set a world record for a female pacer with a mark of 1:49.4 in the Classic Distaff pace at Dover.
Rainbow Blue has won 30 of 32 career starts, with earnings of $1,428,934. She won her first four starts last year before being injured in June. Rainbow Blue will bring a 12-race win streak into the 2006 season.
(Courtesy of The Delaware News Journal)
from Standardbred Canada Insider News
George Teague Jr. stepped into the national limelight as trainer and co-owner of Rainbow Blue, Canada's 2004 Horse of the Year. Now, he has added a big-name client.
Teague is training five two-year-old horses for former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman at Harrington Raceway, The Delaware News Journal reports.
Foreman has created a lucrative endorsement career outside boxing, promoting a line of cooking appliances that carry his name and serving as a spokesman for Meineke, among other companies.
"I've had the horses with me for a little over a month," said Teague, who operates a successful stable with his sister, Brenda Teague. "He bought the horses at the yearling sale at Harrisburg [Pa.] in November. Brian Webster, who runs the sales in Canada, introduced me to George's two nephews.
"His nephews are the people I talked with and who bought the horses for him. They sent the horses to me from Texas. I see this as yet another good opportunity for us."
Teague got his first chance to spend time with Foreman when he visited Harrington on Thursday with some members of his family to see the horses. Foreman also joined Teague that night during the racing card at Dover Downs.
"I think this is all something new for George," Teague said. "I do know he developed a fondness for horses and has a farm in Texas. I think he actually has been riding these horses. That really won't hurt them at this age. Now they have been handled, are settled and should be ready for training."
Teague declined to mention the names of the horses because it is so early in their training schedule.
"They are all bred pretty well," Teague said. "They will probably start racing in July."
Teague said he has 39 two-year-olds in his stable, and about 70 horses overall.
Teague also said Rainbow Blue, sidelined most of last year because of an injured tendon in her left front leg, could be ready to start full training next week.
"Everything is going right, and I think she can come back stronger than before," said Teague, who has eight wins from the 30 horses he has started since January 1. "She jogs every morning, six days a week. She has been 100 percent for two or three months."
Rainbow Blue, a five-year-old daughter of Artiscape, is co-owned by Teague and his sister along with Kevin and Ron Fry, all of Houston, Del.
Teague said he is in no hurry to get Rainbow Blue into a race. He plans to run her in at least four qualifying races before making a start in a regular race, most likely in April or May at the Meadowlands.
Given that, it doesn't appear that Rainbow Blue will race at Dover Downs before the meet ends in April. Last April, she set a world record for a female pacer with a mark of 1:49.4 in the Classic Distaff pace at Dover.
Rainbow Blue has won 30 of 32 career starts, with earnings of $1,428,934. She won her first four starts last year before being injured in June. Rainbow Blue will bring a 12-race win streak into the 2006 season.
(Courtesy of The Delaware News Journal)
from Standardbred Canada Insider News
