| Join for Free

Ticker

From DRF (The Inside Post): Always in a Tiz will run in Belmont Stakes 2013.Posted 1 day ago
Mucho Macho Man breezed 5f in 1:01.40 (4/11) at Fair Hill on 5-24. Posted 1 day ago
Wise Dan targets the G2 Firecracker 'Cap at Churchill on June 29. Posted 2 days ago
Jockey Chantal Sutherland will return to saddle at Del Mar. Posted 2 days ago
Itsmyluckyday to skip Belmont Stakes 2013 in favor of Pegasus Stakes on 6-16. Posted 2 days ago
Rosie Napravnik will ride Code West in Belmont Stakes 2013. Posted 2 days ago
From DRF (The Inside Post): Mylute will not run in Belmont Stakes 2013. Posted 2 days ago
Eblouissante breezed 4f :49.17 (18/44) at Belmont (dirt Training) on 5-22. Posted 3 days ago
Giant Finish will make his next start in Belmont Stakes 2013. Posted 3 days ago
Unlimited Budget is expected to face males in Belmont Stakes 2013. Posted 5 days ago

Chadds Ford Stable

[Edit]

Primary Owner(s):

[Add Data]

Secondary Owner(s):

[Add Data]

Location:

[Add Data]

Profile

History

Stakes

News & Notes

Photos

What the Nation is saying about Chadds Ford Stable...

Union Rags Retired

Union Rags became a potential Kentucky Derby horse during the 2011 Saratoga meet. As the 2012 Saratoga meet opened Friday, Union Rags’ owner Phyllis Wyeth made the decision to retire her Belmont Stakes winner.Read More

Show All 32 Comments
zxswordxz · This is just sad...Don't even know what to make of it. Happy for the horse sad for fans. · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
Buckpasser · Too bad. He did not get a chance to live up to all his potential · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
Horsefan90 · It's sad but I saw this coming. · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
travel_vic · stop breeding thoroughbreds made out of spun glass and this won't keep happening · 309 days ago ·

like

3

3
Buckpasser · Vic. Couldn't agree more. · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
TimSmith · That is some serious crap, Make a rule that if a horse doesnt run after August 1, They cannot win an eclipse award. Also If a horse is retired before 5 years old he can not be a stallion. This is driving me nuts. · 309 days ago ·

like

2

2
footlick · If it is a career ending injury then the horse should be able to stand stud. · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
footlick · Of course I do not think that is the case here · 309 days ago ·

like

2

2
Buckpasser · Tim. You would agree with Jeff Gural head of the Meadowlands that no 3yr old sire can have a Hambletonian runner. Should do it for the TC and Breeders cup · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
TimSmith · To win an eclipse a horse has to race into Agust of that season...If a horse does not run in 3 seasons he can not become a stud. · 309 days ago ·

like

2

2
MIke in SB · I don't think this surprised anyone, but Tim is right, racing must find a way to encourage owners to race their horses and not send them early to the farm. One way would be to move the big money races from 2 and 3 year old races to races for older horses. But nothing is going to happen until racing has a single ruling authority, a commissioner, like every other major sport in the country. · 309 days ago ·

like

4

4
Buckpasser · One of the problems that encourages quick retirement is the changes to the hobby farm tax provisions, meaning that you have less time in a business like racing to make a profit in order to take a lot of deductions for racing expenses. This change came in the 80s where you really began the race to the breeding shed · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
Armada · ...figures. · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
kay.robinett · As long as there is so much more money involved in stud as opposed to keeping a colt on the track, there is little incentive for owners to not retire their top colts in situations like this. Is it Germany who has the strict rules about minimum amount of seasons racing and no use of race day meds for a colt to be able to stand at at stud in that country? If I won the lotto I would be buying up well conformed German fillies to import and breed to our greenhouse spun glass American stallions to try to get some soundness and general good health back into the breed. · 309 days ago ·

like

2

2
Buckpasser · Absolutely right Kay. You sell yearlings for millions and millions for breeding rights, no surprise. Years ago the Bluebloods kept this in check because the horses they raced went to their breeding farms and it was laughed at to pay a lot for yearlings. Changes came when Frank McMahon bought Majestic Prince for a world recod and then his full brother the next year for another record. After that there was no stopping the amounts for yearlings · 309 days ago ·

like

3

3
Buckpasser · Then you had Secretariats retirement at three and we went down hill from there · 309 days ago ·

like

1

1
AmbitiousD · I really hope the new Kentucky Derby points system helps with this. In order to make it to the big race, there will be a far reduced emphasis on top form in sept-nov of their 2 year old season with hopes it lasts through June. · 309 days ago ·

like

2

2
TimSmith · The derby is May 1 · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
TimSmith · Fisrt week I meant · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
AmbitiousD · Yep, Tim, I mean the full Triple Crown. · 309 days ago ·

like

0

0
rafirox · what sucks is this was the best crop of 3 year olds i can remember in 20 years, and they keep being retired and injured. · 308 days ago ·

like

3

3
Buckpasser · Rafirox you are very accurate about this crop. I had such high hopes for them particularly when so many were around for the TC races · 308 days ago ·

like

1

1
ruffianlover · utterly disappointing. I don't think we ever truly got to see what this horse could do. I thought Wyeth was a different type of owner, and wouldn't pull the "more money in the breeding shed" stunt. There are plenty of horses than run well past three years old. · 308 days ago ·

like

3

3
bronzeprincess33 · I suspected this would happen. Still disappointed, though. · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
buckpasser · Looks like this decision may have caught Matz by surprise. A few days ago he was giving an interview with someone from TVG and said UR was coming back as a 4 yr old · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
kay.robinett · Yes, I feel bad for Matz. Sounds like the owner kept him completely out of the loop when it came to the retirement decision. · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
CraigBradshaw · somebody of fb said that this horse was overrated, despite being belmont winner. i couldn't disagree more. he's a very good horse that had a short successful career. · 308 days ago ·

like

1

1
forego139 · If I'll Have Another who won the Ky Derby and Preakness ended up in Japan due to lack of good $$$ offers so what makes them think that UR will end up in Kentucky unless they settle for a very low offer to stand him at stud or sell him very cheap for stud duty because the money is just not there in the US today, all the big money is overseas, most likely thats where Union Rags will end up, overseas · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
railbird33 · For all of you younger race fans the last ten years have been VERY frustrating to get behind a good 3 YO. Let's look at the last ten KY Derby winners- only three went past their 3 YO campaigns: Mine That Bird, Giacomo uneventful brief 4 YO campaigns, Funny Cide did well, but as a gelding- easy decision. Kay & Buckpasser are correct, you will have very few horses to watch year over year. Pity !! · 308 days ago ·

like

1

1
TimSmith · How do those stats compare with other triple crowns from around the world I wonder? Do there winners continue to run? · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
TimSmith · First race winners I mean.. · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0
JanicePalmer · Looks like Rags will be going to a domestic buyer! Mrs. Wyeth wants him to stay where she can find him. Think they will probably be able to find a pretty lucrative deal in Kentucky. Besides his good looks and pedigree, he is the best son of Dixie Union and his only son to win at 12f. He is one of a very few in recent memory who as a precocious two-year old, won the Champagne and then came back at three to take the Belmont Stakes. Add to that his quality wins at distances ranging from 5 1/2f to 12f and you have a very appealing stud prospect indeed. · 308 days ago ·

like

0

0

Union Rags Should Make Full Recovery

While Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags won’t race again this year due to an injured suspensory ligament, the prognosis for a return to the races in 2013 is favorable should his connections choose to bring him back.Read More

Show All 1 Comments
JohnNicoletti1 · Don't think so, Mr.Matz. Way too much money in the breeding shed. Goodbye Rags, you were something special. Hopefully, your offspring will create some the magic you possessed on the track. · 317 days ago ·

like

0

0

Union Rags Impresses Velazquez

Working in Maryland over the Fair Hill Training Center’s artificial surface, Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags completed his major preparations for the Belmont Stakes by covering five furlongs in 59 seconds flat.Read More

Show All 0 Comments

Union Rags Breezes 5f at Fair Hill

Working at Fair Hill in Maryland, Union Rags on Thursday turned in a 1:01 five-furlong breeze, pleasing trainer Michael Matz.Read More

Show All 0 Comments

Bodemeister, Union Rags Top Kentucky Derby 138

Bodemeister, the smashing winner of the Arkansas Derby in his most recent start, and Union Rags, winner of three graded stakes, head an overflow field of 21 entered Wednesday for Saturday’s 138th running of the Kentucky Derby.Read More

Show All 3 Comments
champion2011 · Take Charge Indy, Alpha and Gemologist..one of them look ready to take the roses · 387 days ago ·

like

0

0
michelelynett · Rags to Roses · 387 days ago ·

like

0

0
linda.g.wood · Roses to RAGS ~!!! · 387 days ago ·

like

0

0

Union Rags Travels to Churchill Downs

Chadds Ford Stable’s Union Rags, a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), was scheduled to leave Keeneland late this morning for Churchill Downs. Michael Matz trains the 3-year-old son of Dixie Union, who has trained here since he arrived from the Palm Meadows traini...Read More

Show All 0 Comments

Chadds Ford Stable

Best wishes for Union Rags in the Florida Derby! We'll be cheering for him!

Show All 0 Comments

Chadds Ford Stable

Very interesting story. Are the owners in any way related to Andrew Wyeth?

Show All 1 Comments
BrianZipse · They sure are ... Daughter-in-law, and son. Best of luck to the big boy, Patti! · 500 days ago ·

like

0

0

Chadds Ford Stable

How did the name Union Rags come about?

Show All 1 Comments
likin sparks · He's the son of Dixie UNION and his third dam was Glad RAGS ll...check this out http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65537/union-rags-has-seabiscuit-like-story · 565 days ago ·

like

0

0

Union Rags Keeps Family in Game

When Union Rags attempts to run his record to 4-for-4 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 5, it will be the result of Phyllis Wyeth’s recent efforts to preserve her family’s thoroughbred racing legacy. The colt will carry the colors of Wyeth’s Chadds Ford Stable in the Breeders’ Cup, bu...Read More