Word: sangster
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Consider Carol Sangster of Edmonton, Canada, who seven years ago had to quit her job as an engineering clerk at Canadian National Railways because she was struggling with systemic lupus and diabetes. For several years, she fought for her life. In time she partially recovered. "I became well enough to be bored," she says. Then, 18 months ago, she discovered eBay...
...kiss of death. The once-upon-a-time darling was lustily booed. Recalls Cauthen, with typical stoicism: "I was a bit shocked about the way people reacted to what was happening to me." At his lowest point, he accepted a lucrative offer from the wealthy English horse owner Robert Sangster to race for him during the English flat season. Why not, Cauthen mused. "I felt I was a bit burned out. I'd never visited England and I thought, I'm young and this is the time to try it if I'm ever going...
Even with a Northern Dancer in his bloodline, every yearling is a longshot. But Sangster can use his superstars to cover the losers. Moreover, his worldwide sources enable him to place what he delicately calls "the lesser horses" where they bring the best possible fees. One far-out deal: a stud standing in Tasmania...
...sweating cycle, whether he was bothered by crowds. Three vets, including a heart specialist, performed a physical, with full X rays. "Leg Man" Bob Griffin examined a race horse's most important assets. And because the colt's most important assets will change after his racing days. Sangster's wily genealogist, John Magnier, also had to approve. Says Magnier: "It all follows the semen. If you don't have the semen, you don't have the industry...
...value. But the big payoff is now in the breeding barn. In the '50s a horse who won $1 million in purses was worth $1 million as a stallion. Today a million-dollar winner is worth $20 million at stud. One outstanding example is Northern Dancer, whose offspring Sangster often buys. Almost gelded because of his questionable conformation and rank temperament, the 1964 Kentucky Derby winner is now the world's greatest living superstud: 85 of his progeny (one in five) are stakes winners. His going rate is $300,000, but his 14 get at Keeneland were sold...