APRIL 22nd
It was a busy day yesterday, and the night came on suddenly, as it often does when one is occupied. We have four of the mares who make up a quartet of expectant mothers right now in the main barn and keep a very "nosey" watch over everything that goes on in the maternity ward. The one most "ready" was Casual Beauty, a magnificently conformed Artsplace mare that we bought from Eric Cherry. Her first son, by Western Hanover, looked the part but to this date hasn't performed to expectations. He starts Saturday night and maybe we'll see him get on track. However, her 2 year old by Camluck, STONEBRIDGE IDEAL, is co-owned by Bob and Al McIntosh, (and from whom I recently bought a share for Angie), is held in very high regard by Bob (who maintains a pretty low key view of his two year-olds until they've proven themselves).

We were keeping an eye on the monitor, and saw the water break at about 9.30, so we headed out. The night was almost fall-like with a crisp feeling in the air and a three quarter moon and brilliant stars. When Angie and I got to the stable Beauty was beginning to push in ernest and we realized that this was a really big foal. There was a normal presentation, but progress was not occurring and the shoulders seemed stuck. Tapes were brought out, wrapped around the front legs, pulls attached and the foal was literally dragged from the mare. She is a very beautiful but very large filly by Camluck. This is therefore a full sister to the colt IDEAL that Bob McIntosh is so high on. I'll get a picture up on here for you to see what I mean.

APRIL 15TH.
Spring in all it's glory came this week to Stonebridge, and we welcomed 6 new kittens (special ordered by our grandchildren- "I can't hold baby horses Boppa" ), by the spectacular performance of STONEBRIDGE REGAL, and the start of the parade of 2 year olds and three year olds as they get ready for their relative campaigns

STONEBRIDGE REGAL GATE-TO-WIRE IN 1:51.1


Toronto, April 15, 2005… Having been pounded down to 1-9 at the windows, conditioner Bob McIntosh's three-horse entry was under the microscope Friday evening at Woodbine, as the $60,600 finale of the Youthful Pacing Series took centerstage.
Stamping himself as a horse to keep an eye on in this year's three-year-old pacing ranks, Stonebridge Regal, who started from the rail and was part of the entry, went gate-to-wire in 1:51.1, showing quick speed on both ends of the mile

The Sportsman Ad with Angie Angie Stiller of Stonebridge Farm Loves Her Duke Of York Yearling “Stonebridge Duke is an A+. On a scale of 1 to 10 I’d say he’s a 9+.This colt is the complete package – well balanced, correct, beautiful head and very smart. He is an above average individual and the brother to stakes winner Stonebridge Diablo 2, 1:59s-’04 ($92,503) – family of Nearly Perfect. I’m very excited about his future.” – Angie Stiller

April 10
     STONEBRIDGE REGAL (Artsplace X Lady Joanna) dominated his division in the Youthful Series, setting a Canadian Season Record of 1:52.0. He returns to contest the final, drawing the one hole.


APRIL 4th
Last evening as midnight rolled around and we were settling in after a simply wonderful day with the children and granddbabies, Two In The Morning started into her pacing and finally delivered us a simply Grand filly by Artsplace. This filly is the 3/4 sister to the Artiscape daughter, STONEBRIDGE KISSES, who is the top money winner in North America in 2005. We took the time to watch her get up within the half-hour and nurse and perform all the other critical body functions that indicated she was intact and ready to start her development, hopefully to duplicate her sister's record, only now having a sire that frequently produces 2 year old speed. She's got the heritage and conformation to do it - and it was a filly that we wanted. Nice end to a great week-end, and with spring weather back, she will be able to get out into the paddocks early!!

APRIL 2ND
NUKES MAGIC, that prolific broodmare that has produced stakes wiiners, and a dam of stakes winner, got serious tonight, after leading us on for the last 24 hours, and finally delivered a very large Camluck Colt (her first by that sire) who is very impressive. But it was not an easy delivery. The size of the shoulders and hips were problematic, as they sometimes are with Camluck, and we were greatly relieved when we got him free of his dam, and he struggled to his feet to nurse. The mare was a different issue. She had managed to "pack" her esophagus with a plug of hay and feed, and had choked. This required a couple of hours by Dr Stan Henderson of patient tubing and washing of the esophagus, until it cleared. Some anxious moments, but she was patient and took our help well. I guess the pain of a prolonged pre-labour of some 24 hours, in a mare with a voracious appetite laid the ground-work for that condition. We've never had that problem with her before, and unlikely again if we watch the amount of hay/feed consumed during her restless pre-labour. She really is a great mare - produces a colt that has that great shoulder, wither and handsome head. Good work Magic!

APRIL 1st
Today Spring came - only for a day, mind you,(snow forecast tonight) but it came. And with it a much anticipated couple of races, and two mares ready to deliver - and of course the foals and mares frolicking in the paddocks. First of all the races. STONEBRIDGE KISSES was in the Open Mares competition at The Meadowlands, and was pitted against the great Carolina Sunshine and Feathery Fame. She paced a great race!! Carolina Sunshine followed her up the outside, shot on by and then Kisses tracked her to the mid stretch, pulled, seemed to hang, and then surged by., winning in a life time best of 1:51.1 and pushing her winnings in 2005 to over $160,000, the most by any standardbred on the continent.

            HERE SHE IS!!


Then the Youthful Series at Woodbine and STONEBRIDGE REGAL. He had the 2 hole in the most competitive division. Then first went in 1:55.2. He settled in 3rd position and then pulled at the beginning of the second turn. As he did so, it was obvious that he took a misstep (Bob McIntosh described it to me as a combination of extra-step and suddenly grabbing on the right line) and Jack M. dropped him back into the pylons and fell back to 4th place from 2nd, and he looked like he would be 4th or 5th. Suddenly Jack shook the lines, applied the whip twice, and Regal leapt to life coming the last quarter in 27.3 and being one step away from winning (losing by a neck) in 1:52.4. The last division went in 1:53.1. His ability to come back like that was great to see, and I see nothing that discourages me, unless that "misstep" turns out to be something else!

NUKES MAGIC (in foal to Camluck)and TWO IN THE MORNING (in foal to Artsplace) are both waxing up and restless. But Nukes Magic especially. I can't believe that she won't deliver tonight. I'll take the early watch, and then be relieved at midnight. Of course, we are also watching in sadness at the last few hours of the Pontiff. What a great man he was, in many ways. How many of our leaders are "true to themselves", as he was?


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