BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man), the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner, will
be retired from racing due to an injury sustained in the suspensory ligament of
his left hind leg. The injury is believed to have occurred during training for
an expected start in Saturday’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) at
Belmont Park. The injury is not life threatening and will have no impact on
Better Talk Now in his life after racing.
Owner Bushwood Stables recently announced the 10-year-old Better Talk Now
would be retiring at the end of the 2009 racing year. Better Talk Now was
trained for eight seasons by Graham Motion.
“Being part of this horses racing career was one of the most exciting things
we and our families have ever enjoyed,” Brent Johnson remarked on behalf of
Bushwood Stables. “His talents took us with him around the country and the world
and we will never forget those experiences or the people who shared them with
us. We are especially grateful to Graham and everyone at Herringswell Stables
for the incredible job they did for so many years. We would also like to thank
regular rider Ramon Dominguez for his 30 wonderful rides.
“Better Talk Now has done some things that very few horses ever have, such as
racing at the top level of the sport for six consecutive years and winning five
Grade 1 races. He either won or placed in a Grade 1 race every year from 2004
through 2009. I hope his accomplishments make the rest of the racing community
as proud of him as we are.”
Better Talk Now’s biggest win came in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Lone
Star Park, where he upset eventual Eclipse Award turf champion Kitten’s Joy. He
also finished second in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs. The
Breeders’ Cup victory was one of five Grade 1 scores for Better Talk Now, who
also triumphed in the 2004 Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) at Saratoga, the 2005
United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth Park and Man o’ War (G1) at Belmont Park, and
the 2007 Manhattan H. (G1) at Belmont Park.
His other stakes victories occurred in the 2006 Dixie S. (G2) and Sky Classic
S. (Can-G2); 2005 Fort Marcy H. (G3); and 2003 Knickerbocker H. (G3) and Eight
Thirty S.
Bred in Kentucky by Wimborne Farm, Better Talk Now retires with a mark of
51-14-8-5, $4,356,664.