Page 171 - Speedhorse April 2019

The family takes care of Town and Town takes care of the family
A m o n t h b e f o r e t h e F e b . 9 , 1 9 8 0 H Q H R A C h a m p i o n s h i p , j o c k e y K e n n y H a r t w a s i n a s p i l l a n d w a s h o s p i t a l i z e d w i t h s s e e v v e e r r a a l l s s e e v v e e r r e e i i n n j j u u r r i i e e s s . . B B u u t t , , h h e e w w a a n n t t e e d d t t o o r r i i d d e e T To o w w n n P P o o l l i i c c y y a a n n d d h h e e d d i i d d . . T T h h e e p p a a i i r r e e n n t t e e r r e e d d t t h h e e w w i i n n n n e e r r ’ ’s s c c i i r r c c l l e e f f o o r r t t h h e e gelding’s last $100,000 race, although he did win the California Breeders’ Championship in his next out.
Legends can’t die. They come back bigger than life to win the Los Alamitos Derby in re- cord time to a standing ovation from thousands of normally staid racing fans. These people usually are more worried about the exacta in the next race, but they dearly love Town Policy; they are part of his extended family.
The family takes care of Town, and Town takes care of the family. On a chilled Febru- ary night Town took care of the family. In particular, a very close member of the family, jockey Kenny Hart.
A month before the race Hart was in a horrendous spill. He suffered broken ribs, a bruised spleen and bedded down for a good part of a week in the local hospital.
But Hart was slated to ride Town Policy in the $100,000 HQHRA Championship. It was his first mount since the spill.
Camptown Girl is bred 2x3 to
Three Bars (below)
When Hart came out of the jock’s room to get on the then 5-year-old Town Policy, he could barely stand up straight from the pain in his ribs. But he got on his horse.
Legends can’t lose. Town Policy carried Hart down the inside of the Los Alamitos straight- away and wouldn’t let entry-mate Stoa Minga pass. In the winner’s circle, Hart tried to smile through the pain.
That is the last $100,000 race Town Policy has won. Town took care of his family.
And his genetic family has helped get Town Policy to his legendary status.
He is sired by one of the fastest grass horses ever in California. His female family sports inbreeding to the grand Thoroughbred sire of Quarter running horses, Three Bars.
Today’s breeder puts great emphasis on a horse’s female family. So, a real legend must have a female family. Town Policy has it. His second dam is an all-time great champion mare, and he is a brother to a pair of stakes- placed competitors.
The most visible aspect of Town Policy’s breeding comes through his dam, Camptown Girl. It is through her that he gets his double dose of Three Bars blood.
Camptown Girl is bred 2x3 to Three Bars and she gets each dose of Three Bars blood through a champion son.
Camptown Girl’s sire, Breeze Bar, was
the 1961 Champion Stallion and co-held
the world record for 400 yards. Miss Louton, the dam of Camptown Girl, was a two time running champion and was sired by the 1952 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Tonto Bars Gill.
Camptown Girl is the dam of Town Policy.
It is through Camptown Girl that Town Policy gets his double dose of Three Bars blood.
1961 Champion Breeze Bar is the sire of Camptown Girl.
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM FEBRUARY 1984 ISSUE
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