b4breeding

It’s a big tip o’ the hat, a real “doff”, for legendary sire and damsire Jate Lobell who died on 10 September aged 31.

My blogs are dotted with his references in so many good pedigrees (just search on Jate Lobell in my blog search). He rates with me as one of those great engine room sires – that is the highest praise I can give him, because those are the boys who work their butts off adding value to your pedigree, upgrading your families, giving a line some spark and heart.

Ironically it was just a week or so ago when I found some time to read another chapter of Standardbred Old Friends, published in 2014, and chose Jate Lobell – lovely photos of the then 30yo out in the paddock, and some wonderful recollections and honest reflections about the horse:

A perfect gentleman in every way, the only time that Jate’s strength overshadowed his manners was in the matter of love. “He was never aggressive to people at all,” said Brady [Kentuckiana Farm partner Bob Brady]. “But when he saw a mare he wanted to get to, you better be a little ahead of him or you’d be on water skis. He just liked his job.”

Kentuckiana manager Mac Cooper was there when Jate started his job, more than twenty-five years ago. He’s been at the stallion’s side nearly every day and they are now in their third decade together. The two of them are, Cooper said, “Old buddies. He’s always been a very, very good-natured horse, a pleasure to be around.”

And as the authors of the book observed at the time of their visit:

At thirty, Jate’s appearance belies his age. He’s kept a sleek, trim physique typical of horses of racing – not retirement – age…. Jate still shows his light, quick gait, spending very little time on the ground as he heads across his paddock, straight to a mud puddle if there has been rain overnight.

Read the announcement here about his death.