I must admit that the day they were teaching us about Einstein's Theory of Relativity in school, I wasn't paying attention (I was probably reading the Racing Form). To tell you the truth, I wouldn't know the difference between Einstein's Theory of Relativity and Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The only thing I know about Einstein is that he was a good horse, a real good horse and his trainer was Helen Pitts-Blasi. The other day, I spoke with Helen about her training career, Einstein (the horse), his retirement and her first season at the Fair Grounds.
If things would have gone the way her dad wanted them to, Helen Pitts-Blasi would not be listed on a program as a Thoroughbred trainer. "My dad was a steward in Maryland for 25 years, in New York for three or four and in Hong Kong for three years and if he would have had his way I would be riding show horses, going on fox hunting runs or riding steeplechase races. I wouldn't be training race horses right now. But things do not always go according to plan when the race track is involved. I started galloping horses, got hooked on the race track and here I am."
Helen quickly worked her way up the backstretch racing ladder and became an assistant to trainer Kenny McPeek in 2000. "It's amazing how the race track gets into your blood and it becomes your whole life. I worked closely with Kenny and really learned a lot, not only about horses, but how to deal with owners. In 2005, when Kenny decided to take a break from training and become a bloodstock agent he was very instrumental in getting me set-up and starting my own racing operation. All of our owners knew they had to find a new trainer, so I was very grateful when they all decided to give me a shot. I had gotten to know all of our owners over the years and I think the trust and constant contact I had with them during that time was key in their decision to entrust me with the entire stable."
In a relatively short training career, Helen has been around a couple of real nice horses. "I was fortunate to have Curlin for his first career start. We thought Curlin was a nice horse, but we quickly realized he was really something special. When they're something special, people with plenty of money usually come looking to buy them. Well, the people came, with plenty of money, and the rest is history."
Little did Helen know that a Brazilian-bred horse named Einstein was about to take her mind off of Curlin. "Einstein was foaled in Brazil and was sent here to the United States to be broken. He was actually an October foal, so we had to take our time with him. Einstein was the type of horse that loved to train - he actually enjoyed the morning routines we put him through, but again, we had to take it slow with him - and it paid off. Einstein ran every race of his career under my care and I'm proud to say we did pretty good with him. We won graded stakes on three different surfaces."
After a career that took the Pitts-Blasi Racing Stable to a number of different race tracks, Einstein left the gates for the last time in the Clark Handicap on November 27. 2009 at Churchill Downs. He finished third in a usual game effort after encountering trouble that kept him blocked until deep stretch. Helen had mentioned in an interview on HRTV that she had never seen a horse that loved the game and enjoyed racing like Einstein. "He didn't win his last out, but he went out fighting like the champion he was. He was brilliant." Einstein is scheduled to start his new career as a stallion at the Adena Springs Farm near Paris, Kentucky this breeding season.
Life after Einstein has been good for Helen with new horses and new challenges. "I'm fortunate that I continue to have the opportunity to train for a number of good owners. I've got 30 in training here at the Fair Grounds and about 35 more on the farm getting ready, so hopefully the possibility of another Curlin or Einstein is there. Some of my owners have home-breds and some are always looking to buy young horses. Either way, there's always that chance of another special one coming along.
As for this current season, this is my first full-time stay at the Fair Grounds and I'm enjoying my time here. The main surface is good, so my horses train and run well over it. The rainy weathers been very tough on the turf course, so a lot of races have been taken off the grass. But that's beyond anybody's control. Overall, it's a good, competitive meet and my horses fit with this competition and I'm looking forward to coming back."
At the conclusion of this meeting race fans can expect the Pitts-Blasi travelling show to make appearances at such tracks as Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Delaware Park. Chances are very good that a part of the show may be coming to a race track near you. Check your race track entries and headlines for appearance dates and times.
*****The annual Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fundraiser is coming up on Tuesday, March 16th at the Best Western Landmark Hotel. Practice your dance moves, because a dance contest will be the highlight of the night. All of the information you'll need is coming-up in next week's blog.***** There will be a karoake party this Sunday night, February 28th at Salvatore's in Fat City on North Arnoult Raod from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. and I'll be your host. If you can sing or think you can sing, or just want to sit-back and listen, then come out and join us for our version of "Karaoke Roulette".