Carlspur's journey back

Last year veteran pacer Carlspur was Monticello Raceway’s Horse of the Year and not long after his owners received the award the pacer was stricken with an extremely bad case of colic and was rushed to New Bolton Center in greater Philadelphia for emergency surgery. After a two-plus hour surgery where a good portion of the horse's intestines had to be removed the pacer began his long road back and now it appears that Carlspur has made it through the rain but not without many anxious moments by all concerned.

A rigid regiment was prescribed after the horses surgery by the operating veterinarians, one which was followed to a tee by the pacer's connections. Carlspur has made tremendous progress and is currently back in harness after what must seem an eternity to the horses owners.

Co-owner Tom Trezza explains the horses tedious plight in his journey back to the races.

“Carlspur got his shoes back on last Wednesday (Feb. 2) and started jogging back that day," he said. "After spending a month in his stall with just hand walking, and then a month in a very small paddock followed by another month in a larger paddock, he was ready for his next stage in his hopeful return to the races.

“Everyone at Skyview Farms (Salerno's) says that it was like life was being put back in the old guy; he started screaming and howling with delight. He only went one mile on Wednesday and Thursday and two miles on Friday and Saturday. He can hardly be held right now because he's so full of himself. He knows that it's back to work and the word is that he's loving it.

“Tony Salerno (co-owner and trainer) and his grooms are saying that Carlspur still thinks he's a 3 year old and not 11. Plans are for him to use the next few weeks to slowly build his miles up--he's never needed a lot of training--and then when we turn him to go a slow trip we'll know how he's really doing and how long it might be.

“We're being cautious but our plan is for February to be his jogging foundation miles-and then maybe start slow training miles starting around March 1. We would love to think that after a month-plus of training miles we might be able to start him in a couple of qualifiers in mid April. So far he's coming along great and we're all excited to see if we can make one more run before hopefully finding that breeding home for him in 2008.”

Carlspur, 11, has 71 wins; 37 seconds and 28 thirds in 251 starts and has earned $882,361 up to this point. His lifetime mark is 1:48 taken as a 9 year old at the Meadowlands and his fastest clocking last season, (as a 10 year old) was 1:53:2.

Five of his victories last season were at the Mighty M with the fastest a 1:54:4 clocking. Carlpsur was also victorious in 1:55, 1:55.1, 1:55.2 and 1:55.3 against the best pacers on the grounds. (Monticello)

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