By DRF.com
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 29, 2017) — On Sunday morning, shortly before California Chrome was to fly to Kentucky and take up residence at Taylor Made Farm, farm co-owner Frank Taylor said California Chrome had “some heat and some filling” in the knee.
“He’s sound to walk, but he’s off at the jog,” Taylor said.
California Chrome was perfectly fine to travel to Kentucky, but Taylor said he would be X-rayed on arrival at Taylor Made, and that the X-rays would be read by the noted veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage. Barring something unforeseen, Taylor said California Chrome would be able to be bred to mares, and in fact he was scheduled to be in the company of some test mares on Wednesday as he is quickly taught his new duties; the breeding season commences in mid-February.
“Normally we get them right after the Breeders’ Cup, have a bigger window,” Taylor said. “He’s not going to have to put much weight on his front legs for awhile. It would be different if it was a hind leg.”
Taylor said that if California Chrome “is sound to walk, he’s sound to breed mares.” He said his hope was that the X-rays would show nothing untoward, because he’d like to turn California Chrome out in a paddock. “Let him be a horse,” he said.
California Chrome was brought out of his stall at Gulfstream Park shortly after 8:30 a.m. and walked – without showing any discomfort – to the awaiting horse van. A large crowd, mostly of his fans, followed as groom Raul Rodriguez led him to the van. Rodriguez and Taylor Made’s stallion manager, Gilberto Terrazas, were to fly with him on the Tex Sutton charter to Kentucky.
After California Chrome loaded on the van, and Rodriguez waved goodbye, several in the crowd started weeping.
“We’ve never had a horse this popular with the people at our farm,” said Duncan Taylor, Frank’s brother and another farm co-owner.