Hoss Talk

   A lesson in fertility.

   Last Saturday, Sharon and Jerry Renkers got news that two of their standardbred mares were pregnant. What makes this interesting is, not only did the mares not meet the father, neither did the Renkers.

   Their mares, Scooter Dear and Not in the Mood, were impregnated by artificial insemination. It's a practice that's been used in the standardbred industry for years but it's not allowed in thoroughbred racing.

   Here is how it went. After months of studying all types of books on breeding, the Renkers decided they would like to try to inject some new bloodlines into the B.C. standardbred breeding industry.

   The stallion they chose was Jenna's Beach Boy. ``I had been studying all the stallion records and noticed that this year Jenna's Beach Boy was the top sire for two-year-olds in North America,'' said Jerry Renker.

   After making the decision to use that stallion, he contacted owners Peninsula Farms in Lexington, Kentucky, about a possible mating. The stud fee of $7,500 US is to be paid when the foal nurses.

   If an owner chooses, he may opt to go a riskier route and get a discount by paying cash up front.

   The Renkers' initial intention was to breed only Scooter Dear but, when Not in the Mood suddenly got into the mood, they paid the extra $7,500 for the mating.

   Last week they called the farm in Kentucky to let them know their mares were ready and waiting.

   On Friday, the farm called to tell them Jenna's Big Boy's semen was ready for shipping.

   ``Because there is a 24- to 48-hour time frame for that semen to be used, it is packed in a container with liquid nitrogen to keep it cool,'' said Renker. ``The farm then calls FedEx, which delivers it to the local airport.''

   Informed it was on the way, rather than chance any foul-ups at the border that could weaken the semen, the Renkers got up at the crack of dawn Saturday and drove to Seattle to pick up their prized   package.

   With time running out, they drove back home with their future dreams in the back seat.

   Using their cell phone, they were in constant contact with veterinarian Dr. John Alexender as to the time status.

   With minutes to spare, they arrived. And within an hour's time, both mares had been impregnated.

   Several hours later, Jerry lit up a cigar, Sharon got out the balloons and they celebrated. Both mares are fine and the procedure was a success.

   The joy of horse racing is not always on the racetrack.

   FINISH LINES: Sport of Kings Saturday 7 p.m. on Shaw Cable looks at how betting odds are set, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the recent International Drivers Championship race at Fraser Downs. ... How about the (unnamed) owner who bet me that Kylie Bax will never have trouble getting jockeys to ride her horses? Bax, a supermodel,
   appears on the cover of this month's issue of Playboy. ... It appears that B.C.'s top standardbred, Fast Lane Cruizin, has no favourites when it comes to putting rivals behind her. Recently, the popular mare narrowly defeated her full older brother, Fast Lane Phillips, by a neck.
 

Source: Vancouver Province
E-mail Tommy Wolski at twolski@home.com