Delmar Deb:

I will not make a statement regarding Alydar's death because I am still not
convinced either way.

What is certain is that author Ann Hagedorn Auerbach is able to document how JT
Lundy almost singlehandedly took estates and a farm valued at over $250
million,and turned it into a farm which had claims in bankruptcy totaling over
$167 million dollars, and left the heirs of Lucille Parker Wright Markey
penniless.

The Eclipse Dinner is described as a watershed event of sorts in that when
Lundy and Lukas failed to recognize the Wright family in their acceptance
speeches (Criminal Type was Champion Handicap Horse and Horse of the Year)
(apparently they weren't even aware that Bertha Wright was in attendance), Ms.
Wright finally got angry enough to look into what her son-in-law, JT Lundy, was
doing with Calumet. At that point she realized that her trust in Lundy was
misplaced,and it was far too late to do anything about it.

Tim Conway of course was able to provide a little comic relief. In the middle of
interrupting a slightly exasperated D Wayne Lukas' acceptance speech, Bertha
Wright suddenly looked up at Conway and "said with a wide grin, 'I love you as
a comedian, I think you're great'."

"Conway, easing tensions, leaned over the podium: "You didn't have time to talk,
with everybody up here screwing around collecting awards'".

Once again, Wild Ride is a must read. This great farm was so short of cash that
when the final horses were sold at auction at Keeneland, they were hand walked
the three miles from Calumet to the sales pavillion. The author paints a
poignant picture of this slow sad procession.

Also very sad is reading how trainer John Ward, called in by the Wrights to try
to save the farm, gradually comes to realize that Calumet's debt load will
dictate that liquidation of the farm and the bloodstock is the only real option.

The book is not without humor, as author shares with reader a raucous joke the
punch line for which gave the colt So Tell Me Laddie his name.

Buy the book. If I tell any more stories from it the author won't send me my
check.