In occupied Paris, during 1942 and 1943, Allied bombers hit the Renault factory near Longchamp Racecourse, then a few months later attacked the racecourse itself in a raid that killed a reported 30 patrons. In fairness, both were valid targets. The factory was churning out material for the German war effort and, at Longchamp, the Germans had placed anti-aircraft artillery in the infield. Perhaps April 4, 1943, was not a good day to go racing.
In early July 1944, at Royal Windsor Racecourse just east of London, the racing day was underway when a German V1 "Flying Bomb" landed and exploded in a nearby field. No one was hurt, and the racegoers, according to one report, were unruffled.
On Saturday, March 28, in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai World Cup Festival will unfold in the midst of a regional crisis that, as recently as March 26, cost two lives in the neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi caused by falling debris from missile intercepts.
Racetrackers are a fearless tribe, though, soldiering on through thick and thin. The ferocious gales that tore through Dubai late this week were of more immediate concern, prompting one wise guy to suggest that the forecast for World Cup night might be "showers, with a chance of shrapnel."
So, the sport turns its collar to the fog of war and delves into the Dubai World Cup (G1) itself, contested for the 30th time and featuring Forever Young, a champion on two continents and candidate for the most widely traveled domestic animal since the Soviets launched the Siberian husky Laika into space.
It would appear that the 1 1/4-mile race is Forever Young's to lose, as long as he can survive the prerace testing procedures in one piece. Last year, according to trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Forever Young left his race in a dark and scary holding tunnel at Meydan Racecourse during the collection of a urine sample. (HIWU, please pay no attention.)
Forever Young still finished third, even on an off day, and we all know what happened later that year at Del Mar, when the colt beat the best America had to offer—minus Sovereignty—in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Steve Asmussen was there that day, having no luck with a couple of entrants. But that did not stop him from savoring the experience.
"I am a huge fan of Forever Young," Asmussen said. "And as crazy as we are about him in racing over here, can you imagine what Japan feels about him? How could you not like the people who travel with him? I remember one morning before the race they all came out wearing Dodgers jerseys, in honor of the Japanese players in the World Series that week."
Asmussen will be represented in the World Cup by Winchell Thoroughbreds' Magnitude, his first starter in the $10 million event since Midnight Bourbon finished fifth to Country Grammer in 2022. The son of Not This Time wrapped up his 3-year-old campaign with a half-length score over Hit Show in the Clark Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs. A fever knocked him out of consideration for the Saudi Cup (G1), but he bounced back to take the Razorback Handicap (G3) in late February, carrying 123 pounds. All World Cup starters carry 126.
Hit Show, the defending champ, is the only other United States-trained runner in the field of nine, making for one of the smallest contingents in the history of the race.
American interests used to win the World Cup all the time. OK, maybe not all the time, but seven out of the first 14 is not too shabby, especially for horses traveling halfway around the world. Never mind that the mile and a quarter on dirt caters to the U.S. racing way of life. It takes a special horse to tolerate the journey and then reproduce the necessary form.
That first collection of special Americans included Cigar, Silver Charm, Captain Steve, Pleasantly Perfect, Roses in May, Curlin , and Well Armed. After those first 14 World Cups, the race was moved to Meydan, and the rest of the world began to catch up. Only three of the subsequent 15 World Cups have been won by horses owned all or in part by American interests: Animal Kingdom, California Chrome , and Country Grammer.
Ron Winchell, who paid $450,000 for Magnitude as a yearling, made the trip to Dubai for the race, but Asmussen is remaining stateside. He claims the reason he did not ship was the Arkansas Derby (G1) run Saturday as well, in which Asmussen will saddle Winchell's Taptastic, a son of Tapit , who has won his only start. He's 20-1 on the morning line.
"At least that's the reason I'm throwing out there," Asmussen said with a laugh. "In truth, I'm a bit of a coward. Not so much that something might happen, but that I might get stuck over there."
The Gulf News reports 11 deaths and 169 injuries in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai caused by missile and drone strikes from Iran during the monthlong hostilities. At one point, Dubai International Airport was briefly closed.
Scott Blasi, Asmussen's veteran assistant, has been handling Magnitude at Meydan. Was the boss not concerned that his top man might be temporarily stranded?
"Actually, I think he would enjoy it," Asmussen said. "He's somebody I'm getting 22 hours a day of work from, so he might like a week in a hotel room."
Blasi's reports have been good.
"Magnitude looks beautiful," said Asmussen, who gets regular video clips. "He's kind of got that personality now where he likes attention, really accepting of who he is. That tells me they've got an understanding of their job. What I appreciate so much in a horse is effort. He comes out of his stall these days ready and happy to do what's expected of him.
"After the Razorback, he had one work in New Orleans and one work over there, by plan," the trainer said. "It was a smooth five-eighths both times. He's a big, gallop-out horse who helps us keep him fit. I thought he was spot on in his work last weekend at Meydan."
If Magnitude can take down Forever Young—Horse of the Year in Japan and champion older dirt male in the U.S.—Asmussen will regret not being present to help Winchell hoist the trophy. Still, it would go a long way toward finally erasing the taste of the 2017 World Cup. That is when Asmussen sent forth Gun Runner to produce the best race of his life and still finish second to Arrogate, who missed the break, lagged in last, then inhaled the field like Zenyatta.
"Our colt has run some really fast races over four different surfaces and, with the rain, I like his chances even more so," Asmussen said. "I feel that same kind of confidence I had with Gun Runner going in this time. But then an other-worldly effort can beat you, like happened that night. And Forever Young might be an other-worldly kind of horse."
