Watching Cordell Anderson steer the horse forward under the bright lights of the Keeneland sales booth, and anyone knows what they are looking at, it becomes immediately clear – this person Very good at his work.
On the surface, the concept of a person standing on the other end of a horse doesn’t sound like a complicated interaction, but Anderson can easily make a yearling yearling or how he helps a star become relaxed and comfortable. Superstars are more like choreographed dances. If there is space between the partners, he will fill it seamlessly. When he needs to let the horse know his singles number, he can stand on the cusp of the spotlight, and as long as he has enough control rights, he can control his partner.
Like any good dance routine, part of the technique is to make complex movements and small nonverbal communication with a partner appear routine. This is Anderson’s talent. The energy he consumes is usually reflected in the horses he manipulates, so he has developed an extraordinary ability that can remain stable in any situation.
Anderson said: “If someone is really willing to listen and learn, they can learn, but this is also something God has given.” “For me, this is a gift. I do a lot with horses, and they don’t seem to mind. I You can hold your calf and walk with me and them under their stomachs. They stand there like me and take them in. It’s amazing. I love horses and have always loved them.”
Anderson’s handling of horses is natural to him, but it does not stem from generations of equestrian history. His family grew up farm animals in Jamaica-goats, pigs, and chickens-and he was taught to treat them gently since he was a child, but his introduction to horses came from a nearby farm that he passed by every day. At the age of 18, he went to work there.
The farm is the horse of Eileen Cliggott, one of Jamaica’s cornerstone trainers, and the pioneer of female hair conditioner in the country. Her factory is a factory designed to serve successful participants in the racing world on the island and other regions, including jockey Richard Depass, who has won third-tier drivers in the United States many times. champion
He said: “As a groom in Jamaica, you have to ride your own horse.” “You come in the morning, groom them, saddle them, take them to the track, and gallop them. When it comes to the breeze At times, they would ask jockeys to ride them.”
During his time in the horse, Anderson began to work with Distincly Restless, a mare transported from New York, who soon became acquainted with him. The female horse is owned by John Munroe and his wife. They noticed the formation of bonds and also recognized that Anderson must have the ability to steer horses.
”[Mrs.. [Monroe] asked me to hold the pony so that she could take pictures, and then she told me what to do-one leg like this, the other leg like this, so I did it.” Anderson said. “Her husband was talking to the coach over there, and she shouted,’John, John, John. Look at this. See how he hugs this horse perfectly. He is born.
He continued: “The lioness ran and beat the boy in the first game she participated in, and they decided to take her back to the United States.” “The filly was so attached to me, they said,’Well, we It’s better to have you with her.’”
At the time, Anderson, who was about 21 years old, failed to obtain a permanent visa in time to follow the filly back to New York, but he tracked the mare’s career. When the mare retired to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky (Taylor Made Farm), he went to join her in 1981.
Anderson took Taylor Made’s combat skills to a new level, thanks to his learning under the leadership of Duncan Taylor and his brothers. After the auction house’s one-year-old inspection team discovered his equestrian skills, his time there eventually led him to work as a smoker in Keeneland. At the auction in November 1988, he joined Keeneland.
Normally, this sale is a torture of rapid shooting, with a two-person circus rushing to buy horses. Sellers with high hopes may receive an investigation report from the seller, but in most cases, Anderson and his colleagues shudder every time a horse steps into the racecourse. Having said that, Anderson has developed some skills to help him deal with every new challenge.
He said: “Most of the time, I have a few seconds to read this horse.” “Sometimes I will stand at the back door and watch them there and see how they are. I will see them and outside Performing together. Once they touched my hand, it was another horse. I had a lot of people coming to me and saying, “That horse is too unruly. Once you take them away, they will changed. what have you done? ‘”
”I’m not nervous, it was the first place,” Anderson said. “The horse can feel you, and all the vibrations come from you, so I try not to let that come out. Besides, I have never been so scared of anyone, unless he is really big and wants to beat you. Some breeders don’t Good, but yearlings are really easy.”
Keeneland’s team of male and female riders went from top to bottom with elite horse managers, and Anderson’s contemporaries recognized his unique ability to make horses show their best.
”Cordell is one of the best ever,” said Ron Hill, who has worked with Anderson for most of the two decades. “He has a different style from mine, but our views are the same. His work speaks for itself. No one alive has a multi-million dollar horse like Cordell Anderson. That says it all. “
With such praise, one might think that seven-figure horses will eventually bring ambiguity to Anderson, but this would be a mistake. In the process from promise to profit, the opportunity to spend some time with the horses is immature, but instead gave him another chance and included him on his reputation list.
In particular, Anderson said that he fondly remembers selling the work of prospector Fusaichi Pegasus co-bred and commissioned by Arthur Hancock III’s “Stone Farm”, which was made in 1998. Keeneland sold for $4 million at an auction in July. He went on to win the 2000 Kentucky Derby Championship and finished second in the Preakness Stakes.
”Arthur told me this horse would sell well, and he said,’When you get him, start smiling because your smile really works,’” Anderson said. “He is a big horse. I thought he would cause me a little trouble, but he didn’t do anything. Many times, they entered there and froze. They began to doubt it from the sound heard above the auctioneer’s head. Where did things come from.”
For all the expensive horses that Anderson has guided, his memory is equally strong for the lower-priced horses that later surpassed the price of the hammer.
What is impressive is Curlin, a Smart Strike pony who was sold to Kenny McPeek as an agent at the auction in September 2005 for $57,000. He later became the Hall of Fame, won the Horse of the Year twice, earned more than $10 million, and is one of the top business fathers in the market today.
He said: “When I saw Curlin selling at such a low price, I stuck my head out, like’Come on, don’t you want to buy this horse?’” favorite things.”
The one-year-old sales season is different from any season in memory and extends to the inside of the ring. Both Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton decided not to use Ringmen to limit potential COVID-19 exposure. Instead, performers with individual consignors insisted on riding horses all the time on the field, while a regular Keeneland rider stood by to provide you with guidance, if needed, or if The yearlings became too unruly and stepped in.
For Anderson, who lives with his son William in Lexington, Kentucky, this is a different September, but he has a lot of money to keep him busy working for owner Jim McKinville’s barn. After winning one of the main hands of Eclipse Grand Prize winner Runhappy, he gained national fame, after which he worked with the first larvae of Runhappy owned by McIngvale.
Anderson, 64, knows his reputation well and has a great calming effect on horses. He said that people are still asking him how to be a horse. However, the root of the problem has changed from being surprised to know the answer after a big deal to an answer that they want to know so that they can imitate it themselves. He pointed out that, like Keeneland’s colleague Aaron Kennedy, he is a young man in the industry with a bright future and can be used as a “big deal” to deal with big horses.
For anyone who wants to follow Anderson’s footsteps, he said that soft hands and Teflon’s demeanor are essential. Like a good dance partner, this horse will follow in your footsteps.
He said: “All you have to do is to be patient, stay calm, smile, and don’t let anything disturb you.” “If you let things bother you, it will be the thing that disappoints you the most. Your boss may say something to you. If it makes you angry, then everything becomes anachronistic. Once your adrenaline starts, everything is messed up, so you don’t want that. You have to swallow it and continue.”
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Post time: Mar-12-2021