[Photos provided]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Foal Patrol Project, a livestream initiative where people can view realtime videos of several in-foal mares during their pregnancy and through the actual foaling process. Livestreams are available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with extended hour as the expected foaling date approaches, at
www.foalpatrol.com. At 5:50 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, the first foal was delivered by Sabbatical, a mare owned by Phipps Stable at the historic Claiborne Farm. The foal, which is a bay colt by War Front, arrived earlier than its’ projected due date, which was Jan. 28. Both Sabbatical and the foal are healthy.
“We’re so excited to see the first foal of Foal Patrol. Congratulations to Phipps Stable and everyone at Claiborne Farm,” said director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Cathy Marino.
“We are thrilled they agreed to be part of this new initiative of the Museum. One of the Museum’s priorities is to make the sport of thoroughbred racing accessible to as many people as possible and Foal Patrol is a wonderful way for people to get unprecedented insight into the breeding of a racehorse, one of the most essential components of the sport. We’re looking forward to seeing this colt grow and develop on the way to the racetrack,” said Marino.
A contest has been set up on www.foalpatrol.com for name suggestions, the winner will receive a prize package, including a tour of Claiborne Farm. The next mare, Breeder’s Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria, is projected to deliver her foal at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky around Feb. 2.