(Biscuits by Kacey Musgraves from her studio album, Pageant Material)

 

And life has definitely been gravy ever since Trainer and Co-Owner Chad Summer teamed-up with New York-bred Horse of the Year (2016), Mind Your Biscuits.

 

Mind Your Biscuits is one of North America’s top sprinters. The 4-year-old son of Posse won six of his starts including the Dubai Dubai Golden Shaheenon the 2017 Dubai World Cup card. He has earned US$ 2,509,166 in prize money till date. Summers owns Mind Your Biscuits together with his father and brother, having purchased the colt privately when he did not meet his reserve at the OBS April 2-year-old in training sale, with a minority stake later purchased by Head of Plains Partners and Michael Kisber.

 

Other horses Summers has purchased at the sales, and later sold privately, include G1 winner Off the Tracks, multiple G3 winner Tommy Macho, and G3 winner Arella Rockstar.

 

In a telephone interview with Secretariat’s World, Summers talks about Mind Your Biscuits and their upcoming season in Dubai.

 

SW: What is on your radar for him in 2018? He is top of his game and of course a 5 year old. How long do you intend to continue racing Mind Your Biscuits?

 

CS: We have decided to continue racing him in 2018. Mind Your Biscuits is definitely coming back to defend his Dubai Golden Shaheen title in March. It would be the first time that a horse wins the title, two years in a row. This year he is bigger, stronger and faster. We have plans to enter him again for the Breeder’s Cup this year and then retire him after the Pegasus World Cup 2019.

 

SW: What is your favourite racing moment with Mind Your Biscuits?

 

CS: The Dubai Golden Shaheen was the biggest race for his career and mine. (The Dubai Golden Shaheen was the first big race Mind Your Biscuits was entered in, after Summers took over the care of Mind Your Biscuits from 23-year-old Robert Falcone Jr.) He won the US$ 2 million race which no one expected. A lot of people said that we didn’t have a chance and we should continue to race him in New York.

 

SW: What were your concerns, if any, after the Dubai World Cup (2017) night?

 

CS: Again, a lot of people said that horses do not handle the Dubai trip well. As a new trainer, I was very anxious for my charge, whowas aimed at the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes. But he raced really well in both the Belmont Sprint Championship Stakes as well as the Cigar Mile.

 

SW: What if any are new strategies do you have in-mind for Mind Your Biscuits' Dubai racing?

 

CS: We have a lot of new strategies and we are very excited about Dubai. We spoke to a lot of people, who were a big help in helping us cover all the bases. We have also started preparing him for the long walk from the stables to the Meydan track in the mornings and keeping him well hydrated for the race. (Read more about racehorse dehydration here). The electrolyte balance is very important and we expect 2018 to be a lot together with horses like Roy H expected to join Mind Your Biscuits in the field.

 

SW: What kind of a personality is Mind Your Biscuits?

 

CS: He loves people. He will stop and pose. You have to give him a carrot or a peppermint to get him started at the track. Infact he is more settled down than when he was a two year old. At the time, he would life me off the ground in jest and wanted rap music to walk. Although he is a pure professional on the track, he needs to be bribed with cookies and peppermints some times when he is off the track,.

 

He can be a giant baby at times. He accidentally stepped on my foot after the Cigar Mile. He immediately realized how much in pain I was and made ‘sheep’s eyes’ to apologise. He seemed to be saying sorry.

 

SW: Who chose the name, ‘Mind Your Biscuits’? How did it come about?

 

CS: I and my brothers were driving through Tampa, Florida listening to the radio. This great song came on, which was called Biscuits by KaceyMusgraves. I was joking when I said ‘you gotta name a horse Mind Your Biscuits’. A few months down the line, when we decided keep a colt who didn’t meet his reserve price my brother insisted we name him Mind Your Biscuits. And the legend continues!

 

The brilliant horse and his charming trainer will be back in Dubai towards the end of March (2018) to defend their Dubai Golden Shaheen title. Secretariat’s World wishes them all the best!