Wandering Eyes

A year after the devastating fire that killed 46 horses at San Luis Rey Training Center, the horrifying memories are still fresh. View the full article

Henry Ford once said: “My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.” For Andrew Byrd, an 11-year-old from Port St Lucie, FL, his first best friend was a horse named Bridger who came into his life two years ago. Andrew rode Bridger every week at Holly Creek STAR Hippotherapy Center. They rode at a walk and Andrew told Bridger all of his dreams and secrets. When Andrew’s parents had to tell him of Bridger’s sudden death, they knew he would be devastated. Andrew, who is extremely kind and empathetic, suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. “He cried for Bridger every day for weeks,” says Georgia Byrd, Andrew’s adopted mother. “It wasn’t getting better. We didn’t know what to do because we never thought we would find another horse like Bridger who would be so kind and patient with Andrew.” His sadness did not abate. After a few weeks, Andrew’s therapist had an idea. She brought the family to meet Katie Schmit at Florida TRAC. Schmit knew they were looking for a hippotherapy horse that would spend most of his time walking or just being a buddy. She brought out Kitty Litter, a Florida-bred of 2004 by Catienus who ran 65 times in his five-year career and earned $51,628. Andrew rode Kitty and they immediately connected. Georgia Byrd recalls: “After their ride, Andy came over to me and said, ‘I like him. And, I think he likes me.'” The Byrds made the decision to adopt Kitty Litter on the spot. “I felt Kitty Litter would be a good choice for Georgia’s family as he is so calm, self-assured and nonchalant,” recalls Schmit. “We saw, over the years, that the more time and attention we gave Kitty Litter, the more he tuned into us, listened and tried to please. So, I felt he would thrive in this special role.” “He is kind and tries incredibly hard to do what is asked of him,” Schmit added. “There isn’t a mean or argumentative bone in his body.” Kitty Litter has been renamed Panda Bear by Andrew, who is known by his family as Panda Boy. The entire family showers kindness, carrots and apples on Panda Bear, and all of the horses at the farm. Andrew’s sister Faith is also learning-disabled and has her own horse, an Arab named Gizmo. “We thank God every day for Florida TRAC for giving Andy his best friend, Panda Bear,” said Georgia Byrd. “The kids can be having a really rough day but the horses change everything,” explained their father Barry Byrd. “The kids become calm and content in their work. They love to be with their horses, groom them and generally care for them as well as ride.” Andrew and his sister brush and tack their horses with help from their parents, who watch over the activities. Then, the siblings ride their horses all over the property which is entirely fenced in. Panda patiently ambles with Andrew and never offers to break from a walk. While Andrew still fondly remembers Bridger, he says about his new horse Panda Bear: “He is my best buddy.” Florida TRAC has adopted out hundreds of horses. Matches like Kitty Litter and Andrew Byrd are special because of the uniqueness of their bond. “While we have placed several wonderful OTTBs as companions and therapy horses, as well as into upper level show barns, the majority of our horses are adopted by amateur pleasure riders, many of whom show at various levels in a wide variety of disciplines,” explained Schmit. “That’s the beauty of the OTTB; there isn’t much they aren’t good at.” On making this match, Schmit says: “It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s a life-changing win for Andrew, and for Panda Bear, too. There is nothing more gratifying than seeing these horses find their purpose, as they thrive on having one as well as being appreciated and loved. Andrew deserved a very special horse and I am so happy Panda Bear found the special spot!” “I know how much the horses I have had in my life have affected me,” added Schmit. “Seeing the team make a match like the one between Andrew and Panda feels like just a bit of my debt getting paid back for the happiness these animals have brought me in my life.” For more information about Florida TRAC, go to www.fltrac.org. Diana Pikulski is the editor of the Thoroughbred Adoption Network, a searchable online database of adoptable off-track Thoroughbreds. View the full article

Multiple graded stakes champ and fan favorite Melmich seeks his second Valedictory crown, while stablemate Pumpkin Rumble goes after his third straight score on the season, both sent out by trainer Kevin Attard. View the full article

LAKE LOCAL (f, 2, Street Boss–White Waves, by Any Given Saturday), unveiled at 3-1 here, hustled up to press fellow firster Gun Club (Trappe Shot) from second through early fractions of :21.92 and :46.47. The pair battled down the lane with Lake Local forging past her rival late and extending clear to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:05.61. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Michael Stidham. View the full article

The New York Racing Association has announced the track announcer schedule for the 2018-19 winter and spring meets at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

After winning the first 13 races of his career in Mexico and sweeping that country's Triple Crown, Kukulkan will take on the top horses from his region in the $300,000 Caribbean Classic Stakes Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

In 2017, Irad Ortiz Jr. was a frequent visitor to the Clasico Internacional del Caribe winner's circle, capturing three of the five stakes in the event held at Gulfstream Park for the first time. View the full article

Odanis Acuna, a veteran exercise rider for trainer Kenny McPeek, died last month during a training accident at Churchill Downs. He was 42. On behalf of his wife and children, the McPeek Racing Family has been raising money through a GoFundMe page-currently up to more than $123,000–to ease the financial burden during this very difficult time. Click here to donate. View the full article

Seeking the Soul (Perfect Soul {Ire}), winner of last term’s GI Clark H. and runner-up in the GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Nov. 3, is targeting the $9-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park. “I’m looking forward to it,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “The horse is doing great.” The Charles E. Fipke homebred, third as the favorite while attempting to defend his title in the Clark Nov. 2, returned to the worktab with a four-furlong breeze in :51.00 (88/115) at Fair Grounds Nov. 23. “He was second in the Breeders’ Cup to a very nice horse, and he’s competed well all year,” Stewart said. “He just had one bad race up at Saratoga for some reason, but a lot of horses get off form up there. The horse has had a really good year. He didn’t do so well in the Clark, but he didn’t do bad. He came out of it good.” Calumet Farm’s True Timber (Mineshaft), a strong second in the GI Cigar Mile H. Dec. 1, is also Pegasus bound. He is the second horse owned by Calumet Farm targeting the Pegasus following the announcement by Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas that Bravazo (Awesome Again) would be heading in that direction, too. “He ran a huge race in the Cigar Mile and he galloped out really strong, so we talked it over with the owners and decided to point for the Pegasus,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “It’s a big event and hopefully we get in there and run good and everything works out and we enjoy the day.” View the full article

Even as Frankie Dettori accepted his fancy watch as 2018 Longines World's Best Jockey during the Hong Kong International Races festivities Dec. 7, he was looking ahead to another stellar year in 2019, and a few more years to come. View the full article

5th-AQU, $68,000, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, post time: 2:47 p.m. ET Don Alberto Stable’s BIRDY NUM (Tapit), a $1-million Keeneland September yearling purchase, debuts for trainer Tom Albertrani. The gray filly is the second foal out of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can (Proud Citizen) and she is a full-sister to stakes winner and graded stakes placed Believe in Royalty. Also debuting is Magic Cap Stables’ Katama Moonlight (Malibu Moon), a full-sister to graded stakes winner Noble Moon. Trained by Chad Brown, the bay filly was a $400,000 Keeneland September purchase. Kiaran McLaughlin sends out Cheyenne Stables’ Cariba (Cairo Prince). The $400,000 Keeneland September yearling was fifth going 6 1/2 furlongs at this track in her Nov. 3 debut. TJCIS PPs. 8th-GPX, $60,000, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 4:05 p.m. ET Robert Masiello’s OWNITIFYOUWANTIT (Midshipman) debuts for trainer Tom Albertrani. The colt sold for $435,000 after working a furlong in :10 flat at this year’s OBS April sale. Todd Pletcher saddles Repole Stable’s firster Sea Shark (Bernardini), a $310,000 Keeneland September yearling. The bay colt is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes winner Merry Meadow (Henny Hughes). TJCIS PPs. View the full article

It’s close, but I’m siding with Accelerate because he raced all year long and won all the Grade I races he was in, five of them. His only loss was by a neck to a horse (City of Light) who was an impressive winner in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. That’s an impressive resume to me. I’m not one of those people who thinks, ‘It’s always been done this way, so it’s got to be done this way now.’ In terms of tradition in racing, I know there are a lot of people who say a Triple Crown winner should be Horse of the Year no matter what. I just don’t think that way. If Justify had raced all year long it would be a slam dunk. But since we didn’t get to see that, as impressive as he looked in the Triple Crown, when you look back at it, how good was that crop of 3-year-olds? I’m not sure that they were that great. He won his races in slow times and the Belmont S. was run in a controversial manner. All those things factor into my decision. If Justify had been the first Triple Crown winner in 40 years, I am sure a lot of people would be looking at this differently. But I’m not looking at it that way. I’m not saying the Triple Crown is easy to win. What I’m looking at is the two horses side by side. While it was impressive that he was undefeated, he only raced for four months, he raced against a group where I’m not sure how strong the quality was and we never got a chance to see him race against older horses. Jagow is an Eclipse Award voter. View the full article

In Response to Bill Finley’s Dec. 7 Op/Ed: Times Have Changed: Eclipse Awards Need Rules What really should happen, but it probably won’t because that’s just the way it is, champions in each division should be determined as they are in every country in Europe, by the rating assigned by a designated handicapper or group of handicappers. It should not be left in the hands of voters, who in too many instances, are either ill informed or biased. If you want to have an Eclipse Award for popularity like the Cartier Awards, go ahead and do that. Cartier Award winners are not recognized as champions in sales catalogs, which is where it counts. You can still do that. But year-end handicap ratings to assess the runners in each discipline are actually done by The Jockey Club and should designate our champions. -Barry Irwin, CEO Team Valor International View the full article

Even as Frankie Dettori accepted his fancy watch as 2018 Longines World's Best Jockey during the Hong Kong International Races festivities Dec. 7, he was looking ahead to another stellar year in 2019, and a few more years to come. View the full article

In 2017 Irad Ortiz Jr. was a frequent visitor to the Clasico Internacional del Caribe winner's circle, capturing three of the five stakes in the event held at Gulfstream Park for the first time. View the full article

Grade 1-winning millionaire Seeking the Soul and multiple graded stakes-placed True Timber are both headed to the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, the track confirmed Dec. 7. View the full article

Stud David Y Daniel's El Kurdo, second in the Invitational Cup Stakes during last year's Clasico Internacional del Caribe program, will have a chance to improve that finish Dec. 8 at Gulfstream Park. View the full article

New York regulators will advance new rules next week affecting everything from equine drug violation penalties and backstretch housing requirements to safety equipment worn at racetracks. View the full article

New York regulators next week will advance new rules affecting everything from equine drug violation penalties and backstretch housing requirements to safety equipment worn at racetracks. View the full article

Jockey Kieran Shoemark is facing a lengthy suspension after failing a drug test. The 22-year-old, who had only recently returned after suffering serious injuries in a fall at Lingfield in June, hasn’t ridden since Nov. 24 after being stood down by the BHA. His primary employer is trainer Roger Charlton. Professional Jockeys Association Chief Executive Paul Struthers said in a statement, “Through the PJA, Kieran would like to sincerely apologise for his actions that led to the positive sample. In particular, we would like to apologise to Mr Charlton, the owners and team at Beckhampton Stables and his family. “He accepts full responsibility for his mistakes and would also like to apologise to his colleagues and the wider sport. He is determined to face-up to any issues he may have and with the support of his family and the PJA is already fully engaged with the support structures the PJA has in place. “The PJA completely supports a robust anti-doping protocol for its members and the BHA has our full backing in enhancing the testing that already takes place. But like other player associations, we believe it is important to have in place the necessary support structures for those members who want and need help. We can condemn the behavior without condemning the individual. “We would request that his privacy and that of his family is respected whilst he is accessing the support he needs.” The BHA would not comment on the specifics of the case, but said, “Kieran Shoemark has been stood down from riding for an unspecified, interim period while an investigation takes place.” View the full article

On Sunday attention turns to Huntingdon as they stage the Peterborough Chase. This two and a half mile Grade 2 contest has been won by some great horses including Edredon Bleu (1998-2001), Best Mate (2002) and more recently Al Ferof (2015). God’s Own was a good winner of the Halden Gold Cup at Exeter last month, which was his first victory since landing the Grade 1 Champion Chase at the Punchestown festival back in 2016. He was beaten twice by Altior last season which there was no shame in and on form he really is the horse to beat. Kim Bailey’s Charbel has already run three times this season and most recently finished a close second to Poliitologue in the Grade 2 1965 chase. He finished fourth in the Tingle Creek this time last year and if he reproduces this run then he must go close. Lizzie Kelly rides Tea For Two here and this former Grade 1 winner at Aintree ran well for much of last season until his form tailed off towards the end. He was third in the King George at Kempton at Christmas which shows he retains plenty of ability and given his respectable record when fresh and the fact he’s had a wind op, then he may bounce back to form. Josses Hill beat Tea For Two by six lengths to take this contest back in 2016, at which time he looked to be one of the most exciting chasers in training. In truth, Nicky Henderson’s gelding has been disappointing since then. His best run last season cam when finishing second in this race last season behind Top Notch and Nicky will be hoping a return to this track may provide Josses Hill with his first victory in two years. Rene’s Girl looked to have a Grade 1 at her mercy last season only for the ill-fated Finnian’s Oscar to chin her in the final strides at Aintree. Dan Skelton’s mare ran well on seasonal debut at Carlisle behind Mister Whitaker where she lost all chance at the last. She should improve for this run and will run well. Selection: God’s Own The post Peterborough Chase Preview appeared first on RaceBets Blog EN. View the full article

Goffs UK closed out its 2018 sales year with its inaugural December Sale on Friday. Ninety horses-in-training, flat foals, yearlings and mares were sold, with horses-in-training providing the highlights and mares and foals finding a tougher time reaching their reserves. The day’s top lot was Richard Fahey’s 4-year-old gelding Northwest Frontier (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Lot 87), a four-time winner purchased by Craig Buckingham for 36,000. Of the foals, first-crop sires filled the top spots: a filly by New Bay (GB) brought 32,000 (lot 162), and a colt by Twilight Son made 29,000 (lot 182). At the close of trade, the clearance rate for 90 horses sold was just 54%, with a total of 632,500 accrued, an average of 7,028 and a median of 4,000. “The sale’s opening session of horses-in-training saw strong demand with a clearance rate of over 70% and some good prices; however, that demand did not translate into the latter mare and foal sessions where trade at this level of the market was reflective of that seen at a variety of locations this year,” said Goffs UK Managing Director Tony Williams. “The mare and foal sessions were the result of vendors asking for another avenue to offer their stock and we actively sought a date in the sale calendar to provide another outlet. As is the current trend, those that held appeal did sell well which is encouraging for the future of this sale. “We now turn our attention to the 2019 January Sale, the UK’s premier winter NH sale, for which we are assembling a top-class catalogue of National Hunt Mares, Foals and Horses-in-Training.” View the full article

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo, Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, December 8, 2018 2nd-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800m MARECHIARE (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–K. D.’s Shady Lady, by Maria’s Mon), a $150K Keeneland September buyback turned $300K OBS March breezer, turned in a solid debut effort when third going a mile on the turf at Kyoto Nov. 10 (video, gate 11). A daughter of a GSP dam, the dark bay is a half-sister to GISW Lady of Fifty (After Market) and the Sws Lady Fifty Two (Kodiak Kowboy) and Forestry Steel (Forestry). B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY) 7th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($122k), Allowance, 2yo, 1800m COSMO ROBINSON (c, 2, Take Charge Indy–Lesson Plan, by Forestry) just failed to overcome post position 16 when narrowly second on his Oct. 21 debut over the Tokyo dirt and went one better last time, scoring by 3/4 of a length Nov. 11 (see below, gate six). A $37K KEESEP yearling and $130K OBSAPR juvenile, the May foal is out of a daughter of SW & GSP Tutorial (Forty Niner), also the dam of Grade III-winning 2-year-old Dixie Band (Dixie Union). B-Champion Equine LLC (KY) Sunday, December 9, 2018 1st-CKO, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m SPOKANE TESORO (f, 2, Scat Daddy–Nimue, by Speightstown) gave a decent account of herself when a first-out fifth on the turf at Sapporo and enters this first dirt try off back-to-back third-place finishes, including at Nakayama Sept. 16. Out of a half-sister to GSW Go Rockin Robin (Distorted Humor), Spokane Tesoro was bought back on a bid of $275K at KEENOV in 2016 and fetched $340K as an FTSAUG yearling last summer. She is a half-sister to Isomer (Cape Blanco {Ire}), runner-up to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot in 2016. B-Summerhill Farm (KY) View the full article

Many a great horse has come through Ocala, whether bred there, broken there, or sold there. Rashad Jones couldn’t tell you much about that. He doesn’t know the first thing about horse racing. What he knows is barbecue and people in Marion County will tell you no one does it better. That’s why you have to line up hours before his Big Lee’s barbecue stand opens to get served, why he won a Food Network competition, and why he wants to put Ocala on the map for something other than horses. Forget about Memphis, Texas, North Carolina. Jones wants to make Ocala the center of a barbecue empire. “I want Big Lee’s to become known as the worldwide leader in everything barbecue at some point,” Jones said. “That’s a really big, lofty goal, but somebody’s going to do it. I always look at that goal and that dream and that desire of mine and say, ‘Well, why not us?’ I want Big Lee’s to become synonymous with barbecue, just like people don’t say, ‘I need a cotton swab,’ they say, ‘I need a Q-tip.’ When people say, ‘I want barbecue,’ I want them to naturally say, ‘Hey, let’s go get some Big Lee’s tonight.’ All around the world.” It’s quite a dream, probably a completely impractical one. He has, after all, a food truck. Just one. But McDonald’s started with one restaurant in San Bernardino, California, and when you believe in yourself and your product as much as Jones does, have charisma, drive, and an abundance of optimism, is there really such a thing as impossible? {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Rashad Jones at Big Lee's","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/298234430.sd.mp4?s=6f75c649d2005b49acc08c8075371e3b0e64f9ca&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/304447547.sd.mp4?s=f8ac62ab8b2633ce10aed0dcb482a7f2d787cbe7&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} Before he was the barbecue king of Ocala, Jones worked for the Marion County Health Department and didn’t have much interest in cooking. On what was supposed to be a routine trip to visit relatives for Thanksgiving 2011, his life changed. His family traveled to the Mississippi Delta to spend Thanksgiving with the relatives of his wife, Patrice. The usual fare-turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, pies-was prepared for the guests, but his wife’s uncle, Leon Archie, pulled Jones aside and told him to save some room, that he had something special he wanted him to sample after the main portion of the dinner was over. Archie had prepared a barbecue spread. “When I say his barbecue was nothing short of amazing, I mean every bit of it,” Jones said. “His food wasn’t only amazing, it left an impression on me. As a Southerner, I’d had barbecue a million times and some of it had been really, really good. But his was in some other space that I had never experienced before. I couldn’t imagine how he got his food to taste that good, and it put me on this quest to try to recreate what I had there at his house.” Jones turned his kitchen into a laboratory and set out to duplicate what Uncle Lee had created. Lee passed away in 2012, so Jones was on own. He kept at it and, in time, believed his barbecue was every bit as tasty as Lee’s. But he needed affirmation. {"id":3,"instanceName":"Articles No Playlist","videos":[{"videoType":"HTML5","title":"Tour Big Lee's with Rashad Jones","description":"","info":"","thumbImg":"","mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/298234258.sd.mp4?s=fb95f678f7c01f0a7b4e797dcf63f3cb2a58b96b&profile_id=165","enable_mp4_download":"no","prerollAD":"yes","prerollGotoLink":"prerollGotoLink","preroll_mp4_title":"preroll_mp4_title","preroll_mp4":"https://player.vimeo.com/external/304447559.sd.mp4?s=db62745ba172a4017edf356abc01bbc5df9bb4a3&profile_id=165","prerollSkipTimer":"5","midrollAD":"no","midrollAD_displayTime":"midrollAD_displayTime","midrollGotoLink":"midrollGotoLink","midroll_mp4":"midroll_mp4","midrollSkipTimer":"midrollSkipTimer","postrollAD":"no","postrollGotoLink":"postrollGotoLink","postroll_mp4":"postroll_mp4","postrollSkipTimer":"postrollSkipTimer","popupAdShow":"no","popupImg":"popupImg","popupAdStartTime":"popupAdStartTime","popupAdEndTime":"popupAdEndTime","popupAdGoToLink":"popupAdGoToLink"}],"instanceTheme":"light","playerLayout":"fitToContainer","videoPlayerWidth":720,"videoPlayerHeight":405,"videoRatio":1.7777777777778,"videoRatioStretch":true,"videoPlayerShadow":"effect1","colorAccent":"#000000","posterImg":"","posterImgOnVideoFinish":"","logoShow":"No","logoPath":"","logoPosition":"bottom-right","logoClickable":"No","logoGoToLink":"","allowSkipAd":true,"advertisementTitle":"Ad","skipAdvertisementText":"Skip Ad","skipAdText":"You can skip this ad in","playBtnTooltipTxt":"Play","pauseBtnTooltipTxt":"Pause","rewindBtnTooltipTxt":"Rewind","downloadVideoBtnTooltipTxt":"Download video","qualityBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Close settings","qualityBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Settings","muteBtnTooltipTxt":"Mute","unmuteBtnTooltipTxt":"Unmute","fullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Fullscreen","exitFullscreenBtnTooltipTxt":"Exit fullscreen","infoBtnTooltipTxt":"Show info","embedBtnTooltipTxt":"Embed","shareBtnTooltipTxt":"Share","volumeTooltipTxt":"Volume","playlistBtnClosedTooltipTxt":"Show playlist","playlistBtnOpenedTooltipTxt":"Hide playlist","facebookBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Facebook","twitterBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Twitter","googlePlusBtnTooltipTxt":"Share on Google+","lastBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to last video","firstBtnTooltipTxt":"Go to first video","nextBtnTooltipTxt":"Play next video","previousBtnTooltipTxt":"Play previous video","shuffleBtnOnTooltipTxt":"Shuffle on","shuffleBtnOffTooltipTxt":"Shuffle off","nowPlayingTooltipTxt":"NOW PLAYING","embedWindowTitle1":"SHARE THIS PLAYER:","embedWindowTitle2":"EMBED THIS VIDEO IN YOUR SITE:","embedWindowTitle3":"SHARE LINK TO THIS PLAYER:","lightBox":false,"lightBoxAutoplay":false,"lightBoxThumbnail":"","lightBoxThumbnailWidth":400,"lightBoxThumbnailHeight":220,"lightBoxCloseOnOutsideClick":true,"onFinish":"Play next video","autoplay":false,"loadRandomVideoOnStart":"No","shuffle":"No","playlist":"Off","playlistBehaviourOnPageload":"opened (default)","playlistScrollType":"light","preloadSelfHosted":"none","hideVideoSource":true,"showAllControls":true,"rightClickMenu":true,"autohideControls":2,"hideControlsOnMouseOut":"No","nowPlayingText":"Yes","infoShow":"No","shareShow":"No","facebookShow":"No","twitterShow":"No","mailShow":"No","facebookShareName":"","facebookShareLink":"","facebookShareDescription":"","facebookSharePicture":"","twitterText":"","twitterLink":"","twitterHashtags":"","twitterVia":"","googlePlus":"","embedShow":"No","embedCodeSrc":"","embedCodeW":720,"embedCodeH":405,"embedShareLink":"","youtubeControls":"custom controls","youtubeSkin":"dark","youtubeColor":"red","youtubeQuality":"default","youtubeShowRelatedVideos":"Yes","vimeoColor":"00adef","showGlobalPrerollAds":false,"globalPrerollAds":"url1;url2;url3;url4;url5","globalPrerollAdsSkipTimer":5,"globalPrerollAdsGotoLink":"","videoType":"HTML5 (self-hosted)","submit":"Save Changes","rootFolder":"http:\/\/wp.tdn.pmadv.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/Elite-video-player\/"} In 2013, he entered the “Bad 2 the Bone BBQ” contest in Ocala. He admits he felt out of place, an amateur who, he thought, stood no chance against contestants who had been working for years trying to perfect their craft. Not only did he win, but one of the judges posted on his Facebook page: “Rashad Jones, not only was your barbecue the best that all three of the judges tasted tonight, your barbecue’s the best barbecue I’ve ever judged.” Compliments like that can’t be ignored. He sat down with his wife and said not only had barbecue become his passion, but he now believed he could make a good living selling it. She quickly and readily agreed. A barbecue business had been born. Click here to read the rest of this story at The TDN Weekend. Click here for an additional video tour of the Big Lee’s facility. View the full article

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