LUSK RANCH

 Covell Road was entered in Race #7 at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, Nov. 28. He finished 7th of 10 horses.   This is Juan & John walking Covy to the paddock from the holding barn.

Domingo, the Jockey, said he held him up a little because the horses on the lead went out flying. He said he knew he had enough horse as he made it around the turn heading home. Covell dropped down on the rail, and got cut off. He was hard to pull up at the end. He also didn't seem to like the dirt flying up in his face. Domingo and Covell were both covered when the got off the track.

Video of John giving Domingo a leg up after the "rider's up" announcement.

Domingo Chacaltana, in our Lusk Ranch silks, after "Rider's Up" annoucement before the Race.

Spending the week working to finish the sides of the barn structure and training! .

Check out more videos from Sam Houston on Saturday at www.youtube.com/luskranch and photos from around the Ranch on our Photo Gallery or Facebook page.

The above video is Banquo, the stakes winner, we got at the start of the summer. We gave him close to 6 months off where he ran, played, swam in the pond, and just got to be a horse and relax. We needed room in the front pasture so we decided the time was right to move him into the barn to start back to work. He moves so smooth. Juan says he is so light on his feet. He looks so good and acts like he is happy to be back to work.

Banquo and Juan Friday morning. Juan says he feels like Mula going around the track, but lighter. John told him that Mula should feel like Banquo because Banquo is a winner!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!!

The great Cowboy Johnny Mantell turns 52 today. Today is one of his better days, thank goodness. John is spending the day with Juan working to get things loaded and ready to head to Houston with Covell Road tomorrow. Although, we are encouraging him greatly to take it easy! Thank you to the many friends who have already called to send their many well wishes for today! He really appreciates all of you thoughts.

This is Juan and Covell Road "Covy" after his work at Lone Star on 11/24/09. He came back even more pumped than before. Today he was mad that he was only walked on the walker. Covy worked from the gates, only Juan's second time working a horse from the gates. Juan said Covy had a different feel, stronger, that he lounged out full force. We think getting the blinkers removed will have a big impact on the way he runs. Below is the video of the last 1/8th or so of the work at Lone Star Park. He moves so smooth. Let us know what you think of Covy. 

Become a Fan of Lusk Ranch on Facebook, also become a Member of this Site (Sign In on sidebare to the right) and you will be the first to know when one of horses are entered or worked, John writes one of his "interesting" blogs, or more exciting things happen around the ranch. You never know what could happen next!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Lusk Ranch and family would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

Covell Road was entered this morning in Race #7 this Saturday. For entry information, go to http://www.equibase.com/ and click on Entries, or go to http://www.shrp.com/ and click on Racing to go to racing information. Below is the specific race card info per Equibase.

Covell Road is entered to run on November 28, 2009 at SAM HOUSTON RACE PARK.
Race: 7  Distance: Six Furlongs  Surface: Dirt  Age: 4  – Gelding  (Approx. post time: 9:36 pm)
Race Type: Claiming Purse: $ 5,500
Jockey: Domingo Chacaltana
Trainer: John Lusk
Race conditions: FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES. Three Year Olds, 122 lbs.; Older, 123 lbs. Non-winners of a race since October 29 Allowed 3 lbs. A race since September 29 Allowed 5 lbs. Claiming Price $7,500.
 Last Raced: 10/17/2009 at RETAMA PARK in Race 3
Finish Position: 9th
Last Reported Workouts:
11/24/2009-LONE STAR PARK-Three Furlongs-Dirt Fast-37:40 Breezing
09/10/2009-LONE STAR PARK-Four Furlongs-Dirt Fast-48:20 Handily
05/18/2009-WILL ROGERS DOWNS-Three Furlongs-Dirt Fast-34:80 Breezing

We will head down to Houston early Saturday morning. Wish us luck! We took Covell to Lone Star on Tuesday for a published work (highlightedin pink above). He came back feeling great. Gave him a day off this morning and he seemed a little mad that he wasn't going out to the track to train like everyone else. He needed a day off but Covell didn't think so!

God Bless everyone and have a wonderful holiday weekend whether you spend it with your friends or family!

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We have been asked by several about being able to read the website in Spanish. Now you can! We are so excited for Juan, and all his friends and family, to be able to read all the news that is written about the Ranch (&him).

Do you enjoy watching the training videos and photos of the Equine Athletes at Lusk Ranch? Enjoy reading about the daily / weekly training & teaching activities? Are you interested in owning a Thoroughbred Race Horse, or a partnership in one? At Lusk Ranch, horses are our #1 priority. But owners are important too!! We have many different horses and partnerships available. If you are new to the horse racing industry, we will be happy to walk you through all the aspects of ownership, training and racing. Small percentages to full ownerships are available.  

If you own a Race Horse and send your horse to be trained at other facilities, do you get constant communication of the training of your horse? How long has it been since you saw your horse being trained? Are you welcome at the facility anytime to visit with your horse, trainer, staff? At Lusk Ranch, you get all that and much more. Owners get training info. on their horse, daily notes, pictures and training videos. Horses in training are feed our special race blend feed and each are given a "hot" meal (cooked whole oats) each night along with supplements (per horse). Communication is Key, especially what your horse "tells" us. We listen (pay strict attention) to all signs each horse communicates. Each horse will let you know when they are ready to be trained, run and when they are ready to RACE!!

Lusk Ranch is operated by Human Athletes, which helps us to train your Equine Athlete to it's fullest potential. Let us show

The picture that we have picked for the Top Banner for the current site is a view of the ranch from the road in the Spring before the Fires. We think this is a great photo to show what a beautiful front pasture we have and to remind us of the beautiful landscape of the old barns. Now looking towards the future!

 Diamond, Mojo, Missy "standing around", just enoying being a horse. They have been moving around the front pasture like they have been here their entire lives.

 Time has come to move horses around, wean babies from mares, turn out any horses that need time off, etc. We were introduced to a lovely couple from Plano who have 3 fillies that needed some rest, so we also have them in the front pasture. They all love running around, playing in the pond. It's a great place to allow a horse to be a horse. 

Video of fillies turned out in the front pasture.

As always, training horses in the barn daily. Juan rides between 6-8 depending on who has a day off or who might be a little sore and need a day off.

  We have found a new site that allows you to create a one page Lens (that's what they call pages) to promote and create interest and traffic to your site or business. Since we use this site primarily for Lusk Ranch, John gets asked constantly about stories from his wrestling career. We also did a Lens for Lusk Ranch. Please check out both! John is so excited about finally having a platform for his career past. There are many great stories about wrestling, past wrestling legends and current superstars. The Lusk Ranch page will be used to post Thoroughbred horse racing stories and activities that it takes to start a horse and get him to the track, and how a common person can get involved in the Sport of Kings. Check them out, let us know what you think. We love feedback at luskranch@yahoo.com or post your comments on each Lens Guestbook for all to see!!

Cowboy Johnny Mantell - http://www.squidoo.com/cowboyjohnnymantell

Lusk Ranch - http://www.squidoo.com/thoroughbredracing

We are currently working on starting to wean our babies, move mares around, and continue with our daily training. We will have a list of available mares FOR SALE soon. Some will be in foal, some may be open, all information along with pedigree info will be list as well. Check back soon for available horses. HORSES for SALE

Thursday, April 9, 2009 is a day that will not soon be forgotten here at the Ranch and all across Montague County. Lusk Ranch was caught by fast moving wildfires that devastated thousands of acres, many homes, equipment and livestock. Three people also lost their lives. 

We lost three barns, including our Stud barn and Grande's Grandslam; two training barns with 10 Thoroughbred's in training; over 50+ years of tack and equipment collected from John and his father Paul; our two horse trailers; tractors and misc. other items we haven't even accounted for.  This is a horrible loss for us and the entire county. 

We have wonerful friends who came out Friday, Saturday, & Sunday to assist in the removal and burying of our Family Members (that's what all our horses are to us!) Many that we lost were horses that John and I bred, help foal, and watched them grow and excell into what we believed to be great athletes. Sad thing is we were set to take the first group in training to Lone Star this week to start the process of getting them ready to enter to race. 

We have cried many hours over this loss of family. We have been through many hard times in the last few years and really believed things were working in our favor. God has plans that we can't control. But we know that this can not and will not hinder our faith and knowledge that we will make it through this time. 

We will continue with the promise we made to John's dad, Paul, before he died. And that was to give Lusk Ranch the chance to race again.  It may take a little longer now but we will keep going. Right now, we are trying to remove debris and hopefully will find someway to rebuild a barn to start again! 

Our 11 beautiful babies were buried in the middle of our training track so that they could keep an eye on our training and be there with us in spirit always! Thank you for your many kind words and prayers, that is what is keeping John and I going. If you would like to send a note, please email johnlusk@luskranch.com

God Bless!

John & "K"   Lusk Ranch

Photo: Paul Broussard, April 10, 2009

(Standing in front of house looking up towards 2 barns, 2 storage trailers, equipment, etc. 

GRANDE'S GRANDSLAM

2001 Bay by Grandslam

Died along with 11 other horses on April 9, 2009.

Lusk Ranch now stands:
Helluvahullabaloo- 1999 Dark Bay/Brown Stallion by Wild Again, out of Indy Flash (by A.P. Indy)