Magic Weisner

Magic Weisner (foaled in Maryland on May 3, 1999) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A descendant of Bold Forbes, he was sired by Ameri Valay by breeder Nancy H. Alberts. Magic Weisner was a graded stakes winner but is best remembered for his runner-up finish in the 2002 Preakness Stakes and his serious public battle to overcome the West Nile Virus when there was little known about the disease.^[1]

Two-year-old season

Nancy Alberts, also Magic Weisner's owner and exercise rider, bred the horse from a crooked-legged mare named Jazema, which she bought for $1 because of her crooked legs when she was only a yearling. In the late 1980s Nancy had lost Jazema twice in claiming races and bought her back each time. The final time she bought her back was for breeding. Nancy had commented that Jazema had a special eye for Ameri Valay because of seeing him around the barn area at Laurel Park. Jazema in Arabic meant hope and in 1998 her first born was named Deliver Hope. In February 1999, she nursed Jazema during some difficult times in the late term of her pregnancy. In May, Magic Weisner foaled at Shamrock Farms under the excellent care of Jim and Christy Steele. Nancy didn't own her own farm and Magic was raised at different farms in the Laurel, MD area.

At age two, Magic Weisner lost his first two races before breaking his maiden in his third try. He trained at Bowie Race Course and shipped up to Laurel in the summer of 2001 to score his first win. He followed that up with an allowance win in late August of that year. Then Alberts decided to take on stakes company and entered Magic Weisner in the Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes, a nine furlong dirt race at Laurel Park, which he won. He finished the year with three wins in five starts.

Three-year-old season

Magic Weisner bridged his two- and three-year-old seasons with five straight wins, including victories in the Goss Striker Stakes, the Deputed Testamony Stakes and the Private Terms Stakes, all at Laurel Park Race Course. In the Federico Tesio Stakes, a race that many locals call the "Preakness Trial" at Pimlico Race Course, Magic Weisner finished second to Smoked Em, a highly regarded three-year-old trained by Todd Pletcher. Nancy felt that Phil Teter didn't listen to her instructions and always felt she could have won the race.

In the 127th Preakness Stakes, Magic Weisner was listed as the second longest shot in a full field of thirteen horses, many of them graded stakes winners. The favorites were the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby and its beaten favorite. War Emblem, Proud Citizen, Medaglia d'Oro and Harlan's Holiday garnered the vast majority of the public's support. Magic Weisner was listed at 40-1 on the morning line but dropped to 33-1 at post time because of a deep local following and empathy for Albert's cinderella story. As the gates opened, speedster Menacing Dennis rushed to the lead, followed by War Emblem and Booklet going into the first turn as Magic Weisner lagged far back in eleventh of thirteen. With three furlongs to go, War Emblem took over the lead, followed closely by Proud Citizen, Madaglia d'Oro and Harlan's Holiday. In the last 110 yards, Magic Weisner rallied from far back to finish second to War Emblem by a half length.

Magic Weisner returned to run fourth in the grade one Belmont Stakes, losing to longshot Sarava. He then won the grade two Ohio Derby by a neck over Wiseman's Ferry, who carried him very wide, and The Judge Sez Who, who finished third. He next finished second behind War Emblem by three and a half lengths in the grade one Haskell Invitational. Late that year, he contracted the West Nile virus while preparing for the grade two Pennsylvania Derby in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his sophomore season, Magic Weisner either won or placed in six of seven stakes races.

Four-year-old season

Magic Weisner contracted West Nile Virus late in 2002 and missed most of the 2003 season. In July 2003 at opening day at Laurel Park Race Course, he returned in a seven-furlong race. Alberts had intended to prime him for the Maryland Million Classic on October 11 at Laurel Park. However, Magic Weisner finished last as the favorite. He never raced again and was retired in May 2005. Some say his contracting West Nile was not an accident and the Prince that owned War Emblem also died unexpectedly.

Retirement

At his retirement, Alberts said, "He looks fine but the West Nile virus just damaged all the nerves around his back and hind quarters. I am sure he'll be able to have another profession. He's at the farm, just trying to get the fitness out of him. I've had a couple people contact me about making him a dressage horse. He is a beautiful mover and sound and he loves to do anything you ask him to do."^[2]

Magic Weisner now lives with Nancy's sister Linda in Pennsylvania and still loves to pose for pictures.

Nancy passed due to complications from a stroke in 2011. Her only son Will (will-at-albertsracing.com) took over her horse business. Jazema's last born filly Jazema's Ginger (Ginger), by Go For Gin, will be bred in 2012. The world is watching to see the powerful offspring.

References

• Pedigee Online, Thoroughbred Database website;