Tragedy Strikes Rock N Soil Farms

Rock N Soil Farms had high hopes for their 2-year old field worm, So Soil Me, as the promising worm's training preparations began Monday for the Twelve Inch Futurity.  But excitment and anticipation turned to horror Monday when a flock of speckled starlings in search of food suddenly dive bombed So Soil Me's trainer, Bart Johnson.  Johnson was knocked unconscious by the frenzied birds and So Soil Me, who was being carried from the training track to his stall, was thrown from Johnson's grip.  Groom Gary Jordan and five other stable hands chased the birds away with pitchforks, but in the confusion So Soil Me was lost.  It is feared that he was carried off by the birds to feed their young. 

A representative for Rock N Soil Farms said the family was grief stricken but they are not going to give up hope.  A massive search for So Soil Me is currently taking place and the family is offering a $10,000 reward for his safe return.  Johnson was transported to Mercy Hospital where he was treated and released for minor injuries.

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AEWA Twelve Inch Futurity Entries are Announced

Race commissioner Ford Delano could barely conceal his excitement as he announced this year's entries for the Twelve Inch Futurity at a press conference Friday.  The prestigious test of 2-year old field worms will be run the first Saturday in March, and this year's race may prove to be the most talked about in history with a high caliber list of contenders.  "It will definitely be one for the record books," Delano quipped Friday after making the much anticipated announcement.  "There are 2-year olds, and then there are 2-year olds. This group is simply phenomenal, and since none of them have ever raced head to head the outcome is any one's guess." 

Following are the entries received by the commission as of February 7th:

• Segmentariat (Bold Soiler x Royalsegment)
• Soil Biscuit (Hard Mud x Fling On)
• Sweet Brown (Flippin Dusty x Sweet Rock Melt)
• So Soil Me (Rock N Soil x Shes So Grimy)
• Hole Me Under (Holey Under x Ima Incher)
• Mine That Dirt (Dirty Mine x Simply Dusty)
• Man O' Bore (Fair Clay x Borubah)

Trainers of this classy list of youngsters include winners circle veterans Sebastian Steybrink and Fritz Canteras, as well as rookie Payton Dole, the 60-year old from Germany who spent years as a groomer before he was given the opportunity to train Hole Me Under, a once average worm who has recently clocked near-record winning times.  "I'm so honored to be given such an opportunity as this."  Dole said at the Fendry Farm training track Saturday as he watched Hole Me Under's morning workout.  "Holmesy is looking the best he has in his life and I feel very, very good about his chances."  Hole Me Under will have his hands full when he comes up against the likes of Sweet Brown and Man O'Bore, pedigreed worms with perfect records.  But Dole isn't intimidated easily.  "Holmesy has something special and he wants to win, I've never felt so good about a worm."