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"Sonoma State is in the best Division II conference in the country," said Gardner, "If we can't raise enough money and the NCAA says we have to move down, our good athletes and coaches would leave."
The two horses, Seawolf and Sonoma Slew, were selected by Tom Bachman, owner of Pegasus Ranch in Petaluma, California. Bachman will also be responsible for the care and training of the colts. Seawolf, named for the school's mascot, is the offspring of Swiss Yodeler and My Thellie. Sonoma Slew, is the 'grandson' of the great Seattle Slew and is the offspring of Slewledo and Distant Love. According to the Press Democrat, Bachman, volunteered to pick out the two colts at Barrett's October Preferred Yearling Auction at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. The school plans to sell 100 shares at $1,000 in each colt -- a total of $200,000 -- with half of each share earmarked as a tax-deductible donation to Sonoma State. The other half to pay for the horses and to cover at least 12 months of upkeep, training and racing expenses. Race winnings would be split between the scholarship fund and shareholders. According to the Press Democrat, "While there are no sure bets in the racing business, those familiar with the two yearlings are excited about the possibilities. "We won't know until June when we put the stopwatch on them how much heart and talent they have and what level they will run, but they both look very athletic," Bachman said." Several days after the Press Democrat article was published, reservations for shares in the two horses were largely sold out, leaving a waiting list of over 100 people. As a result the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics in the process of acquiring a third horse. The anticipated first race for the horses will be at the Sonoma County Fair in July of 2004. They will race in the future at Bay Meadows, Golden Gate Fields and other California tracks.
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