Beethoven's Handicap

[Michael]

Alas, my musical education has been sadly lacking so I am relying on you experts to explain the abstruse technical terms in this news item which I have pasted in:

"Beethoven prevails in stretch duel at Churchill
By Marty McGee
Updated: November 29, 2008, 9:15 PM ET

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- One was very easy, the other very tough. In sweeping the twin Grade 2 stakes Saturday at Churchill Downs, jockey Calvin Borel urged Beethoven to win a three-horse photo in the Kentucky Jockey Club an hour after riding Rachel Alexandra to a romp in the Golden Rod.

By winning both closing-day features, Borel took three of the four Grade 2 stakes that ended the 26-day meet. He also won the Falls City Handicap on Thursday aboard Miss Isella.

Beethoven, by Sky Mesa, emerged victorious in the $168,000 KJC after a ferocious three-way stretch duel. Slipping through along the rail at the quarter pole, he outfought the early leader and pacesetter, Capt. Candyman Can, while holding off a sustained outside run from Giant Oak. The win margin was a neck, with Giant Oak another neck ahead of Capt. Candyman Can in a field of nine.

"He hung in there and run a big race," Borel said.

Beethoven, now a winner in 3 of 5 starts, returned $14 after finishing 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.14 over a fast track."

(End of news item.)

The Miss Isella is obviously a reference to the Missa Solemnis but the rest is beyond me. Any help would be appreciated.

[Joy]

Well, it just goes to show you that Beethoven is a winner even if, in this case, he is a horse!

[Agnes Selby]

What about "Beethoven" the dog? Wasn't there a TV series about a dog
called Beethoven.

also

a couple of year ago I saw a van advertising "Mozart Cleaning Service".

Regards,
Agnes.

[Peter]

Nothing new here, kids have been playing Hayd'n seek for generations!

[Megan]

Not at all easy Michael, but I'll hazard a guess at Golden Rod as Rondo in G ?
And perhaps Sky Mesa is Mesa in C. We can almost get Archduke, out of Rachel Alexandra.
Calvin Borel, I can make out the word violin , but perhaps I am way off there.

[Michael]

Not at all easy Michael, but I'll hazard a guess at Golden Rod as Rondo in G ?
And perhaps Sky Mesa is Mesa in C. We can almost get Archduke, out of Rachel Alexandra.
Calvin Borel, I can make out the word violin , but perhaps I am way off there.

I've also just noticed that Louisville, Kentucky is mentioned, and Beethoven sometimes called himself "Louis van Beethoven".
There is a huge message in this news item and it is only gradually revealing itself.