Inside Aftercare

Turf Paradise Makes it Easy to Donate to Aftercare

2018-02-28T21:51:00Z

By: Erin Shea

Inspired by what he experienced while wagering at the 2017 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar, Bob Hutton returned to Arizona with an idea to raise money for Thoroughbred aftercare.

Hutton, the president of the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association, was making wagers on AmTote machines that had a pop-up interface to ask bettors if they would like to donate a portion of their winnings to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. While the tote technology used at Turf Paradise is too old to offer that option to bettors, Hutton thought that the track could put out boxes to encourage patrons to leave donations. Through the support of Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms and general manager Vince Francia, six lockboxes were placed in track's grandstand, clubhouse, and Turf Club.

"I thought it would be a good idea because most people who go to the races have some compassion for the animals and really care. So I came up with the idea to put some lockboxes with some literature and some photos around the racetrack, because I thought that people would want to help," Hutton said.

To encourage donations, the boxes have photos of various retired runners at Patti Shirley's Equine Encore Foundation contrasted with a photo of the horse during their racing days (via Coady Photography), along with a call to action for donations. The money collected will go to various groups, including Echo Canyon Equine Foundation and two Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations, Equine Encore and After the Homestretch.

One of six lockboxes for collecting aftercare donations at Turf Paradise

"When someone has a voucher in the machine, if it's $500 or $1,000, to leave a dollar is not very painful. So it's pretty easy for people to go ahead and do it. ... As far as I'm concerned, if we got $200 a week (through the boxes), that's more than we had before," Hutton said, adding that Turf Paradise allocates $1 per starter for aftercare, but he's looking for ways to bring in more money for OTTBs.

For Hutton, who was elected president of the HBPA last April, the boxes are just the starting point to make a difference for the horses retiring from their racing careers at Turf Paradise.

"It's just one of those things that the HBPA is taking more of an interest in—what happens to these animals at the end of their career," he said. "And not that it hasn't happened before, but when I see an issue and someone tells me, 'Well this is the way that it's always been done,' I don't go for that. If you put your mind to it, you can make it better.

"The reality of the situation is that Santa Anita and Remington Park and all over the country is a feeding ground for Turf Paradise, and when those horses can't compete at those racetracks, they end up at Turf Paradise or in Arizona. We get a lot more horses here at the end of their careers or that just aren't very competitive than we breed. ... So we're kind of the feeding ground for the horses that can't run at Santa Anita, or get hurt and they bring them over here, and eventually if you run a horse long enough, they'll all run at the bottom."

Hutton said the Arizona HBPA's goal with aftercare is to help retiring Turf Paradise runners find a new home and a new career, and that raising more money for aftercare is a first step in that direction. While the boxes are still new, they have been received well so far.

"When they (the boxes) were put out, I took some of the trainers by and showed them and they were enthusiastic and said, 'No one has ever addressed it like this before,'" he said. "I think they felt like somebody was in their corner."

Millionaire Grand Arch Starts New Career With MacHarg

2018-02-21T21:15:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Sarah MacHarg was searching for a potential 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover horse while spending time with friends who worked at Jim and Susan Hill's Margaux Farm near Midway, Ky. While waiting for her friends to finish their day's work, she noticed a playful horse.

"He was very cheeky and very cat and mouse. He would try to get you to come to his stall," she said. "And if I walked away, he'd kind of press the gate and paw a little bit. None of the other horses were super interested in me, so I said to them, 'Who is this? Because this is the horse I want for the (Thoroughbred Makeover).'"

The answer to that question was that he was "the most famous horse" the Hills have ever campaigned—the grade 1-winning, $1.8 million-earning Grand Arch.

Although she initially thought she didn't have much of a shot to make the 9-year-old son of Arch into her next OTTB project, MacHarg got a meeting with the Hills, through the help of her friends at Margaux, to discuss potential plans to retrain the gelding for a second career.

"I did not know them, they did not know me, we just had a conversation," said MacHarg, an experienced trainer who operates Passport Sport Horses near Lexington.

"I think where we came on the same page was, I do not have an agenda for this horse and I was not seeking him because he's famous. I happened to like him before I knew he was important, and I just think it's neat to give him an opportunity to not be a trophy in a paddock for 20 years, and that's exactly how they feel. They are committed to his training and his opportunities beyond the Makeover."

So, an arrangement was stuck that MacHarg will retrain Grand Arch at his own pace in his discipline of choice and the Hills retain ownership. MacHarg said she'll move at whatever pace the gelding would like to go; her goals are long-term and she hopes to have him in training with her for a few years.

"(The Hills) are big-picture people," MacHarg recalled. "They outright said, 'He doesn't owe us anything, and whatever he wants to do for as many years he wants to do it, we will support it.'"

If the duo does compete at the Makeover this fall, it would be a big step forward for MacHarg, whose plans were derailed last year after a riding accident at Jump Start Horse Trials at the Kentucky Horse Park. A week before she was set to compete in the 2017 Makeover with Sweet Talkin Fella, she crushed her skull in the accident and had it rebuilt in surgery with approximately 30% titanium mesh.

"I am just very, very lucky," she said. "I feel like there must be some reason I'm still around. People have had a lot less traumatic injuries and have struggled and struggled to come back.

"Six weeks out I was riding and Dec. 7, on my birthday, was my first jump back. So I was really lucky. I had a lot of great milestones and I had a lot of wonderful people (around), but to be honest it wasn't that challenging because I had horses around and that's all my days were before."

While disappointed she didn't get to showcase Sweet Talkin Fella, a son of Mutakddim she used to gallop on the track, MacHarg still has him in her care and plans to possibly take him to some working ranch events this summer. She's also keeping busy with another interesting OTTB in former Godolphin runner Brookline, a 4-year-old Tapit half brother to Darley stallion Bernardini.

So far the trainer hasn't done much with Grand Arch other than hacking him around the farm with a halter and lead rope, making sure he's comfortable and ready to begin a new career. Still, the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) winner's class shines through.

Sarah MacHarg aboard Grand Arch (joined by her dog Rampart) at Passport Sport Horses. Photo: Brandi Chase

"He's just a different level horse," MacHarg said. "He's really, really intelligent. He thinks he knows a lot of things. He's a little arrogant. He's really confident about what he thinks, so to change his mind you have to be very tactful and it has to become his idea, because your ideas are not as important as his ideas. He's making sure that my horsemanship is really on point. But I feel because the Hills have given me the privilege of looking long-term, the timeline doesn't apply any pressure to me. So I can play with him like a personal horse and develop a relationship, and the sport stuff will come second."

Whether or not Grand Arch and the horsewoman make it to the Makeover, MacHarg is thrilled for the opportunity to work with her new friend.

"The coolest thing about him was that I was attracted to his personality before I knew he was famous," she said. "Every day, he's the horse I get excited about getting up to see and the last horse I check every night. He seems like a friend I've known for a really long time. I'm just excited to enjoy a partnership with him, and I very much hope it takes us to the Makeover, but he's not on a timeline."

Former Puerto Rico Runner Settles in at Rose Bower

2018-02-14T21:25:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Ten Tequilas is just the kind of horse Barbara Luna has a soft spot for.

The former program administrator for Turning for Home—a program at Parx Racing that helps retiring horses find a place to land off the track—founded War Horses at Rose Bower in 2013 to assist retiring "war horses." Luna specifically looks to help horses that are 7 years old and up with at least 70 starts. While he doesn't exactly fit those specifications, Ten Tequilas is another kind of war horse that piqued her interest.

The 8-year-old son of Ten Most Wanted ran 66 times, but earned only $52,693. Bred in California, he started his racing career in the Golden State and then moved east to Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort and Mahoning Valley Race Course before ending up in Puerto Rico in 2016. The gelding made 25 starts in claiming races at Hipodromo Camarero in 2016 and 2017. He never won in Puerto Rico, but he placed 11 times.

Camarero and its equine population was especially affected after Hurricane Maria made landfall on the U.S. territory Sept. 20. The non-profit group Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare stepped in to help the horses at the track, including Ten Tequilas.

Looking for a safe spot in the U.S. mainland for some of the retiring Thoroughbreds at Camarero, the CTA sought out a few farm owners, former connections, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations to help.

"I read about the plight of the horses in Puerto Rico as it happened," Luna said. "And Shelley (Blodgett of the CTA) got a hold of me and said they were looking for an accredited program to take this horse.

"When they asked if I would take him, I said I would help any way that I could."

So Ten Tequilas made one more long-distance journey, going from Puerto Rico to Florida and then arriving at Luna's facility near Appomattox, Va. in January.

"I love his personality," Luna said of the gelding. "I feel no insecurity about going in the stall with him, walking behind him, attaching the buckles off his blankets. I think what you see is what you get and he's just a really, really nice horse."

Ten Tequilas in a paddock at War Horses at Rose Bower

Luna's original plan was to get Ten Tequilas ready to compete at the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover. But that was derailed when Ten Tequilas' old suspensory injury started to flare up after he arrived in Virginia.

"This is what you get for planning something with a horse, because when you plan stuff with horses (they do) the opposite of what you want to do. But he's going to be fine," she said.

"The right thing to do is to wait. If they have the same kind of eligibility rules that they have in 2019 that they had this year, he's still eligible. My vet said his bones were clean, no arthritis, his joints were clean. It was just body soreness and he was lame in his suspensory. He has gained a lot of weight (since he arrived). He looks good."

While Luna knows Ten Tequilas will never be an upper-level competition horse, she thinks there are many options for a new career for him.

"The good thing about RRP is that they have divisions for everything," she said. "He doesn't have to be a jumper, he could do low-level dressage, trail. We don't have to go there and say he's this, that, or the other—they have something for everybody. I think we're going to wait and see what he tells us. We don't want to push him."

In the meantime, Ten Tequilas will still play an important role in horse-human therapy programs at War Horses at Rose Bower.

"I'm going to try to use him as much as I can with my women's group that comes in and works with the horses," Luna said. "And keep taking pictures of him, because I don't want people to lose track of him."

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According to the CTA, After The Finish line financed Ten Tequilas’ quarantine and flight to the United States, while Randy and Karen Hickman housed the gelding at their Stone Ridge Farm near Ocala, Fla. before he shipped to Virginia.

TIP Grows But Doesn't Ignore Non-Competition Riders

2018-02-08T00:16:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

In only six years The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program—a program that offers annual awards for off-track Thoroughbreds to encourage the retraining of racehorses—has grown from offering awards and classes at 150 horse shows to 1,200 shows in 42 states and six Canadian provinces for 2018.

In those six years, fueled by major strides in Thoroughbred aftercare, T.I.P's growth continues as more incentives are created for riders who compete at horse shows on Thoroughbreds.

"I think the numbers that we're seeing in participation and the interest in having a Thoroughbred—I wish there was a way to capture that, because at least anecdotally, it's huge," said T.I.P. coordinator Kristin Leshney.

"If you'd asked me six years ago 'Where would you like to be?' it would be here ... it's a short amount of time so it's really incredible what T.I.P., TAA (Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance), and RRP (Retired Racehorse Project) have been able to do. To make the Thoroughbred back in fashion, for lack of a better word, and (to have) people out there looking for a Thoroughbred so they can compete in these kinds of programs, which is what we wanted, I think that's pretty great."

Now, as the organization sets its sights on the future, Leshney said the goal is to make their year-end T.I.P. Championships, which started in 2017, a bigger and better event. This year, with the second annual event scheduled for Sept. 9 at the end of the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show at the Kentucky Horse Park, three new disciplines will be incorporated into the T.I.P. Championships—dressage, western pleasure, and western dressage.

"My goal is to make our year-end championships the bigger part of this program so that's what we're working toward," Leshney said. "Our horse show awards will always be a part of T.I.P., and I see that expanding still down the road to more states and more disciplines, but probably where you see the most growth going forward is our own (championships)."

For the program, it was a slow expansion toward areas in equestrian disciplines that were missing that spurred the addition of the three new disciplines.

"We didn't want to put the cart before the horse. We wanted to make sure there was interest there, and we do a lot of slow growth—we started with hunter/jumpers and english pleasure; we definitely had a lot of people asking for dressage; we've had a lot of interest in western pleasure; and western dressage is complemented nicely with the regular dressage," Leshney said.

"We already do championship awards with the U.S. Eventing Association and we'll continue that this year. So we're trying to hit as many disciplines and Thoroughbreds participating there as we can."

Even with more awards and opportunities added for competitive Thoroughbred riders, the T.I.P. isn't leaving out those equestrians who don't want to compete and show. The program's Thoroughbred Recreational Riding Incentive Program started about a year ago and Leshney said there have been 44 horses/riders who have reached the first milestone of 25 hours of riding and eight who have reached the 100-hour milestone. The Recreational Riding Program was another way for T.I.P. to be a part of the second careers of horses that are not actively competing. It's also becoming a way to show that Thoroughbreds can have meaningful lives off the track without stepping foot in the show ring.

When Yes Virginia and owner Sarah Blanchard aren't competing in dressage, they log trail riding hours as part of the Thoroughbred Recreational Riding Incentive Program

"We started T.I.P. to try to include all of the Thoroughbreds, if we could, and really what we were missing was the recreational riding horses. So this program has filled that gap a little bit," Leshney said. "We have the non-competition awards for the horses who are doing therapeutic riding and still have a career, so to say ... and this was kind of that last gap. It's been very successful and I think it'll keep growing the more we promote it.

"My favorite part of the recreational riding is the stories that come out of it. Between people who had a show horse that was retired or had an injury and this motivated them to go out and ride and the people with older horses ... those are the kinds of things that we want to make people realize—Thoroughbreds don't necessarily have to be a competition horse, they can be your family horse, they can be your trail horse, your companion."

Vinceremos: 'A Poster Child' for the Thoroughbred Cycle

2018-01-24T20:09:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Vinceremos, the Machmer Hall-bred who ran in the 2014 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), was on a familiar path. Even with his promising start on the Derby trail and a grade 3 win as a 3-year-old, as time went on he started to drop down through the claiming ranks.

The son of Pioneerof the Nile was first claimed for $25,000 at Saratoga Race Course in August of 2015. After a year layoff, he resurfaced at Monmouth Park the following August for one start and then moved to Parx Racing. At Parx, he picked up a win and two seconds from six starts at the track in 2016. In 2017 he made 19 starts, all at Parx, winning once and placing six times—but he was claimed twice more, and for less money each time. In September he was claimed for $12,500 and in late November he was claimed again for $10,000.

After a few unsuccessful attempts to try to purchase Vinceremos from various owners along the way in an effort to bring him home to Machmer Hall near Paris, Ky., Carrie Brogden was made aware of some volunteer horse rehomers, including Dicia Lloyd, who picked up Vinceremos and two other horses from Parx in an attempt to find them a home off the track. Without knowing his significance to Brogden, Lloyd was hesitant to trust the breeder—who reached out on Facebook—but after some background information was shared, Brogden made an offer of $1,000 and Vinceremos was on his way back to Kentucky.

"He's definitely kind of a poster child of what happens kind of in the cycle of life for Thoroughbreds," Brogden said of Vinceremos, who won the 2014 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and was runner-up in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) that year. He earned $374,656 in 39 starts.

Vinceremos returned to his place of birth with a suspensory injury and skeletal appearance, but since he arrived at the farm in the second week of January he's already put on weight and his personality still shines through.

"He could have easily broken his leg in his last race and not just torn his suspensory," Brogden said. "I still have videos of doing the (Derby) walkover with Vinceremos and Intense Holiday (another Machmer Hall-bred starter in the 2014 Derby), and I've watched them a couple of times on my phone since he came home, but it's just a real moment to think of life through his eyes.

"Even when (Lloyd) took the photos, you can see the Derby horse in there. He still has that stand-up, prick-your-ears presence."

Vinceremos with Carrie Brogden at Machmer Hall. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

For now, Vinceremos is settling into his new life off the track and continues to put on weight, and while his second career options are limited due to injury, there's a possible place in the works for him.

Through one of his biggest fans, Dan Tordjman of America's Best Racing and Equestricon, the appropriately named Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center near Loxahatchee, Fla. is open to the possibility of seeing if the gelding could fit in their program once healthy and happy.

While Vinceremos has landed safely off the track, there are constantly horses in need of help to make that transition, an issue Brogden said she'd like to see amended by more connections made between racing and recreational riding homes, and having racing connections stop before that last injury-inducing race.

"I want more farms to do what we do. Because I grew up in the show hunter world, I know the show hunter lingo," she said.

"I know that some hot as firecracker horses are never going to make it in the junior (hunters) but at the same time, I had (an OTTB) come back that was too hot ... so we sent him to a barrel home and he loved it. I think there's a lot of that where people (in racing) who don't come from the show hunter world don't know how to bridge across to the other world.

"In my experience, 99% of OTTBs need a professional rider and trainer to bridge the gap from the hot-blooded racehorse to the riding home for the amateur. What (The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program and Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover) programs have offered are doing that, because they've created a demand. I have such a huge waiting list for sound Thoroughbreds off the track, it's shocking to me."

And in Vinceremos' case, a sound retirement may have led to more options after racing.

"That's the whole thing, if there's a way to stop him before—he's heading downhill, you know the inevitable is going to happen where he can't hold up in the end," Brogden said. "His ankles were already bad, and I just wish that people would stop before that last race. If they had stopped on him before the last race, he would have been sound enough (for more second career options)."

Seeing the Glass Half Full at the Thoroughbred Classic

2018-01-18T00:14:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The team behind the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show would love to see their 2018 edition of their annual Holiday Classic event go off without a hitch.

Forces outside of the organizers' control affected the past two editions of the December show—in 2016 it was cancelled due to an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), and in 2017 the equine community in Southern California was in the midst of dealing with devastating wildfires.

But the Thoroughbred Classic team took tragedy in stride, and turned an unexpected negative situation into something positive for their community and horses this past December.

With participants already setting up and shipping their horses to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center for the Holiday Classic Dec. 9-10, the team decided to press on. The goal was to be a positive light for the equestrian communities dealing with fires in Ventura and Sylmar and the racing community dealing with the Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey.

"We had a lot of frantic conversations on Thursday afternoon (Dec. 7, the day of the Lilac Fire). We just decided that we were going to press on and we were going to be, hopefully, something positive in the face of everything that was happening in racing," said Lucinda Mandella, executive director of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a nonprofit that helps fund retraining and retirement for California Thoroughbreds and puts on the Thoroughbred Classic.

The CARMA team made a few changes to the event by cancelling the annual party and jockey calcutta and setting up a drop-off site for anyone who wanted to make donations. They even invited other equestrian evacuees, who were being temporarily stabled at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, to participate in their clinic the day before the show.

"It's interesting how in the face of a natural disaster, people come together," Mandella said. "Because of the Sylmar Fire, we met some new people who don't have Thoroughbreds and aren't in the Thoroughbred community, who were evacuated to the LA Equestrian Center and participated in our clinic with some of their warmbloods.

"We actually ended up making some great connections and they were shocked by the racing community's support. They started a donation collection and collected thousands of dollars of equipment, and created these kits with blankets and toiletries, and put together 40 kits and drove them down to Del Mar after the show was over on Sunday."

HC Stannis Baratheon with rider Rebecca Rosell at the Thoroughbred Classic.
Credit: Kristin Lee Photography

Another group of evacuees sent to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center at the time came from the high-class hunter/jumper barn of Archie Cox's Brookway Stables, a group CARMA connected with.

"It was nice to be able to showcase our Thoroughbreds to a typical hunter/jumper crowd and to be able to turn to Archie Cox and say, 'This is what Thoroughbreds can do,'" Mandella said.

"Through a tragedy, we were able to make connections with a group of riders and equestrians that we never would have met otherwise. They never would have been introduced to CARMA, retired racehorses, the work we do, and the programs we have on track. So really, through tragedy, we were able to fulfil our mission for this show, which is to raise awareness and outreach."

This year, CARMA hopes to continue its reach in the sport horse world through the Thoroughbred Classic with its upcoming events: a show at Galway Downs in Temecula, Calif. March 24-25, the 2018 Holiday Classic in December, and sponsored Thoroughbred-only classes at open and rated horse shows in the region.

"We're really proud of it. It's really grown and it's starting to come into its own," Mandella said of the Thoroughbred Classic, now in its fifth year. "We're the only Thoroughbred-only show on the West Coast. Hopefully it will continue to grow."

Nates Mineshaft: MGSW to OTTB Trail Ambassador

2018-01-11T00:56:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

On the track, multiple graded stakes winner Nates Mineshaft was a versatile racehorse through 39 starts in nine seasons.

Making his graded debut at age 5, the son of Mineshaft picked up three graded wins including a score in the 1 1/8-mile New Orleans Handicap (G2). The next season he won on the turf in an optional-claiming allowance, and made a start in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1T). In 2014 he placed in two dirt sprint stakes, and in 2015 he finished second to Private Zone in the seven-furlong Churchill Downs Stakes (G3) and ran third in the six-furlong Aristides Stakes (G3). Bred by Cobra Farm and racing for owner Windy Hill Farm, he retired in early 2016 with a 9-4-5 record and earnings of $858,975.

After a failed try at stud—it was discovered that he was a cryptorchid after an attempted gelding, but he was unable to breed mares—Nates Mineshaft found a home with veterinarian Dr. Shannon Reed.

"He's a little bit of a weird horse because he won a lot of different ways—he won on grass, he won on dirt, he won sprinting—he's been in a lot of different categories, down in the low-level allowances and up in the high graded stakes races. He's a horse that just has a huge amount of heart," said Reed, who works at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri and became acquainted with the runner when he needed rehabilitation work.

"I kept in touch with the owners and followed along with how he was going and made it known that if he ever needed a home that we would take him. He was a special horse and so when it worked out that he wasn't going to be able to be a stud, and they didn't have a place for him at the farm, they asked us if we would take him."

When Reed, who dabbles in low-level eventing, discovered that 'Nate' wasn't going to be sound enough to jump, she didn't want to miss out on the chance to take him to the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover. So, the duo trained and competed in competitive trail, which was a new world for both rider and horse.

"I just decided to not miss the opportunity to showcase this horse and so I decided to take up a new sport," Reed said. "It was a long learning process for me, we traveled to clinics and we went to different places around the U.S. that did competitive trail and we were probably on the trail for 200 hours.

"We didn't do as well as we could have (at the Makeover) because I made some rider errors because I just didn't know the points system. I just thought because he couldn't jump that he needed a job. He's an amazing horse on the trail ... He's really good at taking out young horses, and they just follow him."

Nates Mineshaft and Shannon Reed tackle a water obstacle at the Thoroughbred Makeover
Photo: Libby Robertson

While Reed doesn't see any more trail competitions in the future—she said 'Nate' doesn't think many of the obstacles are worth his time and effort—she enjoys riding him on the trail and telling his story. He also a budding dressage star (he won a few classes and was named high-point horse at a show), a "glorified waterboy" when helping Reed carry water to competitors at cross-country competitions, and serves as a guide to younger horses on the trail.

"Everywhere I go with him people ask about him ... when I say what he is and what he did, they usually end up taking a picture with him," she said.

For Reed, this becomes a chance to showcase his usefulness and get others interested in Thoroughbreds.

"I just think that he's a great ambassador for those horses who aren't 100% sound leaving the track, still having a really good place in the world and a use. That's why I think he's important. Just because (a horse is) not perfect they have a lot of things to still give. He's probably gotten a lot of people in the area interested in using Thoroughbreds for trail who were not thinking that," she said.

"What 'Nate' has opened up for me is the possibility of that they don't just have to be sport horses, because he and I are perfectly happy going down the trail."

Son of Jersey Girl Starts Anew at Life Adventure Center

2018-01-03T19:08:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The last horse through the ring in the penultimate session of the 2017 Keeneland November sale was a chestnut son of Street Cry. Named Street Jersey, he was consigned as Hip 3914 by Hunter Valley Farm as a stallion prospect.

Street Jersey accumulated a record of 1-1-4 and earnings of $69,750 from seven starts for breeder Charles Fipke. While not as successful on the track as his dam, the multiple grade 1 winner Jersey Girl, or his half brother, grade 1 winner and sire Jersey Town, the now 6-year-old exited the ring without a bid. But he didn't go completely unnoticed.

As Lauren Burke arrived at Keeneland that day, her friend called her to take a look at Street Jersey.

"She called me and I was trying to park my car, and she was like 'You've got to get down here, I really like this horse,'" Burke recalled.

"I met them at the barn and I looked at him for 30 seconds. I thought he was really interesting, kind of a different type, and had a really nice look in his eye. (I) made an offer on him and the rest is history."

The journey Street Jersey was about to begin was probably not what his connections envisioned for his future when they entered him into the sale. Burke, who is the equine manager at the Life Adventure Center near Versailles, Ky., purchased the retired runner as a prospect for the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover.

He'll have some big shoes to fill as Burke's Makeover competitor last year, Woodford Channel, took home the top prize in both the field hunter and freestyle disciplines.

"Last year I won the freestyle and the field hunters, and field hunting was newer to me. I kind of used the makeover as the reason to get into fox hunting and it was a lot of fun," she said.

"I'm secretly harboring a hope that (Street Jersey will) want to be a ranch horse or something since the western disciplines seem like a lot of fun, and he's a big sturdy type, but I'll work with him for a long time before I decide."

Street Jersey at Life Adventure Center

But before he gets to this year's Makeover, Street Jersey could make a positive impact on individuals who participate in the Center's programs.

"I get to share my horses with the Life Adventure Center throughout the year," Burke said. "It's cool because we do some experiential education and resiliency programs for different groups—a lot of at-risk kids, abused women who are recovering, veterans with PTSD—so the Thoroughbreds are kind of uniquely well-suited to that. They're very sensitive, they're expressive, they're emotionally intelligent.

"'Woody,' who I did the Makeover with this past year, in addition to being trained by me, got to influence the lives of a lot of different people, and a lot of different people got to have a safe and empowering first horse experience."

In addition to its equine programs—which can range from herd observations, groundwork, trail riding, and vaulting—the center also offers a number of non-horse activities, including high and low ropes courses, canoeing, and archery.

For now, Street Jersey is settling into his new home while Burke continues to evaluate him to decide what discipline he might be suitable for.

"We've just been letting him get settled in and getting him used to the whole routine," Burke said. "The more I do with him, the more I really like him. I think he's got a nice personality, he's very confident ... he's incredibly smart, he's an athlete, and I'm really looking forward to working with him all year."

Adena Helps OTTBs Find New Careers Via In-House Program

2017-12-27T23:58:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The Stronach family's Adena Springs is known in the Thoroughbred industry as a successful breeder and owner participating in the highest levels of the game in the United States and Canada, but the Stronachs are also advocates for responsible aftercare.

In addition to supporting outside aftercare nonprofits and initiatives, Adena Springs has its own aftercare program to help former Adena runners find second careers. Launched in 2004, the program is based out of Adena Springs North near Aurora, Ontario. I spoke with Adena Retirement Program's Maria Turner about running a successful aftercare program.

How did this start and why does Adena keep the program in house?
"The program was started back in 2004 as the Stronach family felt a responsibility and commitment to care for their horses beyond the racing years. Our goal is to match horses with loving owners who will make a lifelong commitment to their health, happiness, and well-being.

"As far as keeping it in house, it's quite manageable to have it here at the farm in Aurora. We're lucky enough to work out of Nikki Walker's (granddaughter of Frank Stronach) barn.

"Future goals for the program are to perhaps become a charity and become accredited by the TAA (Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance) so we can apply for grants and be independent financially."

What happens when it's time for an Adena runner to retire?
"When a horse is nearing retirement, our vet works closely with me on deciding what new discipline they would be suitable for, and we decide what is the best approach for their new career. Most horses need down time, turnout, and a new feed program. We also provide them with any vet treatments they may require before starting back to work. After this, we introduce them to their new training program.

"Some horses come up to the barn and I can rehome them right away. That's ideal because it's better for them to go into another working (environment). So we assess them, give them the downtime if needed, and just get them working again on the ground if they're not being ridden."
Scallywag, an Adena Springs homebred and retirement program graduate.
Photo: Ian Woodley

What's the horse-matching process for a potential adopter like?
"In the beginning we did more marketing ... but now, thankfully, we have such a good reputation and some of the horses that we've rehomed have gone on to do quite well in upper levels ... so I now have more people asking than I have horses. That's an awesome place to be. Typically what happens as soon as I have a nice sound horse come in, I can place him within a few days.

"When contacted, I interview all candidates and if I think (a horse) would be a good match, they come for a test ride. If it's a good fit, we sell the horse with a contract and retired-from-racing form. Some horses go immediately and others need more time. We don't rush the process.

"Currently, I only have one retiree. This year I've been really fortunate, I've had some nice horses and they came in and left right away. Not too many with injuries. Luckily, the Stronach family is good about retiring them while they're still capable to do other things.

"This year I've probably (rehomed) maybe 10. Last year I did quite a few, probably near 20. We're very lucky, we've got a really good group of people who are always checking in to see what I have. Word of mouth is great. I find that Facebook is really helpful, I can post a video and show a horse's progress and people get in touch with me quickly."

Minnesota Steps Up Aftercare Efforts

2017-12-20T18:22:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The racing industry in Minnesota has recently increased its efforts to help retiring horses with life off the track.

Thanks to legislation passed in 2015, fines collected from rulings at Canterbury Park and Running Aces Casino & Racetrack were allocated to a fund, which awarded $46,000 to three aftercare organizations this fall. The three organizations selected were Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoptions, This Old Horse, and Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program.

"The rescues we selected stood out to us due to the volume of horses taken from the racetrack and the numbers that are rehomed," said Stephanie Neises of the Minnesota Racing Commission. "We were also pleased to see rescues willing to take on horses that are otherwise unadoptable due to injury. These unrideable horses are being used in programs that require no riding and serve out their days as ambassadors for their breed and also show the quality of life after racing."

All three organizations that received donations have a similar mission of helping ex-racehorses, but differ in the services they provide. The North Dakota-based Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoptions and New York-based Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program work to help Thoroughbreds transition to life off the track and find suitable second careers and homes. The Hastings, Minn.-based This Old Horse is a sanctuary and rescue for horses of various breeds. A small committee at the MRC reviewed applications for funds before selecting these three nonprofits.

"Applications were reviewed and screened to ensure all applicants were active 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good active standing with the IRS," Neises said, adding that the committee to a close look at organizations that were requesting monetary assistance for feed, vet care, and other needs directly related to the care of horses.

"Our selection criteria gives priority to rescue organizations that actively take horses from Minnesota racetracks and also the volume of horses those rescues take and ultimately rehome."

Stephanie Neises and OTTB Purest Form. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Neises

In addition to awarding those funds, Neises said that the Minnesota Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association increased a per start fee that goes toward aftercare programs. In 2018, the fee will be $5 and will be matched by Canterbury Park. The funds are distributed to local aftercare and rehoming facilities.

"The Minnesota HBPA and Canterbury Park have been doing a spectacular job of increasing per start fees to benefit racehorse retirement and aftercare for years," she said.

Although progress has been made, there are still areas for future development—and Neises has some big ideas.

"Wishful thinking for me would be to have a small barn located on the track property where retired horses can go to start their next career," she said.

"We need more rescues willing to take on horses that aren't perfect or need time off," she added. "These athletes have given us their all for years and sometimes they need to relax before moving into their next career. We need more folks who see the diamond in the rough and the limitless potential these fantastic animals have to excel in every discipline under the sun."

TCA's Horses First Fund, the Industry's Emergency Aid

2017-12-13T18:21:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Immediately after news of the San Luis Rey Training Center fire broke, racing fans across the country were searching for ways to help the affected humans and horses. People in the area made trips to volunteer at Del Mar, while those hundreds and thousands of miles away looked for ways to send money, donations, and whatever they could.

Before an official GoFundMe was established by Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, and the Stronach Group, Thoroughbred Charities of America's Horses First Fund was already in place and ready to be deployed.

"It's absolutely incredible," TCA executive director Erin Crady said of the pledges and donations that have been made to the Horses First Fund so far. "LNJ Foxwoods started the Horses First Fund last year for the (abandoned) horses in Mercer County, and so far it's been used for that situation and for Puerto Rico to help the 1,000-plus horses at Camarero, which is still an ongoing situation. Now, for the California fires. It's been really great to have an emergency fund available so we can step up and help horses when they are in need."

Within a couple of days, big players in the industry started adding their name to the list of those who pledged donations. Many came in the form of social media announcements, including pledges from Stonestreet, Coolmore, LNJ Foxwoods, Craig and Carrie Brogden, e5 Racing, owner and NHL player Erik Johnson, owner/breeder Vincent Colbert, among others. Horses First Fund also received more than $50,000 from a GoFundMe created by Nexus Racing Club's Sophie Shore. Crady said that while TCA doesn't have all of the pledges in yet, the organization estimates more than $100,000 was raised.

"As far as the donors go, it's incredible," she said. "I'm proud to be part of this industry. The way that everyone has come together, stepped up, and offered immense amounts of help in the form of donations or products or supplies, time, talent, it's really, really inspiring."

The day after the fire, TCA identified the primary needs and, through the assistance of its board member Bing Bush at Del Mar, purchased supplies from the nearby Mary's Tack & Feed with some of the funds raised. Hay, shavings, and veterinary supplies were also sent to Trifecta Equine Athletic Center, which housed displaced horses from San Luis Rey. As the needs shifted toward helping backstretch workers who lost everything, clothing and other human supplies were purchased.

Volunteers and supplies at Del Mar. Photo: Cecilia Gustavsson

Now the TCA is working with track representatives and the Race Track Chaplaincy of California's Mark Dunn to identify current needs, and will be cautious of not duplicating efforts going forward.

In addition to aid, Crady said local aftercare organizations may have to prepare for an influx of retiring horses.

"There are probably horses affected by the fires that need an earlier than expected retirement," she said. "I haven't had any discussions with our grant recipients in California yet, but I think that's something that we'll have to address in the near future."

Less than three months ago, TCA was in a similar, yet different, position of stepping up to the plate with the Horses First Fund when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico Sept. 20, turning the lives of the 3.4 million American citizens and thousands of horses upside down. With the Fund, TCA shipped feed and veterinary supplies to the island to help hundreds of Thoroughbreds at Hipódromo Camarero.

"We've tried to transition the efforts to the local vendors in Puerto Rico. The Jockey Club has set up a local account with some of the hay and shaving vendors in Puerto Rico, so we can assist in galvanizing the local economy but still aid the horses at the race track," Crady said of the ongoing efforts in Puerto Rico, adding that infrastructure issues at the track and citizens not having electricity are still major issues facing the island.

"Someone asked me, 'How do you compare the two disasters?' And you can't, they are completely different," she said. "In California we didn't have to worry about flying supplies in because everything was available... There's really no comparison of the two disasters. Puerto Rico is ongoing."

It's hard to be ready for the unexpected, but with the Horses First Fund, at least the racing industry is more prepared when disaster strikes.

Former Trainer Finds Calling in Aftercare

2017-12-06T18:42:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

With a place in her heart for horses giving it their all on the track, trainer Patti Shirley made an important announcement when she was interviewed after her trainee Russian Elite won the featured race of the day Dec. 21, 2004 at Sunland Park. With a captive audience, Shirley announced she was going to start an aftercare organization. As soon as the interview was over, she already had her first horse.

"By the time I was winding down my career in training, I was really listening to what was going on in aftercare," she said. "I just thought, 'This is the niche for me, this is what I need to do.'"

Shirley and her late husband Dale Shirley (the former manager of Rillito Racetrack) had a 120-acre farm outside of Tucson that they previously used for breeding and training their own Thoroughbreds. The facility made the perfect location for her new Equine Encore Foundation to help retired racehorses. Using knowledge from her previous career as a legal secretary, she set up her own nonprofit and was off and running in 2005.

The first retired runner brought back to her farm was a Quarter Horse named Rocket On Sound, who arrived Jan. 7, 2005. That same day, they received their first Thoroughbred, stakes winner Oh Gracie. Now 22 years old, Oh Gracie is still at the farm, while Rocket On Sound was adopted out in 2008.

"In the beginning we started adopting them out, but it made it difficult because some of the horses have injuries that make it so they can't go on and do something else," Shirley said. "And if you get a person who is a good rider who can handle a Thoroughbred, they want a horse who can do something. One year I adopted out six horses and I took four of them back, so (I decided), 'I'm not going to do this.'"

Patti Shirley mixes grain for her herd at Equine Encore. Photo: Diane C. Maroscia

Shifting the focus of Equine Encore to that of a sanctuary proved a rewarding but expensive endeavor.

"It's a labor of love and it's just too bad that it's an expensive labor of love," Shirley said of the organization, currently home to 79 horses.

"It's not that I choose not to adopt them out. They all have critical injuries from their years in racing and they can't go on to other careers—those are the ones I always take. I really have a soft spot in my heart for them because they earned their retirement. I don't have any grade 1 winners, but most every horse on my place earned over $100,000... and these are the ones that I love."

A few of her notable past residents include a multiple stakes winner and earner of more than $840,000, Gulchrunssweet, and 1999 Arkansas Derby (G2) runner-up Torrid Sand. Currently the farm is home to grade 3-placed Honour the Deputy, $265,000-earner Mr. Bossy Pants, and Ghostly Dance, who made 70 starts in seven seasons, among others.

While the horses at Equine Encore are not famous, Shirley knows they're special to their former racetrack connections. Given her years on the local circuit, she understands that racing is a business, but she also knows how much trainers and grooms care about the horses in their care, which she's seen first hand from those who visit Equine Encore.

"A trainer came down from Turf Paradise and she was looking around and she said, 'What's that horse's name?' And I said 'His name is Domingo Juan.' And she burst into tears and said she trained that horse, he was claimed away from her, and she didn't know what happened to him," Shirley recalled of one visitor.

"The trainers really care about their horses. The trainers and the grooms and the exercise riders form bonds with them, and they really do care about them—there just isn't enough money to support all of them."

Horses at Equine Encore Foundation near Tucson, Ariz. Photo: Diane C. Maroscia

Shirley, who earned an award of merit in 2015 from Thoroughbred Charities of America for her work at Equine Encore, wants to help as many horses as possible but is limited by costs associated with taking care of a large, aging herd. Although Equine Encore is a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization and does receive other grants—from organizations such as Thoroughbred Charities of America, the California Retirement Management Account, and Second Call of Turf Paradise—the nonprofit still relies on donations from racing fans and horse lovers.

"The biggest thing for us is raising money to put food on the table. The only thing I dislike about being a sanctuary is that you just reach a saturation point and there's just so many horses that out there that need help," she said.

"On average we lose one or two horses a year, and they are quickly replaced. I can't really make our organization any bigger... with that many horses, (at) vaccination time, it's thousands of dollars. Everything is expensive when you've got that many horses."

TAA Accredited Groups Show Diversity in Aftercare

2017-11-29T21:14:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The 64 organizations accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance are as diverse as the aftercare landscape itself. Many adopt out former runners for second careers, others are sanctuaries, and some are organizations that help both horses and humans.

In addition to helping Thoroughbreds, there is one similarity among all of the nonprofits—they've all passed the rigorous test that is the TAA accreditation process. This means that not only do they receive grant money, but their standards of equine care, facility management, and business practices are all up to the TAA's standards.

"The accreditation process is incredibly detailed. It's really soul-searching," said Kim Smith of Second Stride, a Crestwood, Ky. nonprofit that focuses on rehabilitation, retraining, and placement of off-track Thoroughbreds.

"For us, it really upped our level of sustainability for the hopes of when this current founding board diminishes, that the program will continue to thrive and grow and be here to help horses transition off the track in our area."

Like many organizations adopting out horses, much of Second Stride's time and effort goes to retraining. But due to their proximity to Churchill Downs and nearby training facilities, the organization has a number of racing professional volunteers and offers services that aren't typically expected of an aftercare organization, such as castrating, herd acclimation, and breaking. Smith said Second Stride also occasionally works with local equestrians who were mismatched with a Thoroughbred.

Another accredited organization with a slightly different goal is War Horses at Rose Bower. Founded by Barbara Luna in 2013, the organization near Appomattox, Va. aims to take in retiring racehorses (mostly geldings) who are at least 7-year-olds or have made at least 70 starts.

Luna, who was previously the program administrator for Turning for Home and the editor of the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Association News, became especially connected to the older "war horses" and felt compelled to create an organization to help them.

"I set myself up to make it a little more difficult because I really felt for these older horses because they make money for so many people," Luna said, adding that her organization has received some horses with recognizable names, such as New Jersey-bred Horse of the Year Hermosillo, who is one of two pensioners at her farm.

While War Horses at Rose Bower does adopt out horses, most of the horses Luna gets are 9 or older. With their long on-track careers, soundness for competitive second careers can be an issue, so Luna is looking into expanding her nonprofit to offer human-horse therapy programs in the future.

For Luna, the TAA accreditation represented the hard work she's put into her entire career in the racing industry.

"That was the main thing for me—being acknowledged for what I was doing and that I was doing a good job," she said of earning the accreditation. "... It just made me feel like, 'Yes, somebody thinks I'm doing something right.' "

Centripital, a graduate of War Horses at Rose Bower, competed at the 2016 Thoroughbred Makeover with rider Stacey Fitzgerald. Photo courtesy of Barbara Luna.

Helen Meredith also has a soft spot for older war horses. In 1994, after learning about Thoroughbreds ending up at slaughter, Meredith started the United Pegasus Foundation, which now has 75-100 horses at any given time at its farm near San Jacinto, Calif.

"It is (a large herd) but they're all out in paddocks. Anything that comes off the track that can't go out with a herd that has to be cooped up—that's no life," Meredith said, adding that she's also had a few notable runners at her facility—including Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Cardmania, who was trained by her husband Derek Meredith, and $1.5 million-earner Music Merci.

Since more than half of her herd is older than 20, Meredith said the facility operates as a permanent home but does adopt our horses too.

"We are a permanent sanctuary home. Even in our adoption contract, anything that's adopted from us, we'll always take back," she said.

Although United Pegasus Foundation receives grant money, from the TAA and other sources, Meredith, like many nonprofit leaders, still sees funding as the biggest concern her organization faces.

"We're very committed to what we do, we try to help as many Thoroughbreds as possible," she said. "Because they live a long time, often we have limited space, but obviously the more money you have, the more you can do—that's what it's all based on."

Rider Teams Up With 73-Start Warhorse for 2018 Makeover

2017-11-22T19:25:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

A hard-knocker who gave his all on the track, Saratoga Boot earned $267,372 in his 73 starts. Racing from ages 2 until 10, the gelded son of Storm Boot compiled an impressive 16-10-13 record. Not wanting to see the horse break down, trainer Eddie Clouston retired him after he ran fourth in a claiming race in October at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, & Resort.

"He runs every single time, he tries every single time, you lead him over there and he tries," Clouston said, adding that he had the horse for about a year. "He's one of those old classy horses. He doesn't hurt anybody, he doesn't have a bad bone in his body, and I didn't want to see him break down.

"I told (jockey) Megan Fadlovich, 'Find him a home and I'll give him away as long as it's a good home.'"

Fadlovich, who moves retiring racehorses into new off-track homes when she's not riding at the racetrack, knew Saratoga Boot meant a lot to Clouston and those who worked with the dark bay runner at the track. However, his many years spent in training didn't come without some injuries, which is why Clouston asked Fadlovich to make sure he got settled in a good place.

"He's got a big ankle. It doesn't bother him, but I hope whatever (a new owner) wants him to do that he turns out (well) because he deserves it," Clouston said. "He has a lot of personality and he's very laid back, he's a very loveable horse."

After one possible new owner fell through and others passed on him because of his not-so-perfect ankles, Fadlovich reached out to Joy Campbell. Campbell competed in this year's Thoroughbred Makeover Presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America as a professional with a younger horse and was looking specifically for a warhorse to take to the 2018 Makeover.

"When Megan told me about him I hadn't asked his name, just looked at pictures and watched a jog in-hand video, and I said would run down and look at him," Campbell said. "The night before I texted to her to ask (his name) so I could look him up on Equibase. And I was noticing that he ran regularly, so must be pretty sound with a good work ethic."

Campbell said Fadlovich told her about one of Saratoga Boot's former jockeys, Anne Von Rosen, who adored the gelding and was aboard for his win in the 2012 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Handicap at Turf Paradise. Campbell figured if his connections were so high on him then he must be a good horse.

Von Rosen, who was paralyzed after a bad spill in a 2014 Quarter Horse race, still speaks highly of Saratoga Boot, even with his many quirks.

"He has so much character," Von Rosen said. "He loves mints, and wouldn't leave the track after galloping until Mike Chambers (his trainer at the time) gave him a mint. And he would pick grass, if we found some, on the way back to the barn.

"He also had quite the habit of doing 'doughnuts' when backtracking when he thought we had backtracked far enough," she said. "And once he started he wouldn't stop. More than once the outrider had to come and help me."

Just like the others who knew him, Campbell liked what she saw when she met Saratoga Boot. So she loaded him up and brought him home with her to Ohio.

Joy Campbell and Saratoga Boot. Photo: Michael Groubert

"The first thing that struck me about him at the track was his eye and ear. He has that bright, deeply intelligent and charismatic Thoroughbred eye with big, slightly floppy ears. I was also immediately in love with his shoulder—long, open, and an extremely well laid-back withers," she said.

"His ankles on the other hand were worse than I anticipated. In the pictures they looked like a matched pair but they aren't in person. However, he trotted sound. And they are cold, set, and not painful to palpation or flexion. He also had gorgeous dapples on a good coat, that bright eye, and was happy to engage with us and go out to trot, so I knew he wasn't hurting a bit on them so we put him on my trailer."

Although she's already set a goal of competing in next year's Makeover, Campbell is currently taking it day by day with Saratoga Boot.

"Short term, I'll just let him tell me (what he wants to do)," she said. "He has a naturally uphill way of going so I anticipate dressage, eventing, or jumpers and I'll aim him for that at the (Makeover)."

TIP Youth Ambassadors Share Their OTTB Enthusiasm

2017-11-15T23:01:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program Youth Ambassadors are a special group of young off-track Thoroughbred supporters who want to share their passion for ex-racehorses with the equestrian world. Twelve individuals are selected each year to help promote the T.I.P., which encourages the retraining of OTTBs for other disciplines.

While a love of the breed unites the group, the reasons why they each got involved and stay involved with Thoroughbreds are different. Some were life-long fans, while others are recent converts. Read what a few of the ambassadors have to say about why they wanted to be an ambassador for the T.I.P. and why they love their OTTBs.

On Why They Got Involved:

"I wanted to be a TIP ambassador so that I could encourage the use of Thoroughbreds in my area. The area I live in is predominantly (focused on) Quarter Horses and western events. I wanted to educate and encourage riders to show Thoroughbreds because of the incentives in our area. I have met so many people and have been given so many opportunities because I have shown Thoroughbreds, and I wanted to share those opportunities with others." — Morgan Kasner, 19, Glyndon, Minn.

"I wanted to be an ambassador to change people's perceptions about Thoroughbreds, and really educate the equine community and promote Thoroughbreds in second careers. There are a lot of misconceptions about them and their ability to do anything but race after they are retired, but there is such a vast amount that need homes when they are no longer running. For me, the biggest influence has been my farm and my coach, Robin Hannah-Carlton at Sherwood Farm. She has brought multiple Thoroughbreds through our barn doors and is a huge advocate for their abilities." — Teri Simone, 19, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

"I wanted to be a T.I.P. ambassador because I once held negative stereotypes about Thoroughbreds, and if I hadn't changed my mind I never would have bought my horse. I hope what the T.I.P. ambassadors do changes the mind of at least one other person. Maybe as a result they'll also find their dream horse." — Meredith Orme, 18, Royersford, Penn.

"When I first got my Thoroughbred, I noticed there weren't many younger kids riding them. Even adults kept telling me Thoroughbreds were 'too much horse' for kids. I wanted to show them how Thoroughbreds were the best breed and had the biggest hearts." — Ella Sciog, 13, Naples, Fla.

"I wanted to be a T.I.P. ambassador as I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to represent such a unique and versatile breed." — Chloe Bellerive, 19, Keedysville, Md.

"I wanted to become a T.I.P. Youth Ambassador because I love Thoroughbreds and I wanted to meet other people that have Thoroughbreds to connect over our shared love of OTTBs." — Audrey Newbrey, 12, Snoqualmie, Wash.

On Why They Love OTTBs:

"I love showing/riding Thoroughbreds because they have such big personalities and will give you an honest ride... Thoroughbreds are very quick learners and will always try their hardest to make you happy. They are very fun to ride, with their goofy personalities and 'can do' attitude." — Audrey Newbrey

"Thoroughbreds are by far my favorite breed of horse to ride due to their temperament, athleticism, and overall demeanor. I find the breed to have a tremendous work ethic and ability to focus on what is being asked of them. It's easy to communicate and learn from one another when they're so willing to please and try so hard." — Chloe Bellerive

"I enjoy it because Thoroughbreds are just so much more fun to ride. You can tell they love what they do." — Ella Sciog

"If I was forced to give one reason that I enjoy riding and showing Thoroughbreds, it would be that I could take a singular Thoroughbred in many disciplines, and we could hold our own. You'll never get bored with a Thoroughbred." — Meredith Orme

"They really just want to please. No matter the discipline, they are phenomenal horses. 'Indy' has taught me so much about myself and riding: patience is always a necessity; if you don't get it right the first time; keep going. There will be days that you need to just breathe and take time to connect, but when everything clicks, it's amazing." — Teri Simone

"They tend to have to weirdest quirks but they have the biggest hearts and will put 110% into everything... I also love how versatile Thoroughbreds are. With my two Thoroughbreds I have competed in almost every event possible from the english and western pleasure classes, games, jumping, dressage, sorting, and even goat tying." — Morgan Kasner

$450K Yearling Shines in Eventing Second Career

2017-11-11T16:14:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The hammer fell at $450,000 for the son of Indian Charlie, with Eoin Harty bringing the final bid at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale. Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Barnes Racing out of the stakes-placed Mr. Prospector mare Beaucette, he was pinhooked to that sale after being purchased for $200,000 as a weanling at the previous year's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

With a solid purchase price and now in the care of one of the largest operations in the world with Darley, it seemed that the youngster, named Regiment, had a bright future ahead on the racetrack. But it wasn't on the racetrack where he began to shine.

After two mediocre starts in maiden races, his best finish a well-beaten third, the runner strained a suspensory in his left front leg, and his connections decided to turn him over to the Maker's Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park to help him find a new home and career. His athletic physical caught the eye of McKenzie Dey, who was scrolling through the MMSC horses listed online in late 2014.

"They had a bunch of really nice looking prospects," the North Carolina-based trainer said. "And then I saw Reggie and I said, 'Oh, that one.'"

But on the drive to Kentucky to look at the potential new mount, Dey was reading through MMSC blog posts about 'Reggie' and his old suspensory injury.

"On the drive we did some more digging and we found the blog about Reggie. We were about to enter West Virginia, and my sister was reading the blog and she read the part about him having a suspensory (injury) and I was destroyed,' Dey said. "I was like, 'You have got to be kidding me, I'm on my way to Kentucky for this horse.' Hearing 'suspensory' is scary no matter what. I was so gung-ho, but it totally took the wind out of my sails."

Not wanting to chalk it up as a loss just yet, Dey continued to MMSC. She tried a few other horses there, but nothing seemed to connect with her. She told herself she wasn't going to try Regiment, because she knew if she did she'd fall for him hard.

"I knew if I liked him that I'd say 'Screw it' and buy him," she said. "Well, guess what? I rode him and I rode a bunch of others. ...I liked them all but I just kept going back to 'Reggie.'"

The strikes against Regiment were piling up for Dey. In addition to his former suspensory injury, she learned about his tendency to throw shoes and his herpes condition. Although all were manageable with patience and care, Dey still wasn't convinced and needed some kind of sign that he was the right horse was for her.

"I kept looking for signs and finally I talked to my grandmother one morning and she said, 'You've just got to buy him,'" she said. "So I called Susanna and it was a deal."

Now, more than two years after she took him home, the duo is competing in the preliminary level of eventing and Dey is looking to move him up to the intermediate level soon. She is quick to credit her talented mount and her coach, Bobby Costello, a top-level eventer and former Olympian.

McKenzie Dey and Regiment. Photo courtesy of McKenzie Dey

"I've developed him super carefully, but the horse is just a natural," she said. "I saw the way he carried himself and the look in his eye. He tried everything I asked, his balance and that natural lead change he had—I was just like, 'I guess I'm going to have to start competing again.'

"At this rate, within a year of real competing, he's already done a (CCI) one star. I'm hoping next year to do a (CCI) two star, and honestly I'd like to look at qualifying for Rolex (Kentucky Three-Day Event)."

Dey is thankful for the horse who got her back in full swing into the sport of eventing. Before 'Reggie,' she took a hiatus on competing and wasn't sure about her future in the sport. But 'Reggie' changed all that. Now, she's giving lessons, training, and working on building her own training farm and business.

"The only reason I'm still doing this and I'm still here right now is because of this horse," she said. "If I didn't have 'Reggie,' it wouldn't be the same. It's about the journey for me and not the business aspect. It's my fairytale and I feel so lucky to have fallen into this situation."

Former Breeders' Cup Runners Enjoy Second Careers

2017-11-01T23:57:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Three years ago at the 2014 Breeders' Cup World Championships, a gelding named Cary Street flew three wide around the final turn of a 1 3/4-mile event, came storming into the Santa Anita Park stretch, and pulled away from his competition to register a 9 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Las Vegas Marathon Stakes (G2).

"I claimed him for $10,000 (in February of 2013) and I didn't think for a second that he was going to reach the heights that he reached," trainer Brendan Walsh said.

"He won me my first graded stakes (the grade 3 Greenwood Cup Stakes) and then we brought him to the Breeders' Cup and he won," the trainer added. "I will never ever have another horse who will do for me as much as he did. He put us in the spotlight for the first time.

"You always knew when he went out there that he was going to give it everything. He never let us down that way, not once. He'll always have a place in my heart."

But after the Marathon, the runner's form began to fade and minor injuries popped up, making Walsh think that it was time for Cary Street's retirement.

Around the time 'Cary' was looking for a new off-track life, veterinarian Dr. Stephanie Butler, who was working with Dr. Daryl Easley at the time, was around Walsh's barn at Keeneland and was looking for a new mount.

"My friend told me about (Cary Street) and he had a suspensory injury. It wasn't bad but it was enough that they opted to retire him," Butler said.

"When I talked with (Walsh) and the groom, everybody was like, 'I love that horse, he has the best personality.' It was kind of repetitive that everybody really, really liked him... so, I was just like, 'Wow, this must be a really cool horse!' "

In July of 2016, Cary Street moved to his new home, Ramblen Farm near Versailles, with his new owner, Butler. She gave him some down time before embarking on a retraining journey toward a second career, with the long-term goal of competing in lower-level eventing. The pair recently competed at the 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, where they finished fourth in competitive trail and 11th in the field hunters. But overall, Butler just enjoys spending time with her personable mount.

"He has the biggest personality. You know exactly what's going through his brain," she said. "He's very expressive. He loves being the center of attention."

Cary Street and Stephanie Butler

Another former Breeders' Cup competitor with a heart of gold finding his stride in a second career is 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) runner I'm Boundtoscore. The gelded son of Even the Score failed to place in the Breeders' Cup, but retired from racing with $251,442 in earnings and two stakes wins, including the Summer Stakes Presented by TVG (G2T) at Woodbine.

Around two years ago, the Indiana-bred's former co-owner Troy Rankin was introduced to Laura Janke. After I'm Boundtoscore had been retired and had some down time, Janke remembers going to see the gelding with a friend who was shopping for a horse.

"(Rankin) pulled him out of the field and she (her friend) really wasn't interested. Me and my sister were looking at him and I was thinking to myself, 'I hope she doesn't want him, because I want him,'" Janke recalled. "He was just beautiful and he just had this spark about him.

"We told Troy we would take him, and I started researching him online and there's all these articles on him. I was like, 'Wow, I've never had a Thoroughbred off the track that's actually done anything before.' "

Janke brought the horse home to her Holladay Hills Stable near Lexington and, like she does with other off-track Thoroughbreds, let him choose his own second career.

"At our barn we do a lot of off-the-track Thoroughbreds, it's what my sister and I specialize in—getting them off the track and retraining them and put them in whatever discipline they seem to enjoy... We usually rehome them, but this one we're keeping. He's too special."

"We decided that because of his attitude—he's very fiery, he loves to jump, he can be a little quick, he turns really fast—he just wasn't a hunter at all. He could probably be an event horse, too, but we just really like doing the jumpers with him."
Laura Janke and I'm Boundtoscore

They've found success in the 2'6" jumper classes, picking up blue ribbons at local shows, and Janke hopes to continue his progress through the jumper divisions. There's no other breed she'd rather be riding at shows.

"Thoroughbreds are so useful, I think they are the best horses you can use for competition," she said. "We've always had Thoroughbreds, and we've had Warmbloods too, but I love my Thoroughbreds."

OTTB Honored for Police Work, Community Service

2017-10-25T15:59:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Often we hear stories of off-track Thoroughbreds winning hunter/jumper classes, competing in the upper levels of eventing, and even taking home prizes in barrel racing competitions, but it's not as common to see them become police mounts, typically a job that's reserved for warmbloods or draft crosses.

One such off-track Thoroughbred is SSO Valor, who has been a part of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office in Sarasota, Fla. for the last 14 years. Registered with The Jockey Club as Raja's Best Dancer, the 23-year-old Texas-bred son of Raja's Best Boy compiled a record of 2-1-1 from 18 starts, mostly in claiming races. Although racing wasn't his strong suit, the former runner found his niche as a police mount and recently earned the 2017 Thoroughbred Incentive Program Thoroughbred of the Year award for his work. Valor, who was donated to the department from an individual who wanted to find a good home for him, is thriving in his second career.

"Valor is good at his job. Although we ride in pairs, he is one of the few horses we can take out by himself," said police Sgt. Chris Laster, supervisor of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Mounted Unit. "He often does demos and works pretty stressful events that require his calm demeanor and patience."

Police Deputy Kelli Collison and SSO Valor. Courtesy of Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office

While Laster said the unit will typically look for a warmblood as a potential mount, Thoroughbreds with the right personality can do the job.

"We generally look for warmbloods or warmblood crosses with a dressage background, since all of our police riding techniques are dressage based," Laster said, adding that the unit has used other Thoroughbreds in the past.

"Thoroughbreds can be good police mounts. It all depends on their training and experience. They must however, have somewhat of a naturally calm demeanor and be teachable and tolerant to a wide variety of stimuli. Thoroughbreds can be easy to come by because there are so many retired racehorses. They are also very athletic and have the stamina we need to work long hours in warmer weather.

However, as with most off-the-track horses, rushing into a second career and pushing a horse too soon is not ideal.

"Because of their breeding, it is best to train them at their own pace and avoid shortcuts or take them for granted," Laster said. "It is best to give them a solid foundation in dressage. Getting a Thoroughbred straight off of the track could take a couple of years of training and exposure to make them a suitable police mount."

Although Valor works a number of big events in the area— he's helped with a Super Bowl, a number of college football games, and a Republican National Convention—he also participates in the Sarasota County Sheriff's Activities League SADDLES program, giving at-risk children the opportunity to learn about horse care.

"I have so many great memories with Valor as does anyone who has ridden him," Laster said. "My fondest memories are when he won a silver medal in equitation at the First Responder Games in 2009. The mounted deputy riding him had never competed before, so it was great that they placed that well out of more than 70 competitors. Other fond memories include working with him at demos and with the SADDLES program, making kids of all ages smile."

"Valor has served with distinction his entire career at the sheriff's office, and everyone who has worked with him has been honored and thankful to do so. He is an ambassador, not only for mounted police units, but also for retired racehorses."

Jockey Megan Fadlovich Sees Upswing in OTTB Market

2017-10-18T17:48:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Jockey Megan Fadlovich attended this year's Thoroughbred Makeover presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America without a mount. The rider, who has earned more than $4.7 million in her career to date, helps retire racehorses when she's not busy at the track. Although she's currently recovering from an injury incurred in a spill at Presque Isle Downs, Fadlovich came to Kentucky to see the how the former runners she helped move are progressing in their second careers.

While attempting to find our way to the dressage rings, I talked to Fadlovich about her involvement in the aftercare industry and her thoughts on the state of the off-track Thoroughbred market.

How did you get involved in aftercare and off-track Thoroughbreds?
"My first horse was an off-track Thoroughbred. I was 15 and probably didn't need a horse, but I got him anyway. I think everybody thought I was a little bit crazy and he just turned out to be an awesome animal.

"I just want more people to enjoy off-the-track Thoroughbreds. I feel like they all have a purpose, and I feel like sometimes racing isn't it. Let's find something else that they can do."

How do you move horses into new homes?
"I created a group on Facebook and I post horses on there. I try to (work) between the owner and the buyer. I take pictures, video, set up pre-purchase exams, all of that to try and facilitate moving these Thoroughbreds off the track into (new) homes.

"I think (Facebook) the best way (to move horses). Right now, It's a free social media venue where you can put descriptions with the pictures... I found it the best, easiest way to connect. I've tried things like Craigslist, which is kind of a very strange open market. And if you post on things like Dream Horse (Classifieds) and EquineNow, it seems that (people there are) looking for more of a finished horse. They don't really understand what an off-the-track Thoroughbred is.

"OTTB connect is great. I also post on things like Ohio Horses for Sale (Facebook group), and then you get people like 'oh, that horse is so skinny.' They're so negative toward Thoroughbred racehorses that they have no concept of, they don't understand what a lean racehorse is, (and) they also don't understand that as these horses trickle down into the lower levels they don't look as pretty as the horses that you see at Keeneland. So OTTB Connect is great, because they don't really allow any negativity on their posts. I have to really commend them for that.

"... Off-the-track racehorses have to be moved quickly too. A lot of times when the trainers are done with them, they're kind of like 'I need this stall.'... it is a business, and it's not like they're going to ask a lot of money for a horse, they want him to find a good home, but they need the stall. They need it moved to a good home, in a timely fashion."

Jockey Megan Fadlovich riding at Polo Azteca Club & Academy in Arizona

Do you see more people looking to purchase OTTBs now?
"I think the Makeover has caused a giant increase in people interested in them and wanting to participate in this event. My only worry is what happens—are people going to continue getting OTTBs every (year)? I'm kind of curious to see how this all goes. What's going to happen to the Thoroughbreds who have been in it the past couple of years? Because now they're ineligible. Maybe they can bring a class back to this for horses who have competed already."

Do you think being a jockey helps you move horses?
"I think it does. I try to not just be a jockey but be a horseman too. I did three-day eventing when I was younger, I did mounted shooting, I ran a polo string. I think that has helped me a lot in being able to tell people 'Hey, I've ridden this horse,' and to be able to notice things."

Thoroughbred Makeover Unites Diverse Group of OTTB Fans

2017-10-11T18:23:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

The 2017 Thoroughbred Makeover presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America had approximately 300 horses compete in 10 different disciplines all in one weekend at one venue. From Oct. 5-Oct. 8, the Kentucky Horse Park was packed with off-track Thoroughbreds and their owners, trainers, and fans from all walks of the equestrian world with the one thing uniting them: their passion for the breed.

Winner of the grand prize, the title of "America's Most Wanted Thoroughbred" and a share of the $100,000 that goes along with it, was Old Tavern, a 3-year-old unraced daughter of Peak Dancer who competed in the polo division. The filly's owner is 17-year-old Charlie Caldwell.

"I've never ridden a Thoroughbred with as good a mind as her. She's incredibly patient and calm about everything," Caldwell said of his mount.

Finishing second overall in the barrel racing competition, completing both runs in less than 20 seconds, were Storm Prospector and trainer Kelly Murphy-Alley. A 4-year-old gelded son of Cat Dreams, Storm Prospector finished unplaced in four starts for owner/trainer Tommy Short. Murphy-Alley said she saw him breezing and immediately knew he would make a good barrel competitor.

"I looked for a (mount for a) long time because I thought about doing (the Makeover) and I finally decided to when I found him because I was looking something small, something compact, something a little more sickle hocked, something to work more under itself," she said.
Kelly Murphy-Alley and Storm Prospector after a barrel run at the Thoroughbred Makeover. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

The first-year Makeover competitor, who is a professional barrel racer and trainer based in Central Kentucky, was thrilled not only with the performance of her horse but with the entire Makeover competition.

"I've worked with Thoroughbreds but I've never bought my own and trained, so I decided to buy my own and give a whirl this year," she said. "This is my first year. I love it, it's fantastic."

Grade 3 winner and former Team Valor runner Speechify competed in dressage with professional sport horse trainer Sarah Berkowitz, who received the 7-year-old Harlan's Holiday gelding from Team Valor's Briana Mott.

"Bri knows that I'm super particular and anal about the horses so she called me and here he is," Berkowitz said of the gelding, who has an esophageal condition and consumes an all-liquid diet. Although she knows he's a special case, Berkowitz is hoping to find a new home for Speechify.

"He's been pretty good, he has only about two months of formal training," the Kentucky-based trainer added. "He had another surgery done in August so he's only been cantering since Sept. 1. He's a little bit on the green side for competition, but he was really well behaved in the dressage."

One competition that always draws significant attention is freestyle, where participants show off the trainability and talent of their horse in a way that isn't covered in the Makeover's other nine disciplines.

Showcasing their "western dressage" skills were Las Vegas-based trainer Lindy Christensen and Intaxication, a 6-year-old winning Stormello gelding who was retired from racing through Neigh Savers Foundation.

As for her discipline of choice, the trainer said it was a combination of her background of dressage and not wanting to overwhelm the horse, who has only been through four months of training so far after recovering from a bowed tendon.

"We decided to go with (western dressage) because the training to western dressage is so similar to that of traditional dressage that it's not that hard for me to switch over basically just tack," she said. "The lessons that he's learned in western dressage are all lessons that coincide with traditional dressage."

Another first-timer at the Makeover, Christensen enjoyed her trip, although she had a long 2,000-mile journey.

"This is my first year here and it's been a lot of fun," she said. "We've had mountains to climb. He's been a good boy throughout."

Although she didn't have a mount, jockey Megan Fadlovich attended the Makeover to watch the OTTBs that she helped find new homes. With more than $4.7 million in earnings riding mostly at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort, the rider had some time off after being injured in a spill at Presque Isle Downs so she decided to come to Kentucky for the weekend.

Fadlovich works to move retired Thoroughbreds into new homes and said she's seen a change in demand for OTTBs since the creation of the Makeover.

"I think the Makeover has caused a giant increase in people interested in (OTTBs) and wanting to participate in this event," she said. "My only worry is what happens. Are people going to continue getting OTTBs every (year)?"

Her motivation for helping horses comes from her love of the breed.

"I just want more people to enjoy off-the-track Thoroughbreds," she said. "I feel like they all have a purpose, and I feel like racing sometimes isn't it. Let's find something else that they can do."

Celebrity Saratoga Snacks Garners Attention for ReRun

2017-10-06T20:13:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Even though the primary goal of the 21-year-old ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption is to find second careers and new homes off the track for retired Thoroughbred racehorses, the organization gets significant attention from a few of its permanent residents.

One of the most popular is Saratoga Snacks, who won almost $700,000. The New York-bred son of Tale of the Cat was previously owned by former NFL coach Bill Parcells and became a fan favorite while accumulating four stakes wins and six stakes placings in New York. Racing initially for trainer Gary Sciacca, "Snacks" was moved to the barn of Bill Mott in 2014, but was then sold to Sciacca, who raced him until his retirement at the end of 2015.

Saratoga Snacks, now 8, last raced in December of 2015 and settled into his new home the following December at ReRun's farm near Albany, N.Y. While "Snacks" serves as an ambassador for the organization (and as a model for Saratoga Horseworks), the two other permanent residents, stakes-placed Most Happy Fella and war horse Metaurus, also draw some attention for ReRun as recognizable names for New York racing fans.

"It's funny because we have Most Happy Fella—a lot of people remember him—and we also have Metaurus, a horse of Gary's that had 103 starts (who) lives with us as well. Between the three of them, we get quite a bit of traffic and that's not really what we do, we're primarily rehabbing and retraining," said ReRun's executive director Lisa Molloy.

"(Saratoga Snacks) actually brings quite a lot of people in (to ReRun). People who might not have stopped by in the first place or they might not have been aware of us. They find out that we have him and they come over to the farm, and they find out that we have other horses like Most Happy Fella."

Saratoga Snacks at ReRun. Photo courtesy of ReRun

Although he's been gelded, Saratoga Snacks still has a larger-than-life personality to go along with his towering physical presence.

"He knows he's the boss. He's very aware of how big he is and he's very aware of what he could do to you if he wanted to... as long as you respect him and listen to what he's trying to tell you, you won't have any problem with him," Molloy said.

"Even gelded, he still has a very, very strong personality. He's still kind of master of his own domain even here."

In addition to becoming the new home for "Snacks," the organization has seen a busy couple of years. According to Molloy, ReRun took in approximately 125 horses over the last year and continuously places about 90-100 horses in new homes per year, with 15-20 pre-approved adopters looking for horses at any one time. Just in the past month the organization placed 10 horses in new homes, and in August raised $53,000 at its annual fundraiser in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Now ReRun looks to the immediate future as a few more notable grads will be competing in various disciplines at this year's Thoroughbred Makeover Oct. 5-8 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

The group of grads includes: Billsperfectstorm, a $300,000 yearling purchase and half brother to grade 1 winner Brilliant Speed, who will be competing in eventing; and Gimme Jimmy, a 6-year-old daughter of Sweet Return who suffered a suspensory injury on the track, who will be competing in competitive trail and will also show off her new skills in a vaulting demonstration with vaulting world champion Devon Maitozo. Others are Master Magician, Jack Rocks, Keen On Green, Sanctify, Wilfork, and Professor Pegasus.

Molloy is excited to see the former runners competing in their new careers, but is also looking forward to returning to ReRun's roots in the Bluegrass state, where the organization was founded in 1996 as a part of the Kentucky Humane Society.

"I haven't been back to Kentucky since I left in 2012," Molloy said. "But I think it'll be good to not only see some familiar faces, but (for) ReRun (to) go back to where we were founded."

Caribbean TB Aftercare Assists Puerto Rico Horses

2017-09-27T17:19:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Both the human and animal population of Puerto Rico are struggling to regain their footing after the island was pounded by Hurricane Maria Sept. 20. Many are scrambling to secure food, water, electricity, and signals for mobile phones, and included in the chaos are approximately 950 horses at Hipodromo Camarero. One 501c3 charity, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, is trying to do whatever it can for the island's Thoroughbred population.

Officially formalized as a tax-exempt charity in the U.S. at the end of 2016, the CTA has representatives working both on the ground in Puerto Rico and in the States to rally support. Shelley Gagnon-Blodgett, CTA's director who is based in Florida, said the organization acts as a bridge to help Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico and in the U.S. Virgin Islands find homes off the track with many of those homes being back in the States.

"We are a resource to help bridge the gap from racing to retirement for the horses down there," Blodgett said. "Over half of the horses that are in Puerto Rico come from the States, but all of the horses racing in Puerto Rico are U.S. horses—they are Jockey Club-registered, even the ones bred in Puerto Rico are Jockey Club registered."

On Sept. 25, BloodHorse published an update on the various industry members offering aid to the Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico, which can be read here.

Blodgett on Sept. 24 provided updates to BloodHorse on the situation as heard from her fellow CTA staff (especially chief financial officer Kelley Stobie), what can be done to help, and what it possibly means for the future of the CTA. Quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.

What's the situation?

"We have 16 off-the-track Thoroughbreds and they are fine. They rode out both Irma and Maria. We have them at a farm at the top of a mountain that's a very well structured facility.

"The issue is the track... they have gotten some water but it's not enough. There are small amounts of water coming in and they were rationing it, and each horse was getting a quarter of a bucket. I know in the days leading up to the storm getting hay was a problem ... the reason is, after Irma and all, the south of Puerto Rico is where most of the hay comes from and they were having a lot of rain and a lot of standing water so they weren't even able to get out and bale hay like they normally do.

"The other thing is that 90% of the roofs are off of the barns and there's a lot of rubble and debris around ... they have people who rode out the storm with the horses (at Camarero) but the normal caretakers and the folks who would come in to help out are dealing with their own issues."
Hipodromo Camarero after Hurricane Maria. Photos courtesy of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare

What can be done to help?

"We're collecting money. We don't really know what we're going to do with it because when this is all said and done we're not really sure what's going to be needed. But we are assuring people that the money will go to help these horses one way or another—maybe it's the horses who are on the track or the onslaught of people wanting to retire their horses after this because racing isn't going to resume for a while.

"The other thing (to do) is to put pressure on the government to take action ... when the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) goes in and their APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) goes in and assesses, they go in for the whole island and we're really trying to get them to go and see the racehorses ASAP. Because we know those horses are not going to last."

What does this mean for the CTA?

"We don't have the regular support at this time. ... When I fundraise, almost all of it comes from the U.S. from race fans and horse lovers. We're limited in the capacity right now of what we can do, unless say a breeder wants to take their horse back ... (it's hard) for the ones that don't have somebody paying for (them) because they have to do a seven-day USDA quarantine and then fly to Miami. Even just the quarantine and the flight home is about $2,600-$2,700 and that's just getting as far as Miami.

"I think it's also a big eye opener for a lot of people because a lot of people don't realize what's going on with Puerto Rico, the racing industry down there, and the number of horses down there and thinking about them being U.S. horses. I think (the situation is) driving that point home."

Inaugural Real Rider Cup Raises Funds, OTTB Awareness

2017-09-20T19:03:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Racing and three-day eventing are separate sports requiring different skills and training methods, but the one thing that's needed to succeed in both is serious athleticism. One newly created event is trying to bring the eventing world and the racing world closer together, and celebrate the one breed with endless athletic talent: the Thoroughbred.

Earlier this year, the Plantation Field International Horse Trials in Unionville, Pa. announced a multi-year partnership with the Retired Racehorse Project, which was spurred on with help from eventing Olympic gold medalist Phillip Dutton. Along with making RRP the event's charity beneficiary, a new competition called The Real Rider Cup was launched with the goal of raising money and awareness for off-track Thoroughbreds succeeding in second careers.

"The Real Rider Cup was designed to showcase how Thoroughbreds are well suited for the sport of three-day eventing and (how they) can move on to have successful careers once they retire from the track," said Herringswell Stables' Katelyn Jackson.

Competing Sept. 17 during the 10th annual Plantation Horse Trials, four teams—trainers, owners, veterinarians, and jockeys—faced off in a 2'6" showjumping course aboard off-track Thoroughbreds. The sponsorship of the 20 participants and the event raised more than $20,000 for the RRP and Plantation Field International.

A few recognizable faces, both human and equine, were involved including Zoe Cadman, Rosie Napravnik, Joe Sharp, Michael McCarthy, Sean Clancy, Icabad Crane, and Twilight Eclipse, as well as representatives from Team Valor International, West Point Thoroughbreds, and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

Participants in the inaugural Real Rider Cup. Photo courtesy of The Real Rider Cup.

While The Real Rider Cup was mostly for fun, the teams were scored on their collective times with the trainer team (Sanna Neilson, Chucky Lawrence, Tim Keefe, Leigh Delacour, and Joe Sharp) taking home the top prize. Second place went to the owner team (Anne Moran, Erin Birkenhauer, Bri Mott, Lauren Baker Cannizzo, and Nuno Santos), third place went to the jockey team (Rosie Napravnik Sharp, Kaymarie Kreidel, Sean Clancy, Mike McCarthy, and Mark Beecher), and in fourth was the veterinarian team (Dean Richardson, Kath Anderson, Celia Goodall, Stowe Burke, and Erika Jo Beck).

A member of the winning team, trainer Joe Sharp tweeted, "The @TheRealRiderCup was a lot of fun. Great job to all who made it possible and showed up to enjoy!"

For the RRP, getting involved in the Plantation Horse Trials was another bridge to connect the racing community and off-track Thoroughbreds to the sport of eventing.

"We want to use our network within the racing community to attract people to Plantation Field," Pittman said in an RRP release when the partnership was announced. "What we've seen is that racing people love eventing when they take the time to go watch the sport. They get to see horses galloping on cross country, which is something they can get excited about.

"We hope this will be a real coming together of the racing world with eventing so we can have a positive impact that will support the sport in the long run. The goal is to bring the mid-Atlantic racing community out to enjoy everything Plantation Field has to offer. Maybe we'll even get some racing people buying event horses."

The organizers considered the partnership and The Real Rider Cup a success and already have generated interest in next year's Cup.

"The first event was a huge success and we were so thrilled to have 20 participants in the event," Jackson said. "We have already received a few entries for next year. It's so rewarding to see the racing community take interest in Thoroughbred aftercare and participate in such a worthwhile event."

[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjeNnwCA754"]

New Vocations/TIP Championship Show Brings OTTBs to KY

2017-09-13T17:19:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

More than 250 off-track Thoroughbreds descended on the Kentucky Horse Park's Rolex Stadium in Lexington Sept. 8-10 as part of the first-ever New Vocations Charity Thoroughbred Show/Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championships.

With 253 competitors from 22 states, the show was up 138 entries from last year's two-day New Vocations show.

"It was amazing. (Entrants) came from everywhere. Last year we had 11 different states and this year we had 22. From as far away as New Mexico, Georgia, Louisiana—they came from everywhere," said Sarah Coleman, director of education and development at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

Coleman added that this year's show was planned in conjunction with the T.I.P. Championships in the hopes that a three-day show—instead of just a one-day championship show—would encourage more participants. Both Coleman and T.I.P coordinator Kristin Werner Leshney were thrilled with the outcome of the show and anticipate a similar format in 2018.

"I think this format worked well," Werner Leshney said. "We are able to provide competitors an experience of coming to the Bluegrass for a long weekend and not only horse show but also enjoy a lot of what the state has to offer.

"Many of my favorite moments happened in the barns when we were delivering carrots and water. Everyone we met was so happy to be there and was so thankful for an opportunity to celebrate the Thoroughbred," she added. "The whole weekend was really just a reminder to me about how far we have come with aftercare and Thoroughbreds as sporthorses since TIP first started in 2012."

In addition to the hunter/jumper classes, the show also honored horses adopted from New Vocations, one horse bred by Mereworth Farm (the new home of New Vocations in Kentucky), and the descendants of Man o' War. Other awards were presented to the highest on-track earner and the horse who had the most career starts. There were also 25 horses who were adopted from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations, topped by T.I.P. Championships winners Gem Twist (very green hunter under saddle), Meet My Buddy (beginner hunter over fences), and Milord (hopeful jumper).

"In all honesty, standing at the bottom of the Rolex ramp with all of these horses coming in—it was crazy," Coleman said. "Everybody was so happy, they were so excited to be walking into the Rolex. It was really cool. To be able to provide (the competitors) with an affordable opportunity to come into one of the best venues in the country and show the world what these horses can do was awesome."

Horses in Rolex Stadium at the New Vocations Charity Thoroughbred Show/T.I.P. Championships. Photo: Erin Shea

For Caitlyn Giese, showing in the Rolex Stadium and being honored by New Vocations was "a dream come true." Giese's Eureka Springs, an 8-year-old son of English Channel, was bred by Mereworth Farm. So while Giese, her parents Gail and Mikael, and her trainer Tara Climaldi were in town from Virginia for the show, New Vocations invited them out to see the place where Eureka Springs was foaled and to meet his dam, the Dehere mare Cuddle Her.

"It was pretty incredible to see (a place) where the Thoroughbreds retire to. Seeing his mom was pretty incredible," Giese said.

"We had talked about coming here, and when we started talking I was like 'I don't know about this year,'" Caitlyn's mother Gail Giese said, adding that her daughter had just stopped using crutches a week ago after accidentally being kicked near her hip by Eureka Springs in his stall.

"They've just taken off together. It's just so cool. And then going to meet his mom. ... it's (come) full circle," she said.

The award for most money earned went to Twilight Eclipse, a former West Point Thoroughbreds runner who accumulated more than $2.1 million and whose multiple graded stakes triumphs include the Man o' War Stakes (G1T).

Shown and owned by Erin Birkenhauer, the 8-year-old Purim gelding took third in the in-hand War Horse class Friday night. The class, which was for horses who made at least 50 starts or earned more than $100,000, was won by Crushing and Georgia Keogh.

Birkenhauer, West Point's racing manager, said that she was excited for the chance to show Twilight Eclipse in Rolex Stadium and is trying to get him exposed to more horse shows before she starts him in recognized horse trials. Her goal is to get him to more shows, since she knows that he has many fans.

"On a day-to-day basis he's chilled out, but I think just being here and the atmosphere of the ring, brought back the (feelings of the track)," Birkenhauer said. "As soon as he got out of his stall, we saw the steeplechase course and he was like 'oh, clearly I'm here for the Sword Dancer.'"

After his retirement in June, Twilight Eclipse moved to Birkenhauer's home in Bowling Green, Ky., to begin his new career as an eventer.

"He was surprisingly different than I thought. He's kind of soft to ride and he was known (on the track) for being very in the bridle," she said. "But to the jumps he's been great—he's brave and honest. His work ethic is second to none.

"Honestly, he's just part of the family now. I sometimes forget that he's Twilight Eclipse."

'War Horse' Crushing Blossoms in Show Ring

2017-09-07T11:48:00Z

By: Erin Shea, @BH_EShea

Georgia Keogh was pleasantly surprised in 2015 when her father James Keogh, who owns Grovendale, casually mentioned he had a horse arriving for her one day. When the gray gelding got off the trailer, Keogh was immediately enamored with the son of Giacomo, who caught her father's eye two years earlier at Parx Racing.

"It was kind of by chance," Keogh said of how she ended up owning the horse, named Crushing. "My dad was at Parx to claim another horse and he happened to see Crushing being worked that morning. He asked around (about the connections), and mentioned (to the owner), 'When you're done with him, we'll take him.'

"He said that on the track (Crushing) had a real good going about him—a long extension, using his body," she added. "It's funny because I have to explain it through hearing him say it, because I didn't know anything about this horse until the day he arrived on the farm."

Crushing, who Keogh describes as a "total ham," in his paddock at Grovendale Farm near Lexington. Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Owned by Joseph Riccelli while on the track, Crushing made his last start at Belmont Park in May of 2015. The Chad Brown trainee was eased in a one-mile claiming event and was then retired from racing. Bred by Bill Justice and Dr. Naoya Yoshida out of the stakes placed Quiet American mare American Czarina, Crushing finished his on-track career with a 4-4-4 record from 25 starts, with earnings of $222,593.

Now, two years after their first meeting, Keogh and Crushing have won back-to-back "War Horse" divisions at New Vocations Charity Horse Show in Delaware, Ohio. They're preparing for their next competition, the New Vocations Charity Thoroughbred Show presented by The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Sept. 8-9 at the Kentucky Horse Park. For these shows, a "War Horse" is defined as a horse who made at least 50 starts or made more than $100,000 in career on-track earnings.

"I'm really excited because I always have fun showing him in the War Horse classes," Keogh said. "You have Thoroughbreds of all kinds (at the show), but War Horse is for horses who have raced a certain amount or earned a certain amount, so it's not just a Thoroughbred people got their hands on early. It should be a really big show, so it'll be interesting."

Immediately following the New Vocations show is the inaugural The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program Championship Horse Show Sept. 10. The TIP Championship will award championships in 12 divisions in hunters, jumpers, and english pleasure, with each division offering at least $1,000 in prize money. The championship awards have already drawn considerable attention in the OTTB hunter/jumper community.

While Keogh is looking forward to the upcoming competition, she doesn't have any immediate goals for Crushing's show career at this time since she's been busy starting a new job. But the lifelong equestrian said the now 9-year-old gelding has been eager to please since day one and has even been out on a fox hunting hound exercise with her father.

"He's been super keen from the beginning," she said. "He's been very keen to do everything and that's how he's been since."
Crushing and Keogh in the show ring.

From the moment she first sat on him, Keogh knew Crushing showed a natural ability as a show hunter. Crushing was given eight months off after arriving to Kentucky soon after his last race and was already jumping within a few weeks of beginning his retraining process at Robert Murphy Stables in Lexington, where Keogh grew up riding.

"I'm not quite sure where it came from, but from the minute I sat on him, I knew," she said. "I've tried to make Thoroughbreds (into) hunters before and sometimes it doesn't quite work out, but I knew it was going to work out for him. He was really well into himself and using his body. I really didn't have any doubts about it, surprisingly."

As for owning a Thoroughbred with natural hunter abilities in an era where many top hunter riders are choosing warmbloods as their mounts of choice, Keogh believes off-track Thoroughbreds can excel in many arenas.

"There have been plenty of successful Thoroughbreds documented throughout the years (in the hunter ring)," she said. "There are plenty I've seen doing the A circuit. There's nothing they can't do."