After Racing

Want to adopt or retire a Racehorse?

These California racehorse retirement homes often have horses available to adopt and might be able to take in a retired Thoroughbred runner:

Thor’s Echo Lives the Dubai Life

By Paulickreport.com
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Apr. 17, 2013) -- Normally the horses in OTTB Showcase stable are the forgotten racers; those who may not have hit it big in their first career, but who succeeded and excelled in their second…or third one.

The name Thor’s Echo might sound familiar to you. Probably so. The California-bred not only won the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Sprint-G1, but also won the Frank J. Francis Memorial Dash-G1, the WinStar Derby, and the Real Good Stakes in a career that saw him achieve Eclipse Champion honors in 2006. http://www.paulickreport.com/features/ottb-showcase/ottb-showcase-thors-...

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (Jan. 7, 2013) -The Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show is a new show series sponsored by the Siegel CARMA Foundation to provide horse show opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses in Southern California. We will be hosting a series of Thoroughbred-only horse shows, the first being held at Blenheim’s Rancho Mission Viejo Park, San Juan Capistrano, CA on April 20-21, 2013. The Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, a high-end and sophisticated venue, is centrally located in Southern California. We also plan to host an exhibition for division finalists and winners at Santa Anita Park in conjunction with the 2013 Breeder’s Cup.

We expect riders from San Diego to Northern California to attend. The Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show will be competitive enough that it is supported by top (professional) trainers and accessible enough for those satisfied or limited to showing at a lower level show.

We will seek to promote the Thoroughbred and aftercare organizations, develop relationships with racing breeders and owners to help promote the successful transition of their racehorses and educate the community on the suitability of the Thoroughbred as both a pleasure riding companion and sport horse.

For more information contact Nicole Schwartz, Event Director at nschwartz [at] thoroughbredclassic [dot] org or 818.456.9184. Also you can visit our website, www.thoroughbredclassic.com, and join our Facebook page.

Coalinga, CA (February 6, 2013)-My name is Nancy. I know you all must breed many horses up in Coalinga, but I thought you might be interested to know about this gelding, Titan Baseball.

He is a Tinners Way out of Game of Inches gelding. He was bred by Harris Farms. We bought him off the track in July (from Chew Racing) and my daughter, Caroline, began riding this horse right away. Caroline is thirteen.

She loves him and he is now jumping. Titan is well loved and Caroline takes very good care of him. He recently earned three championships and a reserve championship at the Santa Barbara National Horse Show in November of 2012.

The horseshow office and I had fun investigating his background. I have attached a picture of him doing his "new" job.

Thank you for breeding this wonderful horse.
Nancy M

Survey for Aftercare Facilities

New York, N.Y. (Mar. 13, 2012) - The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) has published a survey at www.thoroughbredaftercare.org and is requesting that it be completed by all facilities in North America that provide aftercare, retraining or re-homing services for Thoroughbreds.(more)

California breeders often retire their runners on their own farms or find situations where their horses live a great life after their racing days are over. If you have a good story about your retired horse we would love to add it to our volume of short stories.

Email your stories to: horseretirement [at] ctba [dot] com

Declan’s Moon Returns as Sport Horse

By DRF.com
Md. (Dec. 19, 2012) -- Declan’s Moon, the 2004 champion juvenile, is preparing for a comeback − but not at the racetrack. http://www.drf.com/news/declans-moon-natural-talent-sport-horse

Second Chances for Horses and Probationers

Ducky Drake becomes pet for owner's 7-year-old daughter

By Mary Rampellini drf.com
California-bred Ducky Drake was scheduled to retire to Old Friends in Kentucky after winning the final start of his career last month at Sunland Park in New Mexico. But that was before he spent time with Lyndee Pinkerton, the 7-year-old daughter of one of his co-owners, John Pinkerton.

“She’s in love with the horse,” said Chris Hartman, who trained Ducky Drake for Pinkerton and Bryan Mundell. “When he came to their house, she grabbed the horse by the mane and said, ‘I love Ducky.’ So I don’t anticipate the horse going anywhere. I think he’ll live out his days at Pinkerton’s house.”

Lyndee Pinkerton is one of many fans Ducky Drake made during an eight-year career in which he won 22 races and $718,538. His biggest score came last June at the age of 9, in the $125,000 Iowa Sprint at Prairie Meadows.

“He sprinted home, made up about eight or 10 lengths, which is his style of running,” said Hartman. “He was such an exciting horse to watch run, that late kick. He could make up so much ground. Everybody loved that horse. He had a lot of fans. I’ve still got guys come up and ask me about him.”

Pinkerton and Mundell, both based in El Paso, Texas, purchased Ducky Drake privately in the spring of 2011. They took over ownership of him two starts after he had been offered for a $15,000 claiming price at Sunland.

“We dropped a claim on the horse, and we were outshook,” said Hartman.

Trainer Tony Sedillo had won the shake for his wife, Betty, but Hartman said she wasn’t so keen on the fact that Ducky Drake was 9. The couple ran him once, in March 2011, and Hartman, on behalf of Pinkerton and Mundell, later struck a deal to buy the horse for $20,000.

“They were glad to make the $5,000, and as it worked it was a very good investment,” said Hartman. “We had watched him run forever, and of course, we didn’t know what the story was when he dropped in for a tag, but to be honest with you, there was nothing wrong with the horse. He won that day.

“The people that raised him were the people that had him when he was 9. And he had a really good record.”

Ducky Drake was bred by Ralph Todd and Aury Todd, who also bred and raced The Tin Man, a Grade 1 winner at 9.

“When we initially purchased [Ducky Drake], I thought, ‘Well, we’ve got a nice starter horse, or we could run him in optional claiming races,’ ” said Hartman. “That was my train of thought.”

Ducky Drake did just that at Prairie Meadows in May 2011, winning an optional $20,000 claiming race at 5 1/2 furlongs. The kicker was he set a track record of 1:02.20.

“It was really key for him to get into the $125,000 Iowa Sprint,” said Hartman. “It was a tough race, but we knew there was a lot of pace, and that’s always been essential for him to be successful. Atta Boy Roy was in the race and he ended up laying third. Bob Baffert shipped a horse in. They were just flying on the lead.”

And along came Ducky Drake. He would go on to win two more races, an optional $35,000 claimer at Remington Park last September, and an optional $15,000 claiming sprint in his career finale April 8.

“Bryan wanted him to go out on a winning note, so we stuck him in for $15,000,” said Hartman. “I told him I doubted anyone would claim him now that he’s 10. He went out there and almost set a track record. He was just a professional about everything he did.”

From the Racetrack to the High Sierras

I am an advocate of proper racehorse retirement procedures and a responsible horse owner. I am also a member and a volunteer with the California Horse Council and California Thoroughbred Breeder Association. This past summer I ventured forth to pursue a new career and home for my own retired racehorse, ‘Gone Skimmin.’ ‘Skim’ was injured at the Pleasanton Fair, in the summer of 2009. I then sponsored his rehabilation and recovery at Canter Ranch in Los Gatos , a member of CARMA- a California Racehorse Industry Foundation supporting new careers for retired racehorses.

After Skim’s year of rehab I approached JR Gehres, the Stables Operations Manager, run by Delaware North-Parks and Resorts at Yosemite . I asked if he would like to adopt a nice young chestnut gelding as a guide horse for his stables, and after some conversation with Canter, JR adopted ‘Skim.’ He brought him to the barns in Yosemite Valley in September 2010 to get acquainted with his new environment and pals.

Now he is wintering in the beautiful pastures in the lowlands with our stable crew, and will return in the spring to be a member of the Yosemite Guide Team.

Thanks to JR and Delaware North for supporting the retired racehorse program and providing a new career for ‘Gone Skimmin’. Racehorses have many years of productivity after leaving the racetrack.

I know he will love the High Sierras as much as I do…

Martha Miller
Horse Owner

Cal-bred in Noble New Career
DRF.com On a three-acre patch of Texas ranchland, just south of the city of Austin, a 6-year-old son of Worldly Manner named Spot the Diplomat has found a home with the family of Grant and Greta Hays. http://www.drf.com/news/spot-diplomat-fnds-second-career-soothing-autist...

Marsh Retrains Thoroughbreds
Barbara Marsh works with retrained Thoroughbred Danny Dingle, an 8-year-old son of Doneraille Court, a $100,000 purchase by Harry Aleo who won two of four starts before being retired.(more)

Combined Effort by CTBA, Santa Anita & CANTER

ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 17, 2010) -- The California Thoroughbred Breeders Association thanks Santa Anita for allowing Fighting Furrari (aka Seabiscuit) to participate in an exhibit at the recent Equine Affaire to educate the public about horse racing and the versatility of the ex-racehorse. (more)

Unwanted Horse Coalition Releases Best Practices Handbook

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 6, 2010) -- The Unwanted Horse Coalition [UHC] has published a handbook entitled 'Best Practices: How Your Organization Can Help Unwanted Horses.' (more)

Unwanted Horse Campaign Begins

Equestrian News Release

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2009) -- The American Association of Equine Practitioners and Educational Partner Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health have created the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC), a nonprofit program that will provide equine vaccines to qualified equine rescue and retirement facilities across the United States. (more)

Coalition Seeks Horse-Care Facilities

Gallipolli II is my son's 3-day eventing horse -- originally known as Bud's Dor Knob -- who was bred in Texas, not California unfortunately. I am sending this on anyway so that you can get an idea what a terrific life a racehorse can go on to as an event horse. Gallipolli (aka Chex's) is now 15 years old. He qualified for the Jr. Olympics in eventing to represent the state of California this year.

Margie Molloy
Temecula, CA

Shrimp Cocktail stayed in his problem mare mother 368 days and he needed every day of it. The most spindly colt anyone had seen, he stayed on his feet 11 hours after birth until he fell over. He grew up on my farm and when three, went to SLRD and then HP, where he immediately got sick.

A long layup didn’t help, then Laura and Tim Rosier took him and conditioned him at the Downs.

He was less than 15h and a hard keeper too, maybe 850lbs, but he was quick. And they asked Tyler Baze to ride him, and whenever Tyler rode him, Shrimp got better.

By Del Mar of his 4th year Shrimp was entered again in a $25k mcl---the last race on a dead Monday

Laura , Tim and the family had trailered him over in the morning and were so tired they they crawled into the stall with him and slept on the straw while their race horse settled.

By that time the press was off him ,but the crowd liked his name and Tyler stayed late to ride him again.

He got a good break, laid about 3rd on the rail and into the turn Tyler asked him to go after the favorite who had a bug boy, carried 4 lbs less and weighed a ton.

Run, Shrimp!...( I'm running!) Run, Shrimp!! ( I'm running, Tyler!) SHRIMP RUN NOW!---------Ooh, ---he got it-and he ran. He hit the favorite at the top of the stretch and duelled head to head all the way to a photo.

They circled those horses forever and then called him.

In the receiving barn Laura walked him and hugged him and walked him and hugged him.

He ran again three times, and was retired in December, and was sent to High Desert Horse Training in Inyokern to learn to be a trail horse.

He lives now, with me, where he was born, goes on the trails and babysits the colts. A little fellow, with a great big heart, who loved to run.

Rosemary

Harris Farms-Raise an Heiress

Raise an Heiress, a now 25 year old mare by Raise a Native-Mellow Marsh, by *Seaneen, won 2 races and $23,850, but once sold for $650,000 as a broodmare in the Gene Klein dispersal. Harris Farms later purchased her at Keeneland November Sales for $15,000 in foal. For Harris Farms her foals included Raise Expectations (5 wins, $177,113, 2nd in Cal Cup Starter Sprint, and Tiz Royalty (5 wins, $207, 473). Her dam, Mellow Marsh, was a California Stakes winner and a half sister to leading sire, Exclusive Native.

Raise an Heiress retired in 2006 and has since taken on a job as "Housemother" to Harris Farms weanling and yearling fillies. She is shown here with her current class at our River Ranch.

Harris Farms started using "baby sitter" retired horses a few years ago and now every weanling and yearling pasture has one.

Through the Eyes of a Believer
Many see what they believe to be the truth
Is it the truth?
Seeing the world set out full of disappointment and failure
A blinded truth
I was once blind
But was given a gift
To see through the eyes of a horse
The pain of the past and uncertainty
A strength grows over all that is dark
Able to comprehend a person and see only what should be seen
Courageous and triumphant over the world's complications
Believing I can do anything
Now that I've seen through the eyes of a believer
My life saving gift from a little grey horse.
-- 14-year-old Natalia Feliz

This is from Joell Dunlap
Executive Director
Square Peg Foundation
Mission: to turn "I wish" into "I can."
http://www.everyonefits.org

Woodbridge Farm-I would like to add my retirement stories. I have retired several horses here at Woodbridge for different clients. One mare named Mint Bonnet was retired after having her last foal in 2001. She has now "raised" 8 groups of fillies for me over the past 8 years. She is a wonderful baby sitter for the freshly weaned fillies and they love her dearly. I also have retired a grand gelding, Con Quixote, who earned nearly 300,000.00 during his racing career. He is responsible for all the yearling colts here at Woodbridge once they are weaned. He is a great mentor for them and keeps the study actors from becoming real bullies in their pasture. I also have two other geldings, Louie's Super Lou and Greek Authority, who keep each other company and help "tease" mares in an adjoining field. I am very fortunate that I have clients who care so much for their race horses we either find homes for them after retiring or find jobs for them here.

Sue Greene

Keith Card responded with this story about Linda Card:

"Linda Card is a home bred of 1985 by Noble Monk out of Pick Up Your Cards

by Piaster.

She was really a 'laid back' youngster until she went to the track as a racehorse. She figured out why she was there and became very aggressive, always trying hard to win. This attitude served her well in her racing career. Her first stakes race was on July 4th in Pleasanton, which she won by a nose. She ran a few more time up north and then came south. We entered her in the first 1990 Cal Cup Distaff which she won handily. She won the Fleet Treat at Del Mar and ended her career with earnings around $400,000.

Linda became a brood mare after retiring from the race track. She has had six foals and unfortunately did not produce any runners as good as she was. She had a hard time delivering the last few foals so we gave her to Scoop Vessels as a baby sitter. She is in charge of a pasture full of yearling fillies and seems to love her latest occupation." Keith Card

Bob Black Jack...

His sire, Stormy Jack's grandmother, Pirate's Serenade is still alive in Rancho Santa Fe where she has been pensioned by her surviving owner. She's 26. She broke down 10/26/86 at BM. The Arnold's own and have taken great care of her.

She isn't to partial to people but we get along pretty well... She still can see but does have a few vision issues. She's at Rancho Paseana and they have a stall they bring her in to most nights and her paddock has grass and a shade overhang.

What makes it interesting is Pirate broke down very badly when she was four or five (suspensories and sesmoids) and although she was not fashionably bred, and running in claiming races, her owners saved her. She gets around surprisingly well, using a rocking horse gait to compensate for the grapefruit sized ankle and fused pastern that is not where it's supposed to be.

We've been feeding her carrots every weekend for over four years and it's amazing how excited she gets and how fast she can move when motivated.

Except for her owners who loved her dearly and saved her, there would be no Stormy Jack and no Bob Black Jack." Joe Shell