On a day when the spotlight was turned onto four stakes and racehorse aftercare programs at Indiana Grand, it was the winner of the fifth race that stole the show. Bern N Ash, a longshot owned by Deborah and David Clay, earned his first career win and marked the first winner for the new owners in the racing business. Delving into racehorse ownership has quite a story behind it for the Clays.
“We bought a 42-acre farm eight years ago in Eminence, Ky.,” said Debbie. “We tried to raise vegetables on the land, but it wasn't working out. I told David we needed to figure out what to do with the land and told him to pray. Two weeks later he came home with a Thoroughbred mare he got off a truck headed to slaughter named Highest Ground. We paid $400 for her papers and we were in the breeding business.”
The Clays formed their farm, D & D Drennon Creek Farm, and began accumulating mares, either through buying them off of trucks headed to slaughter or by adopting them. The farm has produced winners for them as breeders. However, their first win as owners came at a time they needed it most.
“David has battled and beat cancer twice and he's battling it again,” said trainer Stephen Dunn. “This was their first win as owners. It means so much to all of us.”
The Clays now have four in training, but Bern N Ash is the first to make it to the track. At odds of 30-1, expectations weren't high on the drive up from Eminence, Ky., but the trip was well worth the drive.
Starting from post eight in the one and one-sixteenth mile turf event, Bern N Ash and Tommy Pompell were wide most of the race but continued to pursue the top spot all the way to the wire, getting the lead late in the race between horses and winning by a neck. He paid $17.60 for the win.
David, who has lost his ability to speak due to cancer, was in the winner's circle with Bern N Ash. It was an emotional victory for the entire team.
“We are just a little mom and pop shop,” added Debbie. “We are getting ready to fight another battle with David's cancer. This makes are trip back home a little brighter.”
Although David cannot speak, he's still able to communicate through a pad and pen he keeps with him, saying, “What we have is PDL, plain dumb luck.”
It's a little luck and a lot of heart both on and off the track for a couple that found their way into the horse racing industry eight years ago.
The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Monday, Nov. 8. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, with first post on Thursday set at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.
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