Fans who have tuned into FOX Sports this summer or who have been on-site at Saratoga Race Course may have noticed a horse of a different color out on the racetrack.
Maggie Wolfendale works as a paddock analyst for the New York Racing Association and does horseback interviews with winning jockeys during FOX broadcasts. This year, her equine partner for her on-track work is a striking cremello Quarter Horse gelding named Norman who, as Wolfendale's husband, trainer Tom Morley says, is missing only a horn to cement his identity as an actual unicorn. (Wolfendale has joked that she'd like to outfit him with glitter or colored hair extensions, but so far he has been decorated only with a flower in his tail for Whitney Day.)
Cremello horses are genetically chestnuts with two additional genes that dilute their coat color to their trademark cream. They have white manes and tails and pink skin around their noses, mouths, and eyes and often have striking pale blue eyes. Cremellos can be found in a few different breeds, including Quarter Horses, gaited breeds, and miniatures.
Norman is on loan to the couple for the summer, courtesy of his owner Sarah O'Brien.
O'Brien bought Norman sight unseen from a Facebook ad when he was a foal.
“I was working for Tom and Maggie at the time and traveling a lot so when he was weaned I sent him to my friend Sabrina Moore in Maryland until I settled in one spot,” said O'Brien. “He actually grew up with Knicks Go funny enough.”
Knicks Go, the 2021 Horse of the Year, was bred in Maryland by Angie Moore, Sabrina's mother.
O'Brien ran a business in Kentucky that included starting and pre-training young Thoroughbreds and after Norman grew up and grew used to carrying a rider, she introduced him to the life of ponying. He served as the steady companion to racehorses at a training center before coming home to O'Brien's farm and switching to help prepare yearlings for sale.
“He's probably the best pony I've ever worked off of – and I've broke a lot of ponies for track work,” said O'Brien. “He's taken to [afternoon work] like a duck to water, which we knew he would.
“We call him a real-life unicorn!”
Wolfendale, who normally uses one of her retired racehorses for broadcast days, said Norman has been a change of pace, but she's impressed with how he's come along.
“Using him in the afternoon has been a little bit challenging for him; it's a noise/crowd situation he isn't used to,” said Wolfendale.
On his non-television days, Norman serves as a stable pony for Morley's barn, where John Attfield pilots him most mornings. Wolfendale has noticed that each time she swings a leg over during afternoon broadcasts, Norman is moving a little more freely as his fitness increases.
“He's actually got a very comfortable lope,” said Attfield. “He's getting fitter. Doesn't really look like it, but he is.”
In between his morning and afternoon work, Norman patiently receives long baths to keep his trademark coat glowing and can also be found taking selfies or giving pony rides to Wolfendale and Morley's two daughters.
Saratoga fans can spot Norman on Saturday afternoons or during morning works flashing his cream-colored coat and pink eyes. When he's not hard at work, O'Brien says his favorite things are naps and peppermints, but he's happiest when he can have mints delivered to him while he's lying down.
“He's my baby; I love him,” O'Brien said. “He's such a sweet soul.”
The post A ‘Real-Life Unicorn’ Takes To The Track At Saratoga – But This Is No Thoroughbred appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
