Some notable participants and sponsors included Aaron Gryder, Adena Springs, Richard Mandella, Calumet Farm, Godolphin, Bonne Chance Farm, 1/ST Racing and Margaux Farm. Celebrity equine participants included Cozmic One (Bernardini), the first foal out of Hall of Famer Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}); MGSW The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}); and millionaire United (Giant's Causeway).

Defending 2022 Kentucky champion Jesslyn Woodall clinched a repeat victory with Storm Threat (Midnight Storm), who won his Young Event Horse class earlier in the day and is headed to the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park in October. The Backside Beauties (Keira Nygaard, Brooke Baker, Lucy Hoeppner, Kara Lee, Sophie Doyle) took home top honors in the team division.

Junior rider Aurea Dove won the Highest Earner Award, having raised over $17,000 and eclipsing the record previously held by her mother, Larkspur Carroll.

“When the event began in 2017, none of us could have imagined it would have the impact or touch as many lives as it has,” RRC founder Anita Motion said. “We're honored and humbled to be the stewards of this phenomenal cause and it brings us so much joy to hear members of our community say that the Real Rider Cup is on their bucket list.”

The second leg of the Real Rider Cup set to be held at Fair Hill Sept. 15. Rider registration is open through Sept. 8.

For full results and to learn more, visit the Real Rider Cup website.

The post Real Rider Cup Kentucky Raises $78,000, Woodall Repeats as Champion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“We didn't even think that it would go beyond the first year,” Motion admitted. “The turnout we had was pretty incredible. I think everybody thoroughly enjoyed it. It's something very different. At a lot of fundraisers, you give the money but you don't get much in return. Whereas with this, people are putting on a big show.”

The Real Rider Cup was launched in 2017 with the goal of raising funds–and awareness–toward Thoroughbred aftercare. Racing personalities team up with an off-track Thoroughbred to complete a timed course of jumps. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $1,000.

Between its Mid-Atlantic home base at Fair Hill and now its Lexington location, the Real Rider Cup has raised over $410,000 to support its three beneficiaries: the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show.

“Every single penny goes towards promoting and helping with all the future fundraising for each of the recipients,” Motion explained. “The reach that these organizations have is huge and the more we can get this out about what we do with our retired racehorses, the better. It just goes to show what these horses can do after their racing career.”

The Real Rider Cup will return to Lexington this year on Saturday, July 8 at New Vocations ahead of the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. Motion is hoping for another big turnout.

“We had no idea what to expect last year and if we get half of what we got last year, we'll be doing very well,” she said.

Thatcher Street and Brian Hernandez Jr. claim the 2016 GIII River City H. | Coady

One of the horse-and-rider pairs that is sure to garner recognition from their time on the racetrack is Kara Lee and her mount Thatcher Street (Street Sense).

The duo first met when Lee began exercise riding for Ian Wilkes at Churchill Downs in 2014. While it took 13 tries over the course of two years for Thatcher Street to break his maiden, as an older horse he developed into a stakes-level turfer for owners Randy Bloch, Phil Milner, John Seiler and Fred Merritt. A stalwart of the Wilkes barn for several years, the gelding earned over $450,00 from 40 lifetime starts and took home stakes wins in the 2016 Opening Verse S. and the 2016 GIII River City H., also placing second in the 2015 River City and running third in the 2016 GII Wise Dan S.

Lee said that Thatcher Street was always a pleasure to work with and was a barn favorite.

“He was usually very good, but then a few days before race day he would get very tough,” she explained. “But at the same time, we used to pony on him at the track with horses that just needed a little bit of help. He was always very good with other horses, but he knew what his job was and he always showed up for race day.”

When it came time for the big bay to retire at the age of seven, he had a forever home with his exercise rider.

“He was the first stakes horse that I rode on the track, so he always had a special place in my heart,” Lee said. “When it came time for him to look for a new home, I just knew that I wasn't going to be able to give him up so he came home with me. He's earned it. He's been really good to me and I always have fun any time I'm on his back.”

Lee and 'Thatcher' completed the Retired Racehorse Project in 2019, coming in the top five of the Field Hunter division and earning top amateur honors. The following year, Thatcher Street made his Real Rider Cup debut when he teamed up with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., who was one of his regular riders on the Kentucky circuit, for a virtual edition of the annual event (watch it here).

Private Island and his rider JayCee | Katie Petrunyak

After enjoying some 'R and R' for the past year, Lee and Thatcher Street are ready to get back into showing. Lee decided that the Real Rider Cup would be a fun way to dip their toes back into the water.

Since she first started in the industry a decade ago, Lee has steadily become more involved in the industry and has found a passion for developing and placing horses once their time on the track has ended. One of the many horses that Lee has secured a home for is Thatcher Street's half-brother Private Island (Bodemeister).

The 2018-foaled gelding also raced with Ian Wilkes, breaking his maiden at Kentucky Downs in 2020 and earning just under $100,000. Lee took on the gray when it was time for him to retire and soon found a home for him with 19-year-old JayCee Vanesky.

Private Island and Thatcher Street actually met during their racing years in the Wilkes barn. In fact, Thatcher Street helped pony Private Island when he was first learning the ropes of the racetrack. Now, the brothers often reunite for eventing lessons.

Thatcher Street ponied Private Island when he first arrived at the Ian Wilkes barn | courtesy Kara Lee

Lee said that the sibling pair and their personalities reflect most of the off-track Thoroughbreds that she works with.

“There aren't many other breeds of horses that are exposed to people cheering and yelling and umbrellas and strollers and just all the little stuff, so when they come off the track, they probably have one of the soundest brains that I've ever seen in a horse,” she said.

The Real Rider Cup is one opportunity to showcase the versatility, temperament and ability of retired racehorses like Thatcher Street.

Many racing celebrities, both human and equine, have participated over the years, from this year's Belmont Stakes-winning trainer Jena Antonucci to retired jockey Aaron Gryder and Zenyatta's son Cozmic One (Bernardini). The later two will both be making repeat appearances on July 8 in Lexington.

The event is free to attend and the first rider will take to the course at 7 p.m. Food trucks, a cash bar and live music will all be on-site. Attendees can RSVP here. Supporters can also donate to their favorite horse-and-rider teams to help them meet and exceed their $1,000 goal here.

The post Countdown to the Real Rider Cup in Lexington appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The Real Rider Cup offers two legs of competition, the first leg at Mereworth Farm in Lexington, KY, on Jul. 8 and the second durin the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show in Elkton, MD, on Sep. 15. Riders will compete both individually and as part of a team formed to represent a particular farm, stable, organization or branch of the industry. All riders pledge to raise a minimum of $1,000, either through donations or sponsorships. Participation will be capped at 30 riders per event.

Each rider will navigate a 2'6″ jumps course at either location, or they can choose to compete at both. The leading riders from each leg will compete head-to-head in a virtual event with online voting to determine the Real Rider Cup Champion. Awards will also be given for top teams and top fund raisers at each leg.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the participants, volunteers and those that have donated and sponsored over the last five years,” Real Rider Cup founder Anita Motion said. “After our record-breaking Real Rider Cup in 2022, we're looking forward to another year of fun competition and fund raising for Thoroughbred aftercare.”

For more information or to register, visit the Real Rider Cup website.

The post Real Rider Cup Registration Open appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

“It's been an honor to have been a beneficiary of the Real Rider Cup since the beginning,” said Retired Racehorse Project executive director, Kirsten Green. “Aftercare is a critical stage in a racehorse's life, one that is made successful by many different types of organizations working synergistically towards the same result. [Event creator] Anita [Motion]'s selection of beneficiaries recognizes the essential need to fund aftercare organizations who serve the horses in a variety of ways.”

The Real Rider Cup returned to Fair Hill Friday with 32 horse and rider combinations along with hundreds of spectators. The Real Rider Cup brings together personalities from across the racing and breeding industry to increase awareness for and raise funds for aftercare. Each participant pledges to raise at least $1,000.

Riders, mounted on off-the-track Thoroughbreds and wearing the silks of their employers, colleagues, and clients contended a winding course of fences with the fastest clear rounds taking home top honors. Connections and institutions represented included Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Maryland Jockey Club, 1/ST Racing, Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center, Equine Veterinary Care, Country Life Farm, Hillwood Stables/Rodney Jenkins, Whitney Stables, and more. Noteworthy horses included Henry S. Clark Stakes winner Talk Show Man, who was ridden by both Maggie (Wolfendale) Morley and Penelope Miller, who once again faced off against on-track rival, back-to-back winner of the Maryland Million Turf Stakes Phlash Phelps, who was piloted by his long-time exercise rider Sabrina Morris. Multiple graded stakes placer turned event horse Adirondack King was ridden by Keira Nygaard. Additional black-type runners included Flash McCaul, Virginia Peach, Grandiflora, and hard-knocking campaigner Greek God, piloted by Maryland Jockey Club outrider Kaymarie Kreidel. The field also included 11 Thoroughbred Makeover graduates. Handicapper Jessica Paquette served as emcee, providing color commentary.

Individual results: win–Cassie Lively on Quite a Journey; place–Chelsea Buttermore on Fantastic Omen, and individual place rider from Lexington, Keira Nygaard, returned to ride again in Fair Hill to take the show placing on Aidrondack King.

Team Results: win–Team GSVH Pony Camp (Lively, Shore, Pfeiffer), Place: Team Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center (Bellgrave, Pennington, Buttermore); show: Team Animal Kingdom (Fewster, Crowell, Chubb).

Two overall awards will be determined in the coming days: Cassie Lively and Lexington individual winner, Jesslyn Woodall will face off in a “Who Jumped It Best?” jump-off, where members of the public may vote for their favorite round through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21 to determine the overall winner of the event. Vote now at therealridercup.com/2022-real-rider-cup-champion-jump-off/.

Pledges to the Real Rider Cup can still be made by clicking here.

The post Real Rider Cup Triples Previous Fundraising Record appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

TERF primarily aims to support students in pursuit of education in Equine Medicine and to fund research efforts which better the life of the Thoroughbred horse. Its grants reflect the values set forth by founders Herb and Ellen Moelis. TERF's current Board includes Co-Chairs Kathleen Anderson DVM and James Orsini DVM, Margaret H. Duprey, Gretchen and Roy Jackson, Ellen and Herb Moelis, Wendy Moon, Anita Motion, Scott Palmer VMD, Josh Pons, Lucy Zungailia, Katelyn Jackson, and Lynn Cassimeris Ph.D.

“We continue to support Thoroughbred health and welfare grants by combining education and research with our vision in making racing safer,” said Orsini.

The post TERF Awards Educational Grants appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Following a record-breaking inaugural run in Lexington last month, the Real Rider Cup, a charity show jumping event created by Anita Motion to benefit Thoroughbred aftercare, returns to its home at the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show the evening of Friday, Sept. 16.

Past winner Penelope Miller returns for her fifth Real Rider Cup, riding once again for Team Racing Media. Past top fundraiser Keira Nygaard, whose parents Erik and Pavla own and operate Thor-Bred Stables, was among the leaders in Kentucky and comes now to Maryland with her eyes on the top prize. Paddock analyst and host for America's Day at the Races and Saratoga Live, Maggie Wolfendale Morley, returns for her second Real Rider Cup. 1/ST Racing once again maintains a strong presence with Maryland Jockey Club's marketing & events manager Brittlan Wall and analyst/broadcaster Kali Francois, among others. MidAtlantic Equine Medical Center also steps to support, furnishing a team of its own. Team Racing Kids is also back with a strong lineup.

All proceeds benefit the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show. For additional information and to donate, visit therealridercup.com.

The post Real Rider Cup Returns to Maryland appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Thirty-one riders completed a 2'6″ jumper course Saturday evening, all sporting the racing silks of a sponsor stable and all riding off-track Thoroughbreds. Some of the human standouts were jockeys Rosie Napravnik and Aaron Gryder and the equine celebrities included Cozmic One (Bernardini), first foal out of Zenyatta, and GSW Stickstatelydude (First Dude).

The riders were split into nine teams and, in addition to their stable sponsorships, were tasked with garnering monetary donations, all of which went to aftercare organizations, such as New Vocations and the Retired Racehorse Project.

After 31 exciting rounds in the ring with Terence Collier on the mic, New Vocations' Anna Ford announced that over $89,000 had been raised so far and they were still counting.

In the individual results, first place went to Jesslyn Woodall, who rode Lead Player (Posse), while sporting the WinStar silks. Second went to Keira Nygaard, wearing the Thord-Bred silks aboard Judge Johnny (Empire Maker) and third was awarded to Tara Coombs, donning the silks of September Farm on the unraced Baptizo (Magical Eight).

The top team of the evening was team Blood-Horse, comprised of Woodall, trainer John Ennis on Sound Prospect (Eastern Echo) and Lauren Gash aboard Collaborator (Any Given Saturday). Second went to the Breeding and Bloodstock team, comprised of Sergio de Sousa and Cozmic One, Jocelyn Brooks on Perpetual Optimism (First Defence) and Nygaard. The third-place team was Off-Track Sporthorse, led by Napravnik on Banana Thief (Kitten's Joy), Emily Crow and Emily Swirsky, who both rode Old Ironsides (Rubiano), Anne Czerwonka on Subtle Hope (Dialed In) and Kelsey Buckberry on Docktarri (Preachinatthebar).

The Real Rider Cup returns to its traditional home at Fair Hill Sept. 16.

The post Real Rider Cup Makes Successful Lexington Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The display featuring the artwork will be set up in the Clubhouse Lobby at Belmont Park and will run throughout the day starting when gates open at 11:00 a.m. The auction will close at approximately 4:52 p.m. the start of the day's ninth race on the eleven race card. Art must be paid for and picked up by 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event.

The artwork up for auction features original pieces by acclaimed artists featuring Off the Track Thoroughbreds thriving in second careers and was organized by TRF board member Anita Motion.

“There is nothing more beautiful than a Thoroughbred,” said Motion. “These pieces showcase the beauty and versatility of these amazing athletes and we are excited to offer racing fans a chance to get one of these incredible pieces for their own home all while benefiting a very deserving cause.”

Details

When: Saturday, October 9th, 11:00 a.m.

Where: Clubhouse Lobby, Belmont Park

About TRF: Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is a national organization devoted to saving Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete at the racetrack from possible neglect, abuse, and slaughter. As the oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, the TRF provides lifelong sanctuary to retired Thoroughbreds throughout their lifetime.

Best known for its pioneering TRF Second Chances program, the organization provides incarcerated individuals with life-changing vocational training through its accredited equine care and stable management program. At eight correctional facilities across the US, including one juvenile justice facility, this program offers second careers to its horses and a second chance at life for program graduates upon release from prison. The TRF Second Chances Program at the Wallkill Correctional Facility provides a home for 40 retired Thoroughbred racehorses and has been changing the lives of returning citizens for nearly forty years.

For more information visit: http://www.trfinc.org/

The post Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation To Hold Silent Art Auction At Belmont On Oct. 9 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Owned and campaigned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Graham Motion, the Grade 1-winning gelding retired from racing in 2018 and was originally sent to retrain for a second career with Olympic gold medalist Phillip Dutton, but a recent injury prevented his further progress.

“Ring showed incredible promise as an Event prospect, so I was devastated when he sustained a career-limiting injury during his turnout,” said Dutton. “I wish Ring Weekend all the best in his new prestigious retirement home,” Dutton added, “and thanks to everyone that followed and supported him—he's a remarkable horse.”

Following his recovery Ring Weekend was sent to Julie Lake's Ship Oak Farm in Massachusetts where he spent 14 months as a pleasure horse, but soundness issues again hampered his success.

“Ring spent his days hacking out on miles of trails, galloping along Crane beach in Ipswich, and learning to walk out with the Myopia hounds,” said Lake. “But after careful consideration by everyone who loves him, the decision was made to relocate him to Old Friends where he can truly retire and live out his life without any more work or stress.”

By premiere sire Tapit, out of the Cryptoclearance mare Free the Magic, Ring Weekend had both longevity and versatility on the race track. In all he captured six graded stakes in his six-season career, winning on both the dirt and turf. His victories as a 3-year-old include the G2 Tampa Bay Derby on dirt and G3 Hill Prince Stakes on turf. At 4 he scored big in the G1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita before being laid up for more than a year with hoof issues. But he returned to form at age 6 to take the G2 Dixie Stakes and the G2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga, both on the turf.

Ring Weekend retired with an overall record of 8-5-4 from 33 starts and earnings of $1,571,576.

“Ring Weekend took his partners on a great ride, competing at 14 different tracks and in 25 stakes races,” said Erin Birkenhauer, Racing Manager/Director of Communications for West Point Thoroughbreds. “The West Point team is incredibly appreciative of the work done by Graham and Anita Motion, Phillip and Evie Dutton, and Julie Lake over the past few years. They are all true ambassadors for off-the-track Thoroughbreds,” Birkenhauer continued. “Many thanks to Michael Blowen and the team at Old Friends for welcoming Ring with open arms. We can't wait to visit him at his forever home.”

“Ring Weekend had the most elegant way of going and was a pleasure to watch,” said Anita Motion. “He retired from racing in 2018 with earnings of more than $1,500,000 and the decision to send him to Phillip and Evie Dutton to try as an event horse was unanimously made by the West Point partners. He showed promise from the beginning but then sustained a freak injury. We are truly grateful to Old Friends for accepting him, and we hope that this will mean his many fans and admirers can visit, I know we will.”

“We're so excited to be associated with Ring Weekend and all of his previous caretakers–Graham and Anita, Julie Lake, West Point, and Philip Dutton,” said Old Friends Founder and President Michael Blowen. “I was at Saratoga when Ring Weekend won the Bernard Baruch and it was thrilling. Almost as thrilling as the sunny Saturday afternoon he arrived at Old Friends.”

The post Old Friends Welcomes Retired Millionaire Ring Weekend appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Irish trainer Jessica Harrington, American trainers Graham and Anita Motion, Aga Khan Stud racing manager Nemone Routh and former British eventing team coach Yogi Breisner gathered to offer their thoughts on the state of aftercare and its interaction with other equestrian sports.

A few key takeaways:

• Breisner, who has worked with many former racehorses, believes a language shift is in order when discussing off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs). Often, the process of transitioning a horse from the track to another discipline is framed as “retraining,” but Breisner points out that conveys an implication that the horse's earlier training was somehow wrong.”Actually most racehorses I've taken don't need much true retraining,” he said. “They've already learned a lot.”
• Routh said that aftercare in France, where the Aga Khan Stud is based, now receives financial support from France Galop, racing's regulatory body there. Previously it had been dependent on charitable donations, but Routh said after a certain point that was no longer sustainable. France Galop now encourages people to share their stories of their OTTBs as part of its tactic to market racing.
• Also in France, racing connections are expected to pay for a horse's castration and transport to an accredited rehoming center. That can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for owners who are also discovering the horse that once had value as a racing animal may be retiring with very little market value. Routh suggests owners who set aside as modest a sum as two weeks' training fees could be enough to make sure the owner doesn't feel surprised by those retirement costs later.
• Harrington believes education is key for new owners, especially those who join in as part of a large syndicate where they are able to approach racehorse ownership with no equine background or racing experience. Many don't even know a horse can live another 20 to 25 years after its racing retirement, let alone that they will need to find a new vocation for that time. “I think people don't think about it,” she said. “I think it's ignorance rather than willfully saying, 'I'm not going to look after my horse.”
• Motion believes part of the key to making aftercare sustainable — particularly in the United States, where it's still so reliant on charitable giving — is to think twice about whether a horse needs to go to a retirement organization, where they will be on the organization's books for many years. Motion believes that many horses are suitable for some kind of active job where they might be useful as privately-owned animals, and that retirement sanctuaries are often asked to shoulder the burden of horses who could find vocations elsewhere.
• Breisner said there could be more exchange between the racing and sport horse world as far as the education of riders. As stable help has become more difficult to find in Britain, Breisner said he sometimes has racing staff who ask to spend time training with him to improve their overall horsemanship, which benefits the racehorses they'll work with on and off the track. Likewise, he suggested that the many international racing schools that train jockeys and exercise riders could also include education on the basics of transitioning OTTBs off track. Riders who have the skills to be versatile will benefit the horses they work with.

The next IFAR virtual session will focus on aftercare for racing administrators and regulators and will take place April 13 at 8 a.m. Eastern. Registration is free and is available here.

The post IFAR: Why The Term ‘Retraining’ May Not Be Best For OTTBs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post