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Real Rider Cup Kentucky Raises $78,000, Woodall Repeats as Champion

The Real Rider Cup–a showjumping event featuring off the track Thoroughbreds ridden by racing industry participants–returned to Kentucky and Mereworth Farm for the second year this past weekend and the event raised more than $78,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare. Six teams comprised of 26 riders donned silks representing their employers, colleagues, and clients within the racing industry and completed a jumps course with the fastest clear rounds taking home top honors.

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.

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MVP and Riley Win TAKE2 Finals

A total of 35 horses from 14 states participated in the $20,000 TAKE2 Hunter and Jumper Finals at the Kentucky Horse Park Sunday during the Kentucky National Horse Show. In a repeat of last year's results, MVP took the TAKE2 Hunter Final and Riley captured the TAKE2 Jumper Final.

“It's so much fun to see the Thoroughbreds from all over the country competing,” MVP's owner/rider Tess Fortune said. “This is my third year doing the Finals, and I have a great time every year.”

MVP raced briefly without success under the name Kit's Captain before retiring through the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Galloping Out program. He was adopted by Fortune as a 3-year-old in 2014. The reserve champion in the TAKE2 Hunter Finals was 11-year-old gray Mo Bandit, who was retired through After the Races, a Thoroughbred rehabilitation and rehoming center in Maryland. The popular Cozmic One, son of Zenyatta, finished 11th in the jumper division with Hidden Brook's Sergio de Sousa in the irons.

Cyanea Robine and Riley also had one rail and earned the championship sash once again. Robine was also named this year's top TAKE2 Junior Rider, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, in the Jumper division. Riley, whose Jockey Club name is Pic Me First, had a couple of less-than-impressive workouts at Delta Downs before it was decided he was not cut out for a racing career.

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Real Rider Cup Makes Successful Lexington Debut

LEXINGTON, KY–With a rainy, cloudy afternoon turning into a perfect sunny and 72-degree evening, the racing industry was out in full force to support retired Thoroughbreds in the Real Rider Cup. Typically held in the fall at Fair Hill, it was the first time the event was being held in Lexington at New Vocations' Mereworth Farm and the rail was packed with familiar faces, such as Christian Black, Mike McMahon and Aidan and Leah O'Meara, to support this great cause initiated by Anita Motion.

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.

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Real Rider Cup to be Held Before Fasig July

The Kentucky leg of the Real Rider Cup, a charity show jumping event created by Anita Motion to benefit Thoroughbred aftercare, will be held Saturday, July 9–two days ahead of the start of the Fasig-Tipton July sales–at New Vocation Racehorse Adoption Program at Mereworth Farm in Lexington.

Among those set to participate are Zenyatta's son Cozmic One (Bernardini), who will be ridden by Real Rider Cup veteran Sergio de Sousa; and Grade III winner Sticksstatelydude (First Dude) with exercise rider Kristin VanMeter.

1/ST Racing is furnishing an entire team coming in from the West Coast, consisting of Jodie Vella-Gregory, Manager of Innovation; Aaron Gryder, Vice President, Industry Relations and former jockey; and Dr. Dionne Benson, Chief Veterinary Officer.

Fasig-Tipton's longtime announcer Terence Collier will announce the Real Rider Cup event. Riders are still accepted, and fundraising continues through the Maryland leg of the event in mid-September. Title sponsorships are also available for the Kentucky event. All proceeds benefit the Retired Racehorse Project, New Vocations Thoroughbred Adoption and the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show. For more information, visit www.therealridercup.com.

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