Don Little | Horse Racing Free Tips

Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Rocketry Arrives At Old Friends

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, welcomed multiple graded stakes winner Rocketry on Friday.

The son of Hard Spun, now 7, retired from racing in August of this year following a fourth-place effort in the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga. At that time, he was sent to owner Centennial Farms' Middleburg, Va., facility to unwind.

He retired after five seasons on the track with six wins from 29 starts and lifetime earnings of $811,577.

A fan favorite thanks to his thrilling late-running style, Rocketry truly came into his own as a 4-year-old under conditioner Jimmy Jerkens. He captured the 2018 Temperence Hill Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park by crushing a 98-year-old track record for 1 5/8 miles held by Man o' War, and, later that year, he earned his first graded stakes victory in the GR2 Marathon Stakes at Churchill Downs, again setting a new track record for the 1 ¾ miles.

In his 6-year-old campaign Rocketry added a third track record to his resume, this time going 1 5/8 miles in 2:42.57 at Keeneland, and picked up another graded victory in the GR2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes.

“Just like the movie character, Rocketry could not have lived up to his nickname of 'Rocky' any better,” said Don Little, Jr., President of Centennial Farms. “He consistently campaigned in stakes carrying the Centennial flag with honor every time he set foot on the track. He was sound throughout his career while breaking three track records over a distance of ground. Being involved with a horse like this was truly a joy, thrill, and one that will be cherished by all the partners involved,” Little continued. “While he will be missed on the oval, we look forward to him showing off to visitors at Old Friends.”

“Who doesn't love Rocketry?” said Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen. “We're very fortunate that Centennial Farms trusts us to care for their great marathoner. Thanks to Don Little, Jr. and Jimmy Jerkins for allowing us to showcase him to his many fans.”

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Thoroughbred Owner Conference Panel Discusses Importance Of Communication, Integrity

The 2021 Thoroughbred Owner Conference series reached the halfway mark with its fifth virtual session, which was held July 6 and featured the perspectives of leading owners and trainers. The conference series is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Dean Dorton Equine, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and Stonestreet Farm.

The session, “Owners & Trainers,” was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, Taylor Made Farm, and The Green Group. Moderated by Carolyn Conley, panelists included owners Len Green, D.J. Stable; Jack Knowlton, Sackatoga Stable; and Don Little Jr., Centennial Farms. They were joined by Mark Casse, who trains for D.J. Stable; Barclay Tagg, who trains for Sackatoga Stable; and Jimmy Jerkens, who trains for Centennial Farms.

Each member of the group discussed what makes a successful owner/trainer partnership and offered advice to new and prospective owners. Among the suggestions were to choose trainers who will make you a priority and know how to train the types of horses that you want to be racing, whether they are claiming horses or graded stakes horses.

“Try to find a trainer that you're important to and has time to talk to you,” Green said. “Being honest…everyone thinks that's for granted, but it isn't. You need to have common goals.”

“Horsemanship is a key element. I look for someone who doesn't have such a big stable that you're going to be lost,” Knowlton said.

The group also emphasized the importance of trainers who prioritize the welfare of the horses in their care, both on the racetrack and in terms of aftercare.

From the trainers' perspective, the group expressed appreciation for their current owners. They echoed the owners' sentiments of wanting honesty, integrity, and trust as well as owners who encourage them to give horses time off when necessary.

“For the most part, I like giving horses a break. It's something I like doing. You have to have owners who will let you do it,” said Casse.

Don Little pointed out that the racehorse ownership experience should be a positive one. “This is a fun investment. People need to look at this as entertainment.”

He also stressed the importance of aftercare.

“All owners should know that [aftercare] is part of your responsibility if you get in this business,” he said. “Don't just get in to be an owner and win big races; you've got to be conscious about the end result for those horses that aren't at the top level. It's a priority.”

The sixth session of the series, “Jockeys,” will be held on Tuesday, August 3, at 2 p.m. ET. It is sponsored by Airdrie Stud, Starlight Racing, and The Green Group. It will be moderated by former track announcer Tom Durkin, and panelists will include retired jockeys Donna Barton Brothers, Chris McCarron, and Gary Stevens.

All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered guests. There is no registration fee for the live or recorded virtual conference series, but registration is required. For more information about the owner conference series, including the full schedule of panels and registration, please visit ownerview.com/event/conference or contact Gary Falter at gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

OwnerView is a joint effort spearheaded by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to encourage ownership of Thoroughbreds and provide accurate information on aspects of ownership such as trainers, public racing syndicates, the process of purchasing and owning a Thoroughbred, racehorse retirement, and owner licensing.

The need for a central resource to encourage Thoroughbred ownership was identified in the comprehensive economic study of the sport that was commissioned by The Jockey Club and conducted by McKinsey & Company in 2011. The OwnerView site was launched in May 2012.

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Centennial Farms To Sponsor TAA Best Turned Out Awards During Pegasus World Cup Card

Centennial Farms will sponsor the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Best Turned Out Horse Awards during the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Card Jan. 23, 2021 at Gulfstream Park. This is the third year in a row that Centennial has sponsored the awards.

Centennial Farms, an ownership group with more than 30 years of experience operating elite Thoroughbred racing partnerships, will sponsor the cash prize and gift bag to be given to the winning groom of the Best Turned Out Horse for eight races on the card.

TAA and Centennial Farms representatives will select the horse in each race that is deemed to be the best presented, and that horse's groom will receive a gift bag and cash prize. The TAA and Centennial Farms will promote the winners on their social media platforms, and the winning groom will be mentioned on the live simulcast feed.

“We are honored to again partner with and support the great work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, an outstanding leader in aftercare for our industry,” said Don Little, President of Centennial Farms. “Everyone at Centennial feels very strongly about the lifelong commitment to our horses and ensuring they have a secure home when their racing days are over. This period of unprecedented challenges has affected all aspects of racing and aftercare, from daily life on the backstretch to the ability of organizations like TAA to thrive. We are thrilled to help shine a well-deserved spotlight on just some of the grooms who have continued to work so hard each day to help these magnificent athletes reach their potential.”

Centennial Farms was the sponsor for the TAA Best Turned Out Horse Awards at the Pegasus World Cup in 2019 and 2020, with Little personally selecting the winners.

The TAA is a charity partner for the Pegasus World Cup.

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