A new calendar honoring Secretariat features his legendary daughter Weekend Surprise and her descendants. The Secretariat's Legacy calendar is the continuation of a series originally celebrating the last living sons and daughters of Secretariat (“Secretariat's Living Legends”), but with only one son and one daughter left, it was time to make a transition.
While the theme has changed, the goal is the same – to celebrate Secretariat through his descendants and raise much-needed funds for equine charities. For the second straight year, the beneficiaries are Bright Futures Farm, Old Friends and Victory Alliance Ranch.
The calendar series launched in 2018 has raised more than $22,000 for charities through 2021. “Racing fans, especially Secretariat fans, have loved the Living Legends calendars, and I hope they will enjoy this new take on Secretariat's legacy through his important descendants,” says writer/photographer Patricia McQueen, whose creative project is part of her research work on Secretariat as a sire.
The 2022 calendar is all about Weekend Surprise, and she is featured on the cover and in the January spread. Secretariat's stakes-winning daughter was 1992 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, and her important descendants included in the calendar are:
Summer Squall, her son who won the 1990 Preakness Stakes;
A.P. Indy, her 1992 Horse of the Year son who went on to elite status as a sire;
Charismatic, the 1999 Horse of the Year by Summer Squall;
Mineshaft, the 2003 Horse of the Year by A.P. Indy;
Rags to Riches, A.P. Indy's champion daughter who won the 2007 Belmont Stakes;
Bernardini, the 2006 champion 3-year-old colt by A.P. Indy;
Honor Code, A.P. Indy's final champion, a member of his last crop;
Tapit, A.P. Indy's grandson who is a legendary sire himself;
California Chrome, a two-time Horse of the Year and great grandson of A.P. Indy; and
Justify, the 2018 Triple Crown winner and great-great grandson of A.P. Indy (and Storm Cat).
As in previous calendars, the Tony Leonard Collection continues to generously support the series with a beautiful photo of Secretariat after the Preakness Stakes with Ron Turcotte aboard. Mr. Turcotte has kindly agreed to autograph a limited number of calendars to help raise even more funds.
As noted, all profits from the sale of the calendar are allocated to three worthy organizations: Bright Futures Farm, an equine rescue and sanctuary accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance; Old Friends, another TAA-accredited organization; and Victory Alliance Ranch, an equine rescue and sanctuary supporting veterans and special needs children.
The calendars are available for $25 each at www.SecretariatsLegacy.com. Free shipping within the U.S. is included. Everyone who orders a 2022 Secretariat's Legacy calendar will also receive a free four-page tribute to the “Last Secretariats,” who have all been included in the Living Legends series; only 33-year-old Border Run and 32-year-old Trusted Company remain.
After serving for four years as Retired Racehorse Project's executive director and five years prior to that as a board member, Jen Roytz announced this week that she will be stepping down from her leadership role at the end of the year. Longtime staff member and current managing director, Kirsten Green, will serve as interim executive director while the organization conducts a national search for the role.
Under Roytz's leadership the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) has expanded in both size and scope. The organization's flagship event, the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, has grown into the largest and most lucrative retraining competition for off-track Thoroughbreds in the world, hosting hundreds of equestrians competing on Thoroughbreds in their first year of retraining after racing for well over $100,000 in prize money. The event also includes a robust vendor fair, racehorse retraining clinic, seminars, health and soundness exams for all horses competing and more. Since 2019 the event has also played host to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, a joint effort between the RRP, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.).
In 2018, the RRP launched its now-popular Master Class series. These clinics, held throughout the country, showcase the various approaches professional trainers from various equestrian backgrounds take when working with Thoroughbreds transitioning to new careers after racing. This past year, the RRP partnered with OTTB United to create a mobile app specializing in the adoption and sale of off-track Thoroughbreds.
“It has been one of my life's greatest honors to head up an organization that is making such a profound difference in how Thoroughbreds are received and repurposed by the equestrian community. In my opinion, the RRP's focus on expanding the market of equestrians who are willing and able to transition racehorses to sport horses is a critical part of the aftercare equation,” said Roytz. “As someone who is active in both the racing and equestrian worlds, this organization is close to my heart, and its mission speaks to my soul. I look forward to staying engaged with the organization and its leadership team and supporting them in whatever ways I can.”
In addition to serving as the executive director for the RRP, Roytz is a partner in Topline Communications, a marketing and communications agency based in Lexington, Kentucky. She and her fiancé also own and operate Brownstead Farm, where they focus on Thoroughbred breeding, selling, breaking of young horses and post-racing retraining. Roytz's board affiliations include the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Advisory Board, the Kentucky Horse Council, the National HBPA's Aftercare Committee and Saddle Up Safely, among others.
This past October, the RRP hosted the largest event in its organization's history. When the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover was forced to postpone due to COVID19 restrictions, the organization made a commitment to its competitors that the time and investment they had made into the hundreds of horses pointing to that year's competition would be rewarded and that they would have the opportunity to compete once pandemic-related restrictions were lifted. This year, the RRP hosted the “Mega-Makeover,” which hosted both the 2020 and 2021 classes of competitors and offered more than $135,000 in prize money for each year's entries.
The week-long event, held at the Kentucky Horse Park on October 12 through 17, also included the inaugural T.I.P. Barrel Racing Championship, one of several collaborations between the two organizations in recent years.
“Jen's efforts on behalf of the RRP over the term of her leadership have continued the organization's remarkable growth trajectory and expanded its network, opening doors that have created strong working relationships with racing institutions and aftercare organizations alike,” said Green. “We're so thankful for Jen's tireless enthusiasm, collaborative spirit, and thoughtful stewardship of our charitable mission and I look forward to supporting the board in their search as we transition into the next chapter in the RRP's work.”
[Story Continues Below]
Founded in 2010 by Steuart Pittman in response to the Thoroughbred breed's decline in popularity in the sport horse world and residual adverse impact on viable homes and career opportunities for them after racing, the RRP set out to shine a spotlight on the breed for new and old audiences alike. The organization began by putting on demonstrations at equine expos and equestrian events that showcased off-track Thoroughbreds in various equestrian disciplines. In 2011 the RRP hosted the 100-Day Trainer Challenge, an invitational retraining competition. The following year, thanks to seed money from longtime supporter, lead benefactor and current board president, Dr. Carolyn Karlson, the organization hosted the inaugural Thoroughbred Makeover the following year with 26 competitors.
“It's been the greatest honor to support RRP and the Makeover from its infancy to where it stands today as a nationally-recognized brand of excellence for Thoroughbred aftercare,” said Karlson. “Working alongside both Jen and Steuart to facilitate this growth over the last decade has been a true privilege. The RRP Board extends their profound thanks for Jen's leadership and commitment to the RRP mission.”
The RRP has gained national recognition in recent years for increasing demand and value for Thoroughbreds after racing and helping them regain their prominence in the sport horse world. The RRP was the recipient of the ASPCA's Equine Welfare Award in 2021 and previously has been similarly honored by the Equus Foundation. Roytz has represented the RRP on stages throughout the racing and equestrian world, including as the keynote speaker at the 2018 United States Hunter/Jumper Association Annual Convention. She has also been a featured speaker and/or panelist at the University of Arizona Racetrack Industry Program's Global Symposium on Racing, the Grayson Jockey Club's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, the ASPCA's The Right Horse Summit, Equestricon, the National Conference on Equine Law, U. S. Pony Club Festival, Equitana and more.
“The team behind the RRP is the reason this effort has been so successful. Their loyalty to the organization, its mission and to each other are why the RRP has accomplished all it has in a relatively short period of time,” said Roytz. “Kirsten Green, the RRP's longest-serving employee, has played a pivotal role in both the RRP's evolution and my success at its helm. I'm incredibly grateful to her, and to the staff and board, for their support and excited for what the organization's future holds, as it is surely bright.”
The RRP board of directors is conducting a national search for Roytz's successor. Interested candidates are invited to send their resume and cover letter to rrpapplications@gmail.com. A full job description can be found here.
Horse Racing Alberta, Alberta Standardbred Horse Association and the Century Mile Race Office are monitoring an equine virus outbreak at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino.
Our equine and human athletes' safety is our top priority, and we are working closely with official and on-site veterinarians and trainers at the track and training facilities. Century Mile Racetrack and Casino Infectious Disease Protocols have been ordered and the track is closed to horses moving on or off the property. These measures are in place to ensure that our equine athletes have the most up to date health and safety management protocols.
All affected horses have been placed and will remain in isolation with rigorous disinfection of stalls, tack and equipment for a minimum of seven days.
The isolated horses will continue to be assessed and treated by attending veterinarians.
Horses who were scratched on Nov. 19, 2021, have been placed on the Vet List and will not be cleared to race until they are removed from the Vet List by the Horse Racing Alberta Commission Vet.
Racing has been cancelled for Nov. 26 and 27, 2021.
We are cautiously optimistic that racing will resume Dec. 3, but further delays might be necessary for the health of the horses and control of the outbreak.
Alberta Standardbred Horse Association has recommended the following changes to the racing schedule:
Dec. 3, 2021: Regular race card, overnights only
Dec. 17, 2021: Eliminations for Western Canada Pacing Derby and Century Casinos Filly Pace
Dec. 18, 2021: Additional race day added to schedule
Dec. 31, 2021: Western Canada Pacing Derby and Century Casinos Filly Pace
Horse Racing Alberta would like to thank all the trainers, veterinarians, staff at Century Mile and the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association for their collaboration and diligence in addressing the situation.
Veterinarians at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital answer your questions about sales and healthcare of Thoroughbred auction yearlings, weanlings, 2-year-olds and breeding stock.
Question: Why are broodmares so prone to colic, and what colic causes are most common for them?
Dr. Katy Dern, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital: According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.4 percent of human delivery hospitalizations in the United States in the year 2014 developed what are characterized as severe maternal morbidities. This means that, even in closely supervised and intensively managed births, 1.4 in every 100 women developed potentially life-threatening complications. Parturition (birth) has potential consequences for the mother, and broodmares are no exception to this biologic reality.
Dr. Kathryn Dern
When we discuss colic (abdominal pain) in the broodmare, the cause of the pain can be broadly divided into two categories: pain originating from the gastrointestinal tract and pain originating from the reproductive tract.
Colic signs attributable to the gastrointestinal tract are a common phenomenon in the broodmare, and can be further subdivided into those conditions seen prior to foaling and those seen in the post-parturient time period (after foaling). Prior to foaling, causes of colic include mild discomfort due to expanding uterine size and fetal movements, as well as displacements or abnormal motility of the large colon, cecum, or small intestine. Mares exhibiting colic secondary to fetal movements or impingement of the gravid uterus on the gastrointestinal tract will usually not have dramatic changes in their vital parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, mucous membrane color), and will respond to analgesics (pain management). If the mare's colic signs do not respond to pain management or increase in severity, she may have a gastrointestinal issue which can be life threatening to her and/or the foal. In either case, veterinary evaluation is important to differentiate between mild and more severe forms of colic, and to ensure that more aggressive medical and surgical interventions can be instituted if necessary.
After foaling (and sometimes before foaling), gastrointestinal causes of colic can include large colon volvulus (twist) or displacement, cecal dysmotility or rupture, small intestinal incarceration, mesenteric tears leading to loss of intestinal viability, or rectal prolapse. Of these the most discussed and by far most common cause of colic is large colon volvulus. Broodmares are largely overrepresented in the large colon volvulus (LCV) caseload: one study evaluating the distribution of surgical LCV cases at a large referral hospital in California found that half of the admissions were broodmares that had foaled less than 60 days prior to admission. This association between foaling and subsequent development of colonic displacement or LCV has been mirrored in multiple studies across various geographic areas and additional risk factors such as increased hours of stabling, increased feeding of concentrates, decreased dry matter intake, or a recent change in pasture have also been discovered.
Although our research has clearly shown that post-foaling broodmares are likely to develop large colon volvulus, we unfortunately have not yet determined exactly why they are prone to this disease. Common sense dictates that the presence of additional “room” in the abdomen post foaling must play a role, but this unfortunately does not account for the LCV cases we see in geldings, show horses, or preparturient [pregnant] mares.
Recent investigations into the role of intestinal microbiota in the development of colic suggest that significant changes in the fecal microbiota precede the development of colic. The changes in the bacterial population observed in the fecal samples of mares that developed colic are consistent with changes seen in both dysbiosis (imbalance in gastrointestinal bacteria) and inflammatory intestinal disease in other species, including humans. Further investigation into the role of intestinal microbiota in the development of large colon volvulus will hopefully allow us to not only fully characterize the disease process, but eventually identify at-risk mares and intervene prior to development of colonic displacement or volvulus.
Other gastrointestinal causes of post-foaling colic are usually more directly linked to the parturition itself. Cecal bruising or rupture can occur when the foal traumatizes the base of the cecum. These mares commonly present with abdominal discomfort within the first few days of foaling and then progress to signs of septic peritonitis (abdominal infection) if the wall of the cecum becomes devitalized to the point of rupture. Tears in the mesentery of the small colon or small intestine can subsequently trap segments of the small intestine, causing pain from the entrapment itself and, if prompt surgical intervention is not undertaken, these small intestinal segments can become devitalized, endangering the mare's life, necessitating resection (removal of the devitalized area). If the small colon mesentery is affected, the tear itself can often affect the blood supply to the small colon, causing a gradual necrosis (death) of a segment of the small colon requiring surgery.
Reproductive causes of colic are also common in the broodmare, and determining whether colic signs are gastrointestinal or reproductive in nature is one of the primary goals of the colic exam. In the pregnant mare, colic signs attributable to the reproductive tract can range from mild, medically manageable colics due to fetal shifting and increased fetal size, or abdominal discomfort can be a sign of more life threatening conditions such as uterine torsion or preparturient uterine artery hemorrhage. As with all signs of colic, evaluation by your veterinarian is indicated if your mare's colic signs do not resolve or increase in severity. On the farm, your veterinarian may perform a physical, rectal, and/or ultrasonographic exam to determine if referral is indicated.
In the post foaling broodmare, causes of colic signs attributable to the reproductive tract include mild colic signs due to normal uterine contraction and involution, or more severe colic signs secondary to uterine artery rupture, uterine tears, invagination of a uterine horn or uterine prolapse. In the case of uterine artery rupture, the mare will often show signs of abdominal pain if the hemorrhage is limited to the broad ligament (soft tissue structure which suspends the uterus within the abdomen), as the hematoma dissects through the ligament itself. If she is bleeding freely into her abdomen however, she may not show signs of colic, rather exhibiting a high heart rate, anxiety, and increased respiratory rate consistent with blood loss. In these cases, a thorough physical exam, rectal palpation, abdominal ultrasonography, and abdominocentesis (analysis of a sample of the abdominal fluid) can be critical in determining whether or not the mare is actively hemorrhaging.
Uterine tears can present a diagnostic challenge, as they occur during foaling but do not necessarily cause signs of abdominal pain until the leakage of uterine fluid into abdomen causes signs of abdominal infection (septic peritonitis). In these cases, the mare often presents within the first few days after foaling for dullness and depression, fever, and high heart rate. The diagnosis of septic peritonitis is made using abdominal ultrasonography and abdominocentesis. Prompt surgical repair of these tears, often found at the tip of the uterine horn, limits the continued contamination of the abdomen and allows for intraoperative lavage of the abdomen with drain placement for post-operative lavages. Cases of invagination of the uterine horn are often diagnosed and treated on farm, but if they progress to uterine prolapse may necessitate referral for replacement under general anesthesia.
Lacerating or tearing the cervix during foaling is usually not painful and is commonly found later when the mare is spec'ed or when she is cultured. Manual examination of the cervix is required to definitively diagnose a cervical tear, which are usually repaired after the initial swelling from foaling has subsided (approximately three weeks after parturition).
It is important to note that just because a mare had an uneventful foaling does not mean that the foal didn't damage segments of the reproductive or gastrointestinal tract during parturition. In all cases of broodmare colic, evaluation by a veterinarian experienced in broodmare disorders and timely referral, if necessary, are critical to survival of both mare and foal.
Dr. Katy Dern is originally from Colorado and Montana. She attended Washington State University for her undergraduate work, and Colorado State University for her veterinary degree. Following graduation from CSU in 2012, she completed an internship at Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, followed by an internship at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital. After her internships, Dr. Dern completed a three-year surgical residency at The Ohio State University, while also earning a Master's of Science Degree. She became board certified in equine surgery in 2018 and has been the surgeon at Rood and Riddle's Saratoga hospital since 2017.
