police horse | Horse Racing Free Tips

A horse with Kentucky roots was scheduled to attend Sunday's Super Bowl, but not to watch the game — he was to assist with crowd control at the event. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported on the story of Track Shill, a former racehorse who finds himself patrolling crowds these days instead of running before them.

Track Shill was foaled at Brookdale Farm in 2014. By Artie Schiller, the dark bay won his one start at Gulfstream Park before owner William Sorren retired him. The gelding's career ended when he broke a sesamoid in his right front leg during training.

Sorren wanted to ensure the horse found a good home once he retired from racing, so he enlisted the help of William and Lyn Rainbow, who broke the gelding. The Rainbows suggested that Track Shill be sent to Track to Trail Thoroughbreds, a program in Naples, Fla., that focuses on taking injured racehorses directly from the racetrack or training farm, rehabilitating them and finding them homes in Lee and Collier counties.

At Track to Trail facility, Track Shill was introduced to Corp. Aaron Eubanks, a sheriff's deputy for Lee County who had recently lost his patrol horse to colic. Eubanks fostered Track Shill for a month and then adopted him, renaming him Deputy Maverick.

Eubanks believed Maverick would make a quality police horse and the gelding was deputized once he completed mounted patrol training. Maverick has his own badge, which is the same one Lee County detectives wear.

The gelding was part of a fleet of officers invited to assist with crowd control outside the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, where the Super Bowl will be held on Sunday, Feb. 7.

Though a last-minute injury to his left front leg will keep him from attending the actual event, the gelding has raised awareness as to what racehorses can do once they retire from the track.

Read more at the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The post From The Racetrack To The Super Bowl, Thoroughbreds Can Do Anything appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Three retired Thoroughbreds who have excelled at second careers as members of mounted police units in South Florida will help present the colors before the singing of the national anthem Saturday at the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo, both members of the Davie Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit, and Rockaway, a member of the City of Coral Gables mounted unit, will help present the colors before the playing of Saturday's anthem on Pegasus World Cup Day featuring the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) and $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Championship Invitational (G1).

“Gulfstream Park focuses on racehorse aftercare to provide one time competitors a meaningful second career,” said Mike Lakow, Vice President of Racing at Gulfstream Park. “We welcome these athletes back to the track alongside local equestrian law enforcement. The Stronach Group supports accredited programs so these horses can be retrained, rehomed and retired to caring homes.”

Tizrobertcharles, retrained at the Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC), was adopted by the Davie unit by former trainer and Officer Gary Cortolillo. An 11-year-old son of Bwana Charlie who won his seventh and final start, Tizrobertcharles patrols the town daily and has attended several special events. 'Charlie' has a soft eye and a great mind.

Officer Mark Groeneveld, 'Charlie's' partner, has been an officer for 21 years and joined the mounted unit in 2019.

Katie Schmit, farm manager and trainer at TRAC, says retired Thoroughbreds can be retrained for lesson horses, therapy horses, trail, pleasure and show and performance horses.

“What makes OTTBs so incredibly special in my eyes is their impeccable work ethic and desire to please,” she said. “They are meticulously bred to win and thus have an inherent need to feel successful. The exposure they receive at such a young age gives them a huge step up when their racing careers are over. When we match their second careers with their personalities, they truly take it from there. They thrive on learning new things and have a love for adventure. We have seen them graduate from our organization and excel in every area imaginable, from simply bringing a smile to their owner's face each morning, to the most demanding athletic pursuits.”

Guidoinaspeedo is a 9-year-old son of Maryland-bred Meadow Monster who also won once in seven starts while racing in the Mid-Atlantic. 'Buddy,' as he's affectionately called, has been with the mounted unit since 2015.

Officer Richard Spradling, 'Buddy's' partner, has been an officer since 2007 and joined the mounted unit in 2019. Spradling has an equestrian background, having ridden Criollo horses in Argentina.

Rockaway, a retired Thoroughbred who raced 10 times in South Florida, is the first documented police horse in Coral Gables in nearly 90 years. Rockaway, who served as a flag horse at Bergeron Rodeo, enjoys the attention he receives from the public. His partner is Officer Ashley Sheran.

Lt. Dan, a 15-year-old Quarter Horse who has been with the mounted unit since 2018, will join Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo. Officer Angela Creel is Lt. Dan's partner and has been with the unit since 2016. Lt. Dan will serve as the flag bearer.

Drako, a 21-year-old Belgian-Quarter horse cross, will also join the group. Sergeant Chad Bishop will partner with Drako, formerly a member of the Miami-Dade mounted unit. Bishop has been an officer since 1997. He is currently the K9 sergeant as well as a mounted unit sergeant.

The post Trio Of Off-Track Thoroughbreds, Now Police Horses, To Present Colors At Pegasus World Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post