A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories, and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.

“I am thrilled to be part of our fourth annual New Vocation's Day at the Fair Grounds!” Napravnik said. “The event has been a huge help in spreading awareness to our local horseman as to how New Vocations is aiding the Louisiana racing community. We hope to continue to raise funds and awareness so that we can help more horsemen and more horses!”

Recognizing the need for expanded Thoroughbred aftercare in Louisiana, Napravnik reached out to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption program in the country, in the fall of 2019. Held for the first time at Fair Grounds in 2021, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” has raised over $12,500 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners, and jockeys.

“Moving into our fifth year, our Louisiana facility continues to thrive, and our team has done a wonderful job with each horse that has entered the program,” New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford said. “The continued support from the Louisiana HBPA has played a huge role in the facility's success. We are also seeing more and more local owners, breeders and trainers reach out to utilize our services as well as support our efforts. We are grateful to have the Fair Grounds hosting another New Vocations Day at the Races. We hope the event will continue to raise awareness about our Louisiana facility and the services we provide to the racing community.”

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“We are disappointed that we had to postpone the event, but happy that we could reschedule it,” said Fair Grounds' senior director of racing Jason Boulet. “Despite the severe weather in Kentucky, Rosie and Anna made every effort to follow through with their travel plans to New Orleans, but Mother Nature had other ideas. We are looking forward to New Vocations Day at the Races on Mar. 23. It will be a welcome addition to Louisiana Derby week.”

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A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.

“I am elated to be having our third annual New Vocations Day at Fair Grounds,” Napravnik said. “Since its inception, our Louisiana satellite facility has been a great success and it's my honor to dedicate a day to promoting local aftercare by showing off the horses and the work that these ladies have done right here in Covington. This year I am excited to have New Vocations executive director Anna Ford also joining Joe and me on set to talk about the program!”

Held for the first time at Fair Grounds in 2021, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” has raised over $10,000 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners and jockeys.

For the first time this year, owners, jockeys and trainers can contribute a financial donation to the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations directly through the horsemen's bookkeeper. Contact Emily Miller or Diana Bosco at 504-948-1254. In addition, contributions are welcome through the New Vocations website–visit https://horseadoption.org/donate and click the button with Rosie's picture on it in the top row to complete the process.

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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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This year's event–held concurrently with the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, which will take place at the nearby Kentucky Horse Park–will be part of the nation's oldest and largest racehorse adoption charity's year-long 30th Anniversary celebration.

“We can't wait to welcome guests back to New Vocations at Mereworth Farm,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director. “We've made a few exciting changes to the event this year and this Open Barn & BBQ will be the best one yet.”
Guests can expect an expanded educational program featuring live demos by: retired GI Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup-winning jockey, aftercare advocate and OTTB trainer Rosie Napravnik; New Vocations' Lexington Trainer and Facility Director Leandra Cooper; and Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Escaro.

Jen Roytz–manager of Brownstead Farm, past executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project and an OTTB owner and rider–will moderate the sessions. Attendees will have the chance to meet adoptable horses, tour the facility's barns, enjoy live music from Trippin' Roots and partake in a celebratory 30th Anniversary dessert. Guests will be able to enjoy delicious delights from four food trucks and a boutique bar (two drinks included with each ticket), featuring the event's signature Peach Kentucky Mule or other selections from Jackson Family Wines, Braxton Brewing, Pinhook Bourbon and Tito's Handmade Vodka.

Guests can also bid on exciting items and experiences (including a trip to Africa) in the always-popular silent auction and–new for 2022–will have the chance to try their luck in a wine pull. All proceeds from these fundraisers will go directly to support New Vocations' mission to rehab, retrain and rehome retired racehorses.

Gates will open at 3:00 p.m. with the first demo getting underway at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here ($30 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under). Proceeds from the event will benefit New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

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On Saturday, Feb. 12, retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on site at the Fair Grounds to spearhead the “New Vocations Day at the Races.” A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare.

“Before and after my riding career, I've been exposed to a lot of the other things that horses can do, and that's a big part of the reason why I'm so passionate about it and why it's so important to me,” Napravnik said in regards to Thoroughbred aftercare. “I have a lot of experience in the other disciplines and I've seen retired racehorses really excel. I got my first off-the-track Thoroughbred back in 2008 and watching him transform, his potential, his trainability, his eagerness to do something else and to learn new things and please really inspired me. After riding so many of those horses and seeing how much they put out for us on the racetrack, it's just something I can't avoid making a part of my life.”

In its first renewal at the Fair Grounds in 2021, a total of $8,198 was raced in unique donations from fans and people within the industry.

“Rosie is one of our favorites,” said Fair Grounds senior director of racing Jason Boulet. “It's great to have her back at the Fair Grounds to help shed light on such an important cause and to share her valuable insight with the fans. We look forward to building on last year's success.”

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“Before and after my riding career, I've been exposed to a lot of the other things that horses can do, and that's a big part of the reason why I'm so passionate about it and why it's so important to me,” Napravnik said in regards to Thoroughbred aftercare. “I have a lot of experience in the other disciplines and I've seen retired racehorses really excel. I got my first off-the-track Thoroughbred back in 2008 and watching him transform, his potential, his trainability, his eagerness to do something else and to learn new things and please really inspired me. After riding so many of those horses and seeing how much they put out for us on the racetrack, it's just something I can't avoid making a part of my life.”

Held for the first time at Fair Grounds one year ago, the “New Vocations Day at the Races” raised $8,198 in unique donations from fans and people within the industry, including horsemen, horse owners and jockeys.

“We are very excited about the success we had with our first New Vocations Day last year and have been looking forward to another addition,” Napravnik said. “Last year everybody jumped into action, making donations and encouraging others on social media to do so as well. We are very grateful for the HBPA and the horseman in Louisiana for supporting our efforts. Our program continues to expand, and we are excited to share our growth from the past year.”

Napravnik, who won 1,878 races in her ten-year career, retired in 2014 following her Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) win with Untapable. In 2012 she became the first female rider to capture the Kentucky Oaks (G1), guiding Believe You Can to victory, and she won the race again just two years later with Untapable. She is now married to trainer Joe Sharp and together they have two sons, Carson and Tucker.

“Rosie is one of our favorites,” said Fair Grounds senior director of racing Jason Boulet. “It's great to have her back at the Fair Grounds to help shed light on such an important cause and to share her valuable insight with the fans. We look forward to building on last year's success.”

Recognizing the need for expanded Thoroughbred aftercare in Louisiana, Napravnik reached out to New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption program in the country, in the fall of 2019. With Napravnik taking on a leadership role under the umbrella of New Vocations, they received a start-up grant from the Right Horse and were off and running.

“That grant basically funded almost half of running the program for the first two years,” said New Vocations Thoroughbred program director Anna Ford. “That really helped us get on our feet. Then the Louisiana HBPA stepped in and they have really supported our efforts.”

Since opening their doors in 2019, the Louisiana division of New Vocations has served 140 horses, including 55 last year. There are currently 15 horses in the program.

“Moving into our third year, our Louisiana facility continues to thrive and our team has done a wonderful job with each horse that has entered the program,” Ford said. The continued support from Louisianan HBPA has played a huge role in the facility's success. We are also seeing more and more local owners, breeders and trainers reach out to utilize our services as well as support our efforts. We are grateful to have the Fair Grounds hosting another New Vocations Day at the Races. We hope the event will continue to raise awareness about our Louisiana facility and the services we provide to the racing community.”

On Saturday, February 12, Napravnik will join track announcer John G. Dooley on the pre-race “Fair Grounds Today” show and partner with simulcast host Joe Kristufek during the racing card to provide information on how to donate a horse, how to adopt a horse, and how fans can contribute to the cause. She will also share adoption success stories, which will be supported by video of retired racehorses thriving in their second careers.

“I want to help make sure that horses have the opportunity to do something after racing because they really deserve it,” Napravnik said. “They have so much life ahead of them when their racing career is over. I can't ignore that, especially in a place like Louisiana that has such a high demand for organizations to help bridge that gap.”

In addition to promoting Thoroughbred aftercare awareness, Napravnik will also offer her race-by-race selections via the “expert picks” videos on twinspires.com and the Twin Spires app, and on the simulcast feed.

“During my riding career, I never handicapped to pick the winner, I handicapped to make my horse the winner,” Napravnik said. “But there's a lot of insight I can give on how each of the riders could see the race unfolding and how it might play out from a pace and trip perspective. I truly enjoy being on the show and handicapping the races with Joe so it will be another fun and exciting day as we raise awareness and funds for aftercare in Louisiana!”

For those who would like to contribute a financial donation to the Louisiana chapter of New Vocations and support the Fair Grounds Day at the Races with Rosie Napravnik, visit https://horseadoption.org/donate and click the button with Rosie's picture on it in the top row.

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Napravnik became the first female jockey to ever win the Kentucky Oaks in 2012 with Believe You Can. She was also the first female jockey to win more than one Breeders' Cup race, along with many other notable achievements. With lifetime earnings of $71,426,717 Napravnik is undoubtedly one of the most successful female jockeys the industry has seen, and she continues to pursue her passion for Thoroughbreds outside of the racetrack.

Since Napravnik's retirement from racing following the 2014 Breeders' Cup where she won the G1 Distaff aboard Untapable, she has started a new career of retraining off the track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs). In Napravnik's operation, the owners who send their racehorses to her continue to financially support them throughout their second careers as she offers owners the experience of Thoroughbred ownership from an entirely new perspective. This is the case with the newest addition to her herd, Fast Boat, who has spent time at her farm previously during his career following big performances on the track.

“He's a very happy horse in general, but he was the type where he could not wait to go out every single day,” Napravnik said about Fast Boat's personality. “It never wore off the entire time he would spend here (Four Ponds Farm). He was just as happy to go out every day, always ears forward. He loved the company of a pony. We have several ponies here so they all get to play the role of being the life coach for the racehorses. It relieves the anxiety for the racehorses when they're turned out.”

The 6-year-old gelding is a son of City Zip out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare, Yellow Boat. He was claimed by Joe Sharp in 2018 and went on to win the G2 Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes as well as the G3 Troy Stakes in 2021. He ended his career with a record of 10-1-3 from 28 starts and $706,349 in earnings. Fast Boat is now turned out with Napravnik's herd of “lifers” and will get a couple of months off before figuring out what his second career is. 

“He's living his best life being turned out 24/7,” Napravnik mentioned. “He's kind of a boss out there, which I wasn't really sure he'd be. There's one pony out there and the pony doesn't really get grain so he's kind of the hungriest one, but now Fast Boat is the hungriest one, which is not usually the case when you turn a Thoroughbred out 24/7 for the first time. I would say he's adjusting well.”

Once Fast Boat does begin training for his second career, Napravnik said that he will follow the same routine that all of her new horses do. 

“I start all their training off with flatwork, but first I take them all hacking and they go through water, up banks, and through ditches,” Napravnik said. “They do that until they can do it on the buckle and they're chilled out and trusting of any of these new questions that you're asking of them. So that's initially what I do to wipe the slate clean. It sort of opens their mind to the idea of 'we don't have anywhere to go.' They're in such a routine during their life on the track that they're used to always having something to do, so I let them figure out that we're just out here to enjoy ourselves. Then we start flatwork and I kind of let them take me from there.”

Napravnik is a regular competitor at the annual Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park. She has finished in the top ranks of multiple divisions and has her sights set on entering Fast Boat in the 2022 Makeover. This would not be Napravnik's first time entering with a high-profile racehorse, as she competed at the 2019 makeover with 2016 Kentucky Derby contender My Man Sam in the show hunters division. 

“I have been itching to train a horse for barrel racing at the Makeover, which I know nothing about, so it would be kind of a fun experience to do that,” Napravnik said about Fast Boat's potential entry. “He's kind of built more like a Quarter Horse. He's got a huge hind end and he's built kind of downhill, so we might think about that. Like I said, he'll kind of tell me as we go.”

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Born the daughter of an eventing and Pony Club coach in New Jersey, Napravnik spent her childhood competing at the lower levels of eventing and participated in her last event at the Training level when she was 12 years old. For the majority of the following 15 years, her life was consumed by racehorses.

“From the time I was 17 years old till I announced my retirement, I lived for racing,” she explained. “I was blessed to be a part of the absolute best of racing and I loved all of it, but when my husband and I decided to start a family it was time for me to retire.”

Her retirement announcement came on the day she won the Breeder's Cup Distaff and, in an overwhelmed state of emotion, she made the announcement in the winner's circle to the entire world on national television.

“Winning that race was truly my storybook ending,” Napravnik stated.

Already six weeks pregnant at the time, she took a brief hiatus from the saddle but continued to work in the training side of things with husband Joe Sharp till the birth of their first son in June of 2015.

“Joe and I just worked so well together because we both really respect each other's areas of expertise,” she detailed. “We met when I was riding at the stable where he was an assistant trainer in 2009. He went out on his own shortly before I found out I was pregnant and for the brief amount of time I rode for him we were an extremely successful team.”

Shortly after ending her racing career, she committed to the idea that she would return to eventing after giving birth. That vision came to life with the purchase of a horse she had won several races on in her previous career. She followed the mount closely and bought him in a claiming race and then produced the older mount up to the Training level despite his laundry list of physical ailments.

“That horse is what lit a fire in me for retraining racehorses before it was even a big thing,” she confirmed. “It wasn't something I had ever really considered before, but his strength and continued determination inspired me.”

Napravnik now runs her own Off-Track Sporthorses where she specializes in retraining and competing retired racehorses for the eventing sport as well as rehabilitating various injured or laid-up Thoroughbreds. She takes on many horses from the string in her husband's facility under the tutelage of Dorothy Crowell.

“Working with Dorothy has been truly invaluable in my riding endeavors; she is a Thoroughbred guru,” Napravnik laughed. “More than anything, it has made me addicted to learning new things and having new experiences with the Thoroughbreds.”

Her current partner, Sanimo, a 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Smart Strike x Sanima) came out of her husband's training program as a young 3-year-old and after a year hiatus was already the clear winner in the eventing section of the 2019 Retired Racehorse Project.

This season has been both Napravnik's and Sanimo's debut at the Preliminary level, but she continues to look forward to their future development with excitement.

“Everyone assumes that because I was riding at such a high level in the racing that I must be competing at a very high level of eventing, but that is not the case,” she said. “At this point, I have had several top clinicians tell me they think we have what it takes to continue to move up and my plan is just to keep going until I either run out of money or get scared! I have had my glory days, so to be able to do this with no pressure and just enjoy myself and enjoy the horse has been an incredible experience.”

Read more at USEA.

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The evening will include dinner, drinks, entertainment, a silent auction, with the main attraction being the retired and active jockeys who will be playing polo while riding retired race horses. Jockeys who will be playing include Chris McCarron, Rosie Napravnik, PJ Cooksey, Anthony Stephen, Michael Heath and many others. Additionally, the event will be emceed by Hall of Fame jockey, Gary Stevens, and attended by Shane Sellers, Jean Cruget, Sandy Hawley, Mike Manganello, and Gary Birzer, along with other active and retired jockeys.

“We are really looking forward to the event,” said Susan Moulton, wife of well-known retired jockey Shane Sellers, and member of Commonwealth Polo Club. “They are coming out to play to raise money and awareness for their fellow jockeys who have suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of an on-track accident. As there is no guaranteed funding for the PDJF, it is important that we come together as an industry to assist in providing for these jockeys who gave so much for the sport of horse racing.”

Moulton, along with Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock, Vinery Sales and Silver Springs Training, and Jorge Vasquez, co-founder of the Commonwealth Polo Club, came up with the idea and are hoping to make it an annual event.

“Raising awareness for the risk and injuries jockeys face is something that is important to me,” said Vasquez, “as I have a brother who is a retired jockey and many family members and friends who are in the racing industry.”

During the silent auction, guests will be given the opportunity to bid on a unique array of items including autographed racing memorabilia, artwork, jewelry, and equestrian items. Auction items of interest include halters worn by American Pharoah and Justify donated by Coolmore America, Tapit donated by Gainesway Farm, and Midnight Bisou donated by Bloom Racing Stables and Hill N Dale Farm.

Sponsors of the polo teams include Gainesway Farm, Winstar Farm, Godolphin at Jonabell Farm, Mt. Brilliant Farm, Safari North Farm, Team Valor, Bowling Bloodstock, Vinery Sales, and Silver Springs Training.

Musical Entertainment will be “The Steve Norman Band.” There will be food provided by Proud Mary BBQ. The gates open at 6:30 p.m. with the polo match beginning at 7:00 p.m. EST. Admission for the event is $10 per car load. Commonwealth Polo Club is located at 2665 Bethlehem Road in Paris, Kentucky.

For more information please contact Jorge Vasquez at Commonwealth Polo Club at 859-321-6785.

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