Thoroughbred Makeover | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘They Give You Their All’: OTTBs Becoming More Common In Western Disciplines

Off-track Thoroughbreds have developed increasing visibility across Western disciplines, according to horseandrider.com, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of the Thoroughbred Makeover which includes competition in ranch work, barrel racing, and competitive trail.

Dale Simanton of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, explained that a fair number of ranchers have been riding their dual-purpose racehorses during winter ranch work for decades.

“Thoroughbreds probably have more natural cow in them than any Quarter Horse I've ever ridden,” Simanton told horseandrider.com. “If you get one that's about half scared of cattle, but still has the natural aggressiveness toward cattle that most horses have, then he'll never lose focus when working cows because he wants to know where that cow is at all times.”

Similarly, Richard Weber III of Ridgway, Colorado, likes Thoroughbreds for both ranch work and winter skijoring competitions—an event where a horse pulls a skier through obstacles.

“To say there's any task an OTTB can't do is crazy in my opinion,” said Weber. “Especially working up in the mountains, roping 50 calves in a day, and working a branding, that's where they shine. Thoroughbreds are like the Energizer Bunny, and I love that they have that marathon aspect to them.

“For me, to have a horse whose heart won't stop means everything. They don't quit you—they give you their all.”

Roytz to Step Back from RRP

After serving for four years as Retired Racehorse Project's executive director and five years prior to that as a board member, Jen Roytz 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 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium has become the largest and most lucrative retraining competition for off-track Thoroughbreds in the world.

“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 fiancee 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.

The post Roytz to Step Back from RRP appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Jen Roytz To Step Back From Retired Racehorse Project Leadership

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.

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.

The post Jen Roytz To Step Back From Retired Racehorse Project Leadership appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Toasting Maryland Million Winners In Second Careers: Talk Show Man, Phlash Phelps Compete In Mega-Makeover

Two years after retiring his multiple stakes-winning homebred, veterinarian Dr. Michael J. Harrison continues to find ways to celebrate Talk Show Man.

There are the memories, of course. As a racehorse, the Great Notion gelding won eight races and more than $450,000 in purses from 40 career starts from 2013-19, including stakes victories in the 2014 and 2018 Maryland Million Turf and 2015 Henry S. Clark.

There's also the pride satisfaction of seeing the now 11-year-old Talk Show Man thriving at his second career as an eventer for trainer Lindy Gutman, a one-time client of Harrison. He was one of 23 Maryland-breds to compete in the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Then, there's the beer.

Right around the time Talk Show Man was being retired in the fall of 2019, Harrison's son Justin opened Farmacy Brewing on part of the family's Willowdale Farm in Reisterstown, Md. Many of the craft brews are named for one-time Harrison runners.

Talk Show Man, the beer, is described as a hazy pale ale brewed with fresh ginger and dry-hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops and a 6% ABV.

“His beer is, I think, one of the better ones so I'm very happy with it,” Harrison said. “I told my son when he was making the beer and was going to name it after Talk Show Man that it better be a good beer. We don't want Talk Show Man getting anything that's not a good, popular beer, for sure.”

Talk Show Man, a member of the Retired Racehorse Project's Mega-Makeover Class of 2020, was one of four former Maryland Million participants at last week's event along with Legend's Hope, Parade of Nations and his longtime on-track rival, Phlash Phelps, a fellow two-time winner of the Maryland Million Turf and the state's 2016 male turf champion.

Laurel Park will host the 36th annual Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' and the second-biggest day on the state's racing calendar behind the mid-May Preakness Stakes (G1), Saturday, Oct. 23.

Ironically, it was the beer that helped lead Talk Show Man to his new career. Harrison was approached one day by Gutman and her husband, Adam, horsemen and Farmacy Brewing regulars, asking about his plans for the gelding, who stands 16-2 hands.

“They come to the brewery fairly often,” Harrison said. “When the brewery first got opened, Lindy and Adam enjoyed it. She was my client at the time and she knew Talk Show Man had been retired. Lindy approached me and said [she] would really love to get him for the Makeover program. I said let me think about it, and I did, and she's done a great job.”

In addition to Talk Show Man, the horse, the Gutmans also brought his namesake beverage to Kentucky.

“The beer that my son puts out goes through cycles. There was no Talk Show Man for a couple of months,” Harrison said. “He just brewed another big batch and he sent some down with Adam at Adam's request to take down to Kentucky with him so that they could have some of this beer with them.”

Talk Show Man competed in the Show Hunter and Field Hunter classes. Harrison is proud of the way his most successful Thoroughbred has continued to thrive beyond racing.

“It's great. It's a testament to the care that he got from his trainer, Ham Smith, and the veterinary care [of] Dr. John Sivic,” Harrison said. “Those guys have all done exactly what is best for him to keep him together and keep him so that he's been able to continue on and have an alternative career.

“From what I've heard from Lindy and how he's behaved, he's always game for a challenge or competition. He gets excited, and he tries incredibly hard,” he added. “That's pretty clear to anybody that's worked with him. The horse has tremendous heart.”

Harrison, who continues to own Talk Show Man, has been impressed with the bond that has developed between the horse and his new trainer.

“She's discovered some of the warmer side of him and things he likes, where he likes to be scratched and that sort of thing,” he said. “It's tremendously rewarding to see her go on with this. I know that she has said that the impact that he has made on her, as a person and even moreso as a rider, has been huge. That's really pretty nice.”

Sabrina Morris has a similar connection with Phlash Phelps, though it goes back several years to when she galloped horses for trainer Rodney Jenkins at Laurel. Bred in Maryland by Carol Kaye and owned by Ellen Charles' Hillwood Stable, Phlash Phelps raced 24 times from 2013-19 with seven wins and $434,801 in purse earnings.

Named for Gordon 'Phlash' Phelps, the Towson, Md. native and popular host of a Washington, D.C.-based morning drive-time program on SiriusXM satellite radio, the now 10-year-old gelding – also by Great Notion – was retired the month before Talk Show Man and given to Morris.

“It's been a pretty normal [transition] I would say for any racehorse coming off the track. I've been doing this for a long time as far as bringing horses and restarting them into new careers,” Morris said. “He came off the track August [2019] so he just kind of hung out until January of last year. I rode him a couple times. I had surgery on my ankle so I had some of my students ride him and we started teaching him to jump.”

Phlash Phelps competes in the Dressage and Show Jumper classes. As a racehorse, he needed six tries to break his maiden late in his 3-year-old season before going on a four-race win streak including the 2015 Find and Maryland Million Turf.

Morris said Phlash Phelps' second career is off to a similar start. He is a member of the Mega-Makeover Class of 2020.

“It's the same way he was as a racehorse. There was definitely a period of time at the beginning of his career where he had a ton of ability, and when the time came for him to be able to push through and have the confidence to know that ability was still going to be there, he would back out,” Morris said. “It doesn't surprise me that it's taken him a little bit to start to come around and start to come into his own.

“I'd say he hasn't finished learning exactly what his job is yet. That doesn't surprise me at all. He's very intelligent. He thinks a lot, and some of that is to his detriment. A horse that would not analyze everything so much would be like, 'Ok, if this is what you want, this is what I'm gonna do,'” she added. “I know him and I've been working with him and riding him for so long. I know he just needs the time and to be given the room to understand and then he's like, 'Ok, cool. No problem.'”

Morris continues to follow the blueprint of Charles and Jenkins, whose patience when Phlash Phelps was young and still figuring things out allowed him to develop and be successful on the track.

“If you look back at his career as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old [when] he didn't break his maiden. What would have happened if he had different connections and they stopped on him then?” Morris said. “He would have still had the potential to go on to a second career and do really well because he's an athlete, and he's intelligent, but he was able to prove his worth as a racehorse because he had connections that were patient with him.

“He's a natural athlete and is bred to jump. It's not that he didn't want to do it, he needed to really, really understand it in order to feel confident,” she added. “He likes to have a job. He likes to have interaction with people. He likes to feel important. He likes the mental stimulation of learning new stuff and doing new stuff, even if sometimes he doesn't act like it.”

Knowing the bond they established during his racing days, Morris was the first call Jenkins made when the time came to retire Phlash Phelps, who stands 17-2 hands. The offer was immediately, and enthusiastically, accepted.

“I was very happy to be able to have the opportunity to bring him home,” Morris said. “He knows where I am at all times on our farm. If he's outside in the field and I'm on another horse where I'm doing something, I'll look up and he's stalking me. Some of my girls and other people that are around kind of chuckle and say, 'You're his human.'

“We're just kind of two peas in a pod. We are both kind of ridiculous and over the top sometimes, but his nonsense doesn't bother me and he and I can interact,” she added. “We're kind of like an old married couple at this point. That's how I feel. We kind of bicker at each other but at the end of the day we actually get along very, very well.”

Parade of Nations is a member of the Mega-Makeover Class of 2021 and competes in Dressage and Competitive Trail for owner Beverly Strauss and the MidAtlantic Horse Rescue team. Bred in Maryland by John Williamson III, the 7-year-old Cal Nation gelding won 11 of 40 starts and nearly $280,000 in purse earnings and ran in the Maryland Million in 2019.

Legend's Hope is a member of the Mega-Makeover Class of 2020 and competes in Eventing and Show Jumpers for owner Barbara Honeffer and trainer Jazz Napravnik. Bred in Maryland by Two Legends Farm and David Wade and also a six-figure earning on the track, the 8-year-old Not For Love gelding ran in the Maryland Million Classic three consecutive years from 2017-19, his best finish a sixth in 2018.

The post Toasting Maryland Million Winners In Second Careers: Talk Show Man, Phlash Phelps Compete In Mega-Makeover appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post