Most of the time we write articles when horses have been sold, but occasionally situations arise that cause us to write about horses NOT being sold. We live in an age when social media rules the world and one simple slip that 10 years ago would have been quickly grabbed by a copyeditor can spread like wildfire.
Earlier this afternoon the USEA Tweeted and Facebooked a congratulations to Ballynoe Castle RM, wishing “the best of luck as he starts his new career in Europe with Raf Kooremans.” I’m sure it was a simple enough mistake, clearly a miscommunication, and goodness knows we all make mistakes. The phone calls and emails started pouring in. Lainey Ashker quickly Tweeted “…Reggie has not been sold and is in fact in Buck’s trailer headed to KY with Ty and Libby!” and “Everyone calm down! Ballynoe Castle RM has NOT been sold to the Dutch team. I’m looking at his butt in buck’s trailer right now!“
I called Buck, who was said that he had just spoken to Ballynoe Castle’s owner, Carl Segal. Both Buck and Carl were just as surprised as I was to hear the rumor and Buck affirmed that the horse has definitely not been sold. As Lainey had mentioned, Reggie is on his way to Kentucky with Buck, who is riding Absolute Libertry and Titanium at Rolex. According to Buck, he and Carl still plan for Buck to compete Ballynoe Castle “Reggie” at the Jersey Fresh CCI3* in a few weeks.
While I was talking with Buck, Joanie Morris, who is the USA’s unofficial voice of reason on all things equestrian, Tweeted “…just hung up with Buck Davidson who would like to clarify that BallyNoe Castle has most definitely not been sold.“
I have no idea if there is any merit whatsoever to the rumor of Dutch team rider Raf Kooremans even possibly getting the ride on Reggie, but it is clear that Reggie has not been sold and that Buck is still his rider at this point. Indulging in pure speculation for a moment, even if Reggie was sold to Europe, he couldn’t compete in the Olympics for another country because the deadline for switching nationality due to sale has passed. I’m happy to still have Reggie fighting for the red, white, and blue today. Go Reggie.
Update: Lindsay Berreth writes for the Chronicle that the rumor perhaps started due to the fact that Raf Kooremans’ FEI record does list him as having completed the Fontainebleu CIC* in France on Reggie in 69th place in mid-March, which of course is impossible. Lindsay quotes owner Carl Segal as having good news for all of the Reggie fans out there “He’s a fantastic horse, and we’d never sell him,” he said. “He’ll come and live with us when the time comes to retire him…It’s a total error, I couldn’t tell you what the mechanical reason was, but mistakes happen.” There you have it, case closed. Besides, Reggie would definitely place better than 69th against the Frenchies.
