Thoroughbred racing is big business in New York state, and along with it the byproduct question of what to do with horses when the curtain falls on their racetrack careers.
Luckily there are some good people up there looking out for these OTTBs. One of them is Jim Tremper, barn manager at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York. Wallkill is one of nine locations for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s groundbreaking racehorse/prison program Second Chances. It has provided about 500 horses a safe haven after they come off the track, while giving hope and purpose to the inmates who care for them. TRF recently posted an inspiring interview with Tremper — you can check it out here.
Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds is another program doing good work for New York OTTBs. The nonprofit is dedicated to connecting horses at Western New York’s Finger Lakes Race Track who are ready to end their racing careers with good new non-racing homes. Here are three good-looking mares who are available through FLF today:
Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Polly’s Passion (Cosmonaut – Ionika, by Steinlen (GB)) is a 2013 16.0-hand filly.
This young gal has striking curb appeal and is reported to be clean legged and sound. She has an athletic, uphill, balanced build, and since she is only three she will continue to grow and fill out. She is going to be stunning when she if fully mature and remuscled!
She is a lovely mover, very balanced and fluid. FLF got to see her trotting and cantering on the track — see the videos in her ad. Her trainer is also her exercise rider and jockey, and she says she is very nice to ride, smooth and responsive.
Her connections report that she would be an ideal candidate for a one-person home where she can develop a bond with her new owners. She can be playful and territorial in her stall, so she would probably love an environment where she can enjoy turn out.
While she has given it her best, she has just not been able to get a win on the racetrack and her owner is looking to retire her while she is sound. This well-built filly will has unlimited potential as a sport horse, and her pedigree surely has sport horse aptitude in it. Her sire Cosmonaut was a turf stakes winner by Lemon Drop Kid, who is by Kingmambo. Her dam’s sire comes from the Sir Gaylord/Turn-to sire line and the Graustark/Ribot dam sire line.
View Polly’s Passion on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Cool Secret (Northern Spur (IRE) – Secret Notes, by Read the Footnotes) is a 2011 15.3-plus-hand mare.
Cool Secret is a homebred, born and raised on the trainer’s/breeder’s farm in Cheshire, New York. She is relatively lightly raced with only 26 lifetime starts and nine in-the-money finishes. This year she is not performing well enough to be brought back to the races next year and her connections are very interested in her getting a very good new home. S
He is described as sound, quiet, well mannered and an overall good citizen to work with. She also is sired by Northern Spur so has the Sadler’s Wells sport/jumping lines and shows nice movement at the jog. This compact and athletic beauty is a bargain with lots of potential.
View Cool Secret on Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Photo via Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds.
Moonlit Posse (Posse – Locust Moon, by Crusader Sword) is a 2012 16.2-hand mare.
A $60,000 yearling purchase, she is a big, correct, sound filly who is being moved on from racing only because the trainer thinks she won’t rise to the occasion of a second win anytime soon. She did break her maiden in September and did so in a come from behind style, finally getting momentum and using her huge stride to best her rivals.
She is described as sound and FLF observed tight legs without any racetrack jewelry. This young, sound filly is really a blank slate, ready for finishing your way.
