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With reproduction student Angela Peterson

A Formidable ladies man

With windswept bangs that fall as though artfully arranged to set off his deep- brown eyes to their best advantage, the ruggedly handsome face of Three Chimneys’ stallion Formidable will undoubtedly charm many mares and riders in his lifetime. Already, the good-looking brother of Mad for Smarty, is making the ladies, both horse and human, swoon. “The first time we saw his picture, a bunch of us had the same reaction: we looked at him and said, ‘Oh my God! That’s a good-looking horse!’ ” says University of Minnesota equine lab services coordinator Andrea Reed. “It’s not everyday that somebody […]

Paquette and Old Friends' Michael Blowen

Clubhouse: Paquette talks ponies, her dream job

If you’ve ever been to Suffolk Downs, chances are you’ve seen Jessica Paquette. She’s the vibrant young woman with the microphone in one hand and racing stats in the other. And all the while, Tweeting away with updates on races and horses. In this week’s Reader’s Clubhouse, Paquette answers questions about her job with the ponies. Q: You wear many hats at Suffolk Downs, as track handicapper, publicist, and even president of New England Turf Writer’s Association. Do you ever have a dull day at the office? Never! That is the best part of my job. Every racing day holds […]

Year One—figuring it all out

Seasoned campaigner offers respite from grief

Four years had passed since Amy Smith’s mother died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 56. As she faced the prospect of spending Christmas alone in her Washington, D.C. apartment, the thought occurred to her that were her mother alive, she would tell her to use her inheritance to embrace life and make herself happy. “This was when I decided I was ready to buy a horse,” Smith says. “So, the morning after Christmas, I got up at 6 a.m., had a cup of coffee and went to look” at seasoned campaigner Silent Thunder who was stabled at Penn National. Before […]