Photo of the Week: Little kids and horses, the joy

St. Augustine, an OTTB who last raced at Suffolk Downs, charms a tiny visitor. Photo by Heather Withington Ward

St. Augustine, a 2006 son of Point Given, tickles the fancy of a little visitor at the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department during a Mother’s Day event on the Plymouth farm last Saturday.

The chestnut gelding, who finished 1st in his last race at Suffolk Downs in 2011, attracted children like a magnet to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) booth. And, when he wasn’t cuddling and accepting snacks from his adoring, pintsized onlookers, he was demonstrating his best moves with fellow OTTB retiree Sonny’s the One.

The pair of Thoroughbreds romped around their paddock, which was situated alongside petting zoo friends, including an alpaca, goats, pigs, and across from a farmer’s market.

Linda Passaretti, director of development for the TRF, and Jennifer Stevens, who directs horse sponsorship programs, spoke with the crowd about racehorses, and the aftercare provided by the TRF.

“The goal of the day was to educate the community about the work of the TRF and the presence of retired racehorses in Plymouth. Because the horses can’t be seen from the road” —their paddocks are tucked away on the private grounds of the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Farm— “this was a first step in making them more visible.”

She adds, “And, if St. Augustine can get adopted, and make someone a future riding horse, this would be the best possible outcome. We would really like to adopt out our horses, like him, who are sound and suitable for future careers.”