Hopefully Mine has been identified by Jockey Club DNA testing as Affirmed granddaughter Crowning Glory. She is pictured meeting her new owner, Susie Martell, at the South Florida SPCA last June.
A severely emaciated mare seized last June in a sweep by the South Florida SPCA and Miami-Dade Police Department was officially identified through Jockey Club DNA testing last week as Affirmed’s granddaughter, Crowning Glory.
The descendant of the last horse to win the Triple Crown, whose identity had been a mystery up until now, raced 13 times and went on to produce five foals in near succession. Her first foal, Cardiac Output, now a beautiful mare, was discovered starving alongside her mother on the day the police and SPCA swooped in on a property in South Florida.
Crowning Glory
New name: Hopefully Mine
Sire: Caller I.D.
Dam: Crown and Sceptre, by Affirmed
Foal date: March 5, 1996Police arrested property owner Nivardo Beaton and initially charged him with cruelty to animals, a civil offense. However, criminal charges have also been brought against Beaton, according to Laurie Waggoner, farm manager for the South Florida SPCA.
Bad enough that horses were found in such atrocious condition—a veterinarian rated the herd at between a 1 and 2 on the Henneke Horse Body Score System— but it is even more appalling that a direct descendent to one of racing’s greatest horses should come close to starving to death alongside her first foal, says Susie Martell, an SPCA volunteer who adopted Affirmed’s granddaughter and named her Hopefully Mine.
Martell showers Hope with loving care, promising that the 20-year-old rescue will live out her best days with her.
“When I got the call from Kentucky and learned who she was, and then saw that Affirmed was her grandfather, I said, ‘You have got to be kidding me!’ While I was thrilled to know she had such very good breeding—no wonder she was special, her granddaddy won the last Triple Crown—I don’t understand how this could happen. She was literally starving to death.”
Martell made a connection with the mare right from the beginning, when the skin-and-bones animal walked over to her one day and rested her head against Martell’s chest. After that, the sunburned Thoroughbred made a beeline for Martell every time the elementary school teacher came to the SPCA farm to volunteer.
Shortly after the mare was declared to be on the mend, Martell adopted her. For seven months, the new horse owner had wondered about her mare’s past. Who was she? What was her lineage? Had she ever raced before? Answers finally came when Martell’s friends purchased a DNA kit from the Jockey Club for Martell’s birthday.
Cardiac Output was Hope’s first foal, and remains unadopted and available at the South Florida SPCA.
Following instructions in the kit, she pulled hair with intact hair follicles from the mare’s mane, neatly affixed them to a special card, and mailed them off to the Jockey Club lab. She also took pictures of her beautiful mare, who has only one small spot of white and a crescent on her forehead.
It took only a few days for the identification to be made. And now that she has the story behind the story, Martell is more determined than ever to make sure the remaining years of this horse’s life are her happiest.
The 20-year-old mare, who Martell guessed to be around 11, is being lightly training in hunt seat.
Martell’s goal is to show her beautiful Thoroughbred in walk/trot classes this summer, and show the world what a sweet horse was plucked from starvation conditions one day last summer. “She’s such an amazing horse,” Martell says. “It’s just outrageous what happened to her.”
—Originally published on March 30, 2015.
Please see related stories about the seizure of starving Thoroughbreds in South Florida:
* http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2014/06/03/6-starving-t-bred-mares-saved-in-fla-sweep/
* http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2014/08/15/a-2nd-chance-for-rescued-mare-new-owner/
Meant that angel and Hope we’re rescued together????
In regards to Hope( Crowning Glory’s) daughter Cardiac Output… We did not find out she and Hope we’re related until after the DNA test. After finding out she had 5 foals, I began tracking them down and found out throught the SPCA that the horse I knew as Angel that was adopted with Hope was her firstborn. Have no idea how they ended up together. I could not even close to afford Hope and her rehab about did me in. As much as I would love to adopt her 12 yr old daughter, I just can’t afford it????
Thank-you again everyone for your interest in the story of Hopefully Mine and myself. Thanks for repostiing this Susan Salk. Here are some updates: Hope is an amazing horse who after almost a full year of rehab looks absolutely amazing and is the picture of health and happiness. She is very kind, loving and a joy to ride. Our bond is stronger than ever and I just am totally in love with her. At the time of her DNA test , Affirmed was still the reigning Triple Crown Champ. That has since changed but none of that does now or ever has truly mattered in terms of seeing Hope for the regal beauty she is. Her story was a sad one like so many others. I knew she was special to the minute I laid eyes on her and was disgusted that any horses would be left to starve like that. Finding out her pedigree was special and great to know, but NO horse deserves to be mistreated and left to starve. I am just happy that she and I found each other. Her daughter is still at the SFSPCA and is gorgeous!! I watched her be ridden last weekend and she was amazing just like her mom. My heart so hopes that she finds a home soon. Thanks for asking about her. I will try to send a recent pic of Cardiac Output. She is known as Angel at the ranch.
Any news about the whereabouts and condition of the foal/daughter of Crowning Glory/Hopefully Mine?
My error in not realizing Cardiac Output is a mare and acknowledging her mother, Crowning Glory’s new name, Hopefully Mine “Hope”.
“Hope” and prayers her girl is adopted into a beautiful and loving home.
Surprised the new owner of Crowning Glory did not adopt her foal Cardiac Output. Surprised to see him even available for adoption. Makes me sad that mom and son will not be living their days out together. My prayers for Cardiac Output to land safely and loved.
wonderful story in uk since 1999 all are chipped which is recorded in passport wonderful end
Since this was posted several months ago, do we know if Hope’s daughter has been adopted yet? Surely someone will want a lovely mare like that with such a wonderful story behind her.
FYI, we had a triple crown winner this year so she is a descendant of the second to last TC winner. Thanks for giving her a soft spot to land regardless.
End of story notes that it was originally published in March At the time it was published Affirmed was last TC winner
If you look at pedigrees of any TB they all are related to someone famous somewhere in the paperwork
Doesn’t matter who the mare was related to though she didn’t deserve the treatment she received prior to rescue Glad she is doing well Hope for the same for her rescued at same time daughter
Laurie…just an FYI, Susan originally posted this before this year’s Triple Crown so, at the time, her info was accurate.