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Rood & Riddle names TB sport horse of the year

By on September 19, 2016

Sound Prospect was named this year's Thoroughbred sport horse of the year.

Sound Prospect was named this year’s Thoroughbred sport horse of the year. EquiSport Photos

The winner of the 2015 Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award was announced at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (TOBA) Annual Awards Dinner held on Sept. 10 at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington.

The winner, Sound Prospect, also known as “Sounder,” was named a divisional winner in the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards earlier this year. These awards recognize Thoroughbreds who have excelled in second careers as performance horses in dressage, eventing, hunter, and jumper competitions throughout the year.

Competitors earn points toward the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse Awards at USEF-sanctioned events during the show season, and the open divisional awards go to the highest point earners. Rookie awards in each division ensure that newcomers are recognized as well. A Horse of the Year is chosen from the open winners by a panel of celebrity horsemen.

“Rood & Riddle is very pleased to present awards that highlight the beauty, athleticism and brilliance of Thoroughbreds competing in second careers as sport horses. It is especially gratifying to present the 2015 Horse of the Year Award to Sound Prospect, who is owned in part by a fellow veterinarian, Dr. Andy Clark and his wife, Kathleen Sullivan,” said Tom Riddle, DVM co-founder of Rood & Riddle.

Sounder is a 14-year-old gelding by Eastern Echo out of Miners Girl, and was bred in Kentucky by Bradyleigh Farms. Before transitioning to eventing, Sound Prospect competed in thirteen races. After his career on the track, Sounder was purchased and is trained by Alexandra Knowles. Sound Prospect is owned by Sound Prospect, LLC, a syndicate which includes Christie Campbell, Andrew Clark, Jeanne Gauchat, Knowles, James and Katherine O’Brien, Kathleen Sullivan, and Emily Wygod.

Excelling in his second career as an eventer, in 2015 Sounder competed in five three-star contests, finishing in the top 10 in four of those. He recently finished 16th out of 72 in the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Rood & Riddle hopes these awards, created in 2010, draw attention to the exciting possibilities of second careers for Thoroughbreds following their race career. Previous winners of the Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award include Mensa G, Sea Walker, Houdini, and Courageous Comet.

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Death-farm horse heals the hurt of an inmate

By on September 16, 2016

A year after his rescue from Peaceable Farms in Orange, Va., Ollie has blossomed at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Photo by Officer Shane Clarke

A year after his rescue from Peaceable Farms in Orange, Va., Ollie has blossomed at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Photo by Officer Shane Clarke

About a year after Ollie (JC: Oligopolist) was pulled off a Virginia farm with 80 other endangered and starving equines, the chestnut Thoroughbred ex-racehorse whose future was so uncertain then now brings comfort to a prisoner who relates to the animal’s struggle and triumph.

“He’s been through a lot,” says James River Work Center inmate William (last name withheld), an avid participant in a horse/inmate program offered by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF, Inc.). “He had a hard life; he got the wrong end of the stick, but he turned out to be an awesome horse.”

Oligopolist
Sire: Mutakddim
Dam: Corporate Takeover, by Corporate Report
Foal date: March 24, 2003
Earnings: $110,182, 43 startsSo inspirational is the friendly OTTB who has blossomed into the “prettiest horse we have,” and who shares a tight bond with the inmate, that the simple routines, a head lifted and turned to acknowledge the prisoner’s presence in his paddock, and a gentle nuzzle, is a bright spot giving William hope for better days when his prison term ends this January.

“I’ve never had anything like him in my life,” says William, who notes that the quite moments together have made prison life far better. “He’s like a reward.”

When he walks out to the field to retrieve the horse, William sees the horse Ollie has become: well rounded, shiny and happy. A horse who is a far cry from the ribby, dusty animal seized by authorities last October from Peaceable Farms in Orange, Va.

William, an inmate participating in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Second Chances program for horses and inmates has found comfort working with Ollie. Photo by Officer Shane Clarke

William, an inmate participating in the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program for horses and inmates, has found comfort working with Ollie. Photo by Officer Shane Clarke

In one of the largest animal rescues in the history of the area, the Orange County Sheriff led a massive effort to save sick, dying and malnourished horses from the nonprofit charity farm. Horse farms, charities, and good Samaritans converged on the property with trailers to remove dozens upon dozens of equines. And as charges were brought against the farm’s owner Anne Goland, who was brought up on 27 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty, Ollie and fellow OTTB To Clem made their way from a foster facility to the TRF last December.

James River TRF founder Anne Tucker said at the time that finding room at the TRF for two more needy horses was “the right thing to do.” Though the country’s oldest and largest Thoroughbred charity cares for nearly 900 horses in farms throughout the country, Ollie and To Clem were special cases who deserved a helping hand, Tucker said at the time.

Since arriving last December, Ollie has filled out and is being trained as a riding horse, says Officer Shane Clarke. And in his quiet way, Ollie has inspired inmates like William with his quiet, friendly manner, and his perseverance in troubled times.

Previous articles on Ollie and the Peaceable Farms raid:

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/12/18/2-peaceable-farms-tbreds-find-home-at-trf/

http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2015/11/09/80-horses-rescued-from-va-death-farm/

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2013 pre-Derby favorite retired with famous help

By on September 15, 2016

Six weeks after his retirement, War Academy and his new owner Liz Gamble Mras enjoy a ride.

Six weeks after his retirement, War Academy and his new owner Liz Gamble Mras enjoy a ride.

A 2013 pre-Derby favorite, who sold as a yearling for over $400,000, was claimed and retired this summer in an all-out effort backed by Triple Crown winning trainer Bob Baffert and famous trainer Larry Jones.

Baffert wrote a check immediately upon learning his former racehorse War Academy, a stunning mount whose own Kentucky Derby bid was derailed, was now running in a $4,000 claimer.

According to Thoroughbred advocate Dreux Flaherty of Texas, Baffert only needed to hear her words, “I’m calling about War Academy,” before he quickly asked, “Where is he?” And then followed up with the pledge to offer financial assistance to an online, social media effort to retire the horse.

War Academy
Sire: Giant’s Causeway
Dam: Cabbage Key, by A.P. Indy
Foal date: Feb. 12, 2010
Earnings: $192,000 in 16 startsSays Flaherty, “The whole thing was incredible. Somehow I got the barn number for Bob Baffert and he personally picked up the phone. I told him War Academy was in a $4,000 claimer at Delaware Park, and we need to retire him.”

A few days later, a check from Baffert arrived in the mail to cover a significant portion of claiming costs.

Once Flaherty and a contingency of other War Academy fans heard this news, including Lois Brooks, who lives on a fixed income but donated $1,000 to the cause, the quest to get the horse retired got legs.

And according to Flaherty, the final piece fell into place when none other than famous horseman Larry Jones, trainer of Hard Spun, Eight Belles, and Proud Spell, agreed to claim the horse.

War Academy was claimed by famous trainer Larry Jones at Delaware Park, who snapped this photo before personally seeing to it that the gorgeous gelding loaded onto the trailer.

War Academy was claimed by famous trainer Larry Jones at Delaware Park. He snapped this photo before personally seeing to it that the gorgeous gelding loaded onto the trailer.

“My friend and trainer Diane Moirci got me the number for Larry Jones. She promised me if he couldn’t do it, she’d drive up and claim him herself. So I called Larry, explained that I was a friend of Diane’s, and I was kind of nervous, so I just kind of blurted out that I was a fan of Hard Spun. He was great. He said he was a fan of Hard Spun too, but what did I need. After I told him War Academy’s story, he said he’d go ahead and claim the horse for us.”

On the day of the race, July 28, there was now a growing group of War Academy fans sitting on pins and needles, says Flaherty, noting that many had given time and money to see this deed done.

“When the day of the race came, there was a huge storm coming in, and I received a text from Larry warning me that racing could be canceled for the day,” Flaherty says. She and her friends and supporters all watched the races unfold on their computers that day, with clouds threatening, and the air electric with the approaching storm. Then, the gate swung open in Race 3, and out barreled War Academy.

The dappled dark bay got the lead early and blazed across the finish line, winning by a neck. After his picture was taken in the winner’s circle, Jones immediately claimed him. “Larry Jones personally walked him to the trailer, and then sent me photos,” says Flaherty, who notes that immediately afterwards, the skies opened up with a hail-driven storm that canceled racing for the rest of the day.

Gamble-Mras plans to retrain War Academy to compete in OTTB shows.

Gamble-Mras plans to retrain War Academy to compete in OTTB shows.

And more than one person said later that day that fate had dealt a good hand to War Academy in the end.

After he was claimed and brought to Machmer Hall Farm in Kentucky, the majestic racehorse was spotted by equestrian Liz Gamble Mras, who happened to be visiting the farm, and adopted him on the spot. The Virginia rider, who fell in love with him on sight, saddled him up six weeks after his last race and told Flaherty after he carried her around like he’d been a pleasure horse all his life.

“It was just incredible how all of this came together. We started off not having enough money to get War Academy claimed, but then we had all these famous people, Bob Baffert and Larry Jones, helping us,” she says. “These people never met me, but they trusted me. All they wanted to know was how they could help this horse.”

— War Academy’s retirement effort was greatly helped by Baffert, Jones, Liz Gamble Mras, Carrie Willwerth Brogden, Lois Brooks, John Cosentino, Lisa Salmon and Caroline Cooper. * This blog is brought to you by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF, Inc.).

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