Chrome is the New Black: Zodiac Zar, Ken's Kitten, and Secret Santa

California Chrome is poised to make his bid for Triple Crown greatness in less than 48 hours. He may be a trendsetter with his nasal strips, unorthodox trailer exiting strategies, and unique background, but he's not the first blaze-faced chestnut Thoroughbred with an alliterative name to make the news this year. 

Zodiac Zar

Zodiac Zar, whose incredible progress at Days End Farm Horse Rescue following a 2010 neglect case was chronicled on this blog (click here to read), moved to his adoptive home in 2012. He lives on a beautiful private farm with Willow and Classy, two mares also adopted from Days End Farm Horse Rescue.  

Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit and photograph Zodiac. His expression is the same as the day I first met him, but he looks like an entirely different horse in every other way. Muscle fills his powerful frame-- he looks taller every time I see him. Gone is the tired, brittle, patchy coat-- he now glows in the sun with an iridescent sheen. 

Excellent care, a comfortable environment, companionship, and good food have brought out the best in this horse. He is thriving in every way. Success stories like his are the reason why rescues like Days End work so hard to help thousands of horses in need. Days End Farm Horse Rescue's calendar is full of fundraisers, education series, and volunteer opportunities. If you'd like to get involved, please visit the DEFHR website for more information.

Zodiac, May 2014

Zodiac in September 2010

Zodiac in 2014

Zodiac in 2010

Zodiac in 2014

Zodiac with his mare friends, Classy and Williw

Synchronized rolling in the pasture

 Ken's Kitten 

Days End Farm Horse Rescue is not the only organization with a busy schedule. Every time I check the Retired Racehorse Project's Facebook page, I learn about more events, educational resources, and fantastic Thoroughbreds for adoption/sale. On June 7, an hour or so before California Chrome is saddled for the Belmont, the RRP online auction fundraiser begins. Artwork, services, and unique experiences/opportunities will be auctioned on eBay. Trainer Nuno Santos, pictured below on his super-chromey Thoroughbred dressage superstar Ken's Kitten, donated a lesson package, and it's sure to be a hot item. Bidding ends on June 14 at the Thoroughbreds & Wine For All event at Dodon Farm in Davidsonville, Maryland. Click here for tickets.

The excitement continues on Monday, June 9, when ten trainers, horses, and racing connections will be announced for the "America's Most Wanted" contest this October at the RRP Symposium at Pimlico. Already on the roster are MSW Icabad Crane, Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Graham Motion, and Olympian Phillip Dutton. 

 

Secret Santa

On Kentucky Derby day, Secret Santa and Jeffrey Ayers swept all four TAKE2 hunter classes at the Garden State Horse Show. The duo also cleaned up this spring in TAKE2 hunter classes in Culpeper, VA.

Since its formation in 2012, TAKE2 has worked tirelessly to promote the value of retired racehorses in the sport horse world through its hunter and jumper divisions at top horse shows. The Take the Lead program  is a valuable resource for those who are interested in retiring, retraining, rehabbing, placing, or purchasing horses off the track. The TAKE2 Facebook page is a very active showcase of both winners of TAKE2 classes and Take the Lead horses, available through outreach programs such as New Vocations.

 

You're in excellent company, Mr. Chrome. Best of luck on Saturday.

 - Sarah Andrew

And They're Off! $4,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic at the Garden State Horse Show

-Sarah Andrew

The last time I was at the Garden State Horse Show, I was 17 years old and I rode my horse, Alibhai's Alibar, in a little jumper class. We were reserve champions that day, and when the next edition of the Chronicle of the Horse was published, I excitedly flipped to the show results and beamed when I saw our names.

17 years later, I returned to the show, this time on assignment for the TDN. I found myself back in the jumper ring, with a camera in my hands instead of reins. I photographed about 25 Thoroughbreds in the $4,000 Thoroughbred Jumper Classic. You can read my preview of the class at this link: http://thetdnblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/thoroughbreds-on-first-saturday-in-may.html.

This year, the Garden State Horse Show awarded bonuses and hosted Thoroughbred hunter and jumper classes for the first time, through the support of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Industry, New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and the TAKE2 program (an initiative of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the New York Racing Association and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc.).

On Friday, Star Street, a handsome son of Empire Maker who raced under the name Open Space, won the Thoroughbred Hunter Classic. I wasn't able to attend the show on Friday, but this photo by Reflections Photography illustrates exactly how he won the class. His form and style are remarkable, and everyone who saw his round said he embodied the quintessential show hunter.  

©2012 Reflections Photography

 On Saturday, the TAKE2 jump was proudly displayed in the Grand Prix ring, and was the centerpiece for the win photos.

In my preview of the jumper class, I introduced you to Smithwick, aka Hennessy, aka Bob's Big Bunch. The chestnut gelding was expertly piloted by Melissa Monti, but he pulled a rail and did not make it to the jumpoff.

As I watched the jumper class, I heard and saw a few common themes. The horses were quick, game, and eager. Some were a little too eager, and I heard many riders speaking soothingly to their mounts as they careened past, "Eeeeeasy, whoa, eeeeasy..." During the jumpoff, the rounds got faster and the riders handled the courses as accurately as possible, as illustrated in this photo of Jaclyn Loprete and Mostly Mine.

I saw a range of sizes and builds in the jumper class, and these horses came from very different backgrounds. Tug's Lucky Stripe, ridden by Heather Roth, was bred in England, never raced, and was an upper-level three-day event horse and jumper before he was imported to the United States. He competed at Badminton, Rolex, and in various mini prix jumper classes.

  Loquita, racing name Sheza Raisinet, was purchased from the Camelot Auction feedlot in New Jersey, and is now owned and ridden by Wilhelmina "Willie" Horzepa.

Charlene Benson's Jersey Girl (racing name Cat's Flag) was a test mare for breeding after she retired from the track.

West Side Story, ridden by Noelle Bianculli, was an eventer before she started showing him in jumper classes.

Some horses, like Smartenique (ridden by Abby Barrett), showed under their racing names.

Nine horses made it to the jumpoff, including Less Is More, aka Lester, aka Mommie's Luke, who was featured in my preview. Linda McBurney handled the nimble bay with surgical precision, and they finished the class in third place.

Cheer For Me ("Cheers") and Kate Gearhart finished in second, only a fraction of a second behind the winners. Cheer For Me's Jockey Club name is Cheer For You. After he was retired from the track, he was a very successful Young Rider's level eventing horse for a client of Buck Davidson's. According to Kate, "Cheers truly loves the game of horse showing and we are very grateful for the opportunity that the Thoroughbred classes present".

Four's A Charm, aka Jinx (racing name Ruslan), and Kacey Rovere won the class in style, and in addition to the prize money, picked up a beautiful bridle from Five Star Tack.

Four's A Charm (right) and Jamboree (left, racing name El Derechos, seen here with Rebecca Krampen) retired from the track without ever winning a race, but both have more than enough talent to bring home ribbons in the show ring.

The Thoroughbred Jumper Classic was a real treat for spectators, from the nerve-wracking first rounds, to the gritty jumpoff rides, to the proud riders taking a rousing victory gallop after the class had ended. The Thoroughbred classes across the country are growing in popularity. As a rider and a Thoroughbred owner, I was inspired by the class, and I hope to find myself back in the show ring again sometime soon, this time in the saddle and without the camera.