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Breeders’ Cup Week Available Tours

Posted on October 5, 2022 - 1:14 pm by

The best Thoroughbreds, jockeys, owners and trainers are descending on Keeneland Racecourse this fall for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships! The event is set to take place on Nov. 4 & 5 with 14 championship races, the ultimate year-end event for Thoroughbred Horse Racing.

We are so excited to celebrate the world championships of Thoroughbred horse racing with a week packed-full of experiences at some of the best breeding, training and racing operations in the world.

Tours are available at over a dozen locations throughout Horse Country during Breeders’ Cup Week! Public and private tours are available, including unique experiences exclusive to Breeders’ Cup Week 2022. These tours are going fast, and we recommend purchasing your tickets soon if you are interested in visiting!

See past champions and meet the next generation of racehorses during the week that celebrates the breeding and racing industry. Please note that all unique experiences, those tours with ‘Breeders’ Cup’ in the name, are fully non-refundable.

Current public tour availability is listed below, and is subject to change. Availability as of Oct. 5, 2022.

Blackwood Stables

Denali Stud

Godolphin at Jonabell Farm

Hallway Feeds

Keeneland

Lane’s End Farm

Mill Ridge Farm

New Vocations

Runnymede Farm

Spendthrift Farm

Three Chimneys Farm

WinStar Farm

Private tours are also available for request at Darby Dan Farm, Mill Ridge Farm, New Vocations, Runnymede Farm and WinStar Farm.

Click here for a listing of all tours available during Breeders’ Cup Week 2022. 

Looking for more information on things to do in Lexington during Breeders’ Cup week? Visit the Breeders’ Cup festival website for more details. 

Be sure to check out the Breeders’ Cup website for more information on tickets, the races and past champions. 

Keeneland Fall Meet Preview

Posted on October 5, 2022 - 12:16 pm by

The Keeneland fall meet gets started this Friday, October 7th in Lexington, Kentucky! The fall meet runs from Oct. 7 to Oct. 29th, leading up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, being held the first weekend of November. Racing is held each week on Wednesdays – Sundays. Tickets must be purchased prior to arriving at the track, and they can be found here. 

Keeneland’s fall meet is known as one of the most prestigious race meets in North America, and this year is shaping up to be no exception. The fall stakes schedule includes 22 stakes races and nine Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races. 

We’re proud to offer tours throughout the Keeneland meet (and the rest of the year!), which can be found by clicking here. During the fall meet, Horse Country is offering five different experiences at Keeneland, including the Road to the Breeders’ Cup Experience – which is a unique, behind the scenes look at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships from the perspective of the host track. 


Be sure to tune into the races – or even better, join in the fun at the track! The stakes schedule can be found below. While you’re in town for the races, be sure to check out our Horse Country Itineraries, including the Guide to Fall in Horse Country. 

Need to brush up on your racing terminology? Check out Keeneland’s glossary of racing terms here.

Friday, Oct. 7 

  • G1 Darley Alcibiades 
    • $500,000 purse for two year old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
  • G2 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine 
    • $350,000 purse for two year old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
  • G2 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix
    • $350,000 purse for three year olds and up, run at 6 furlongs on the dirt. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Saturday, Oct. 8 

  • G1 Coolmore Turf Mile 
    • $1 million purse for three year olds and up, run at one mile on the turf. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
  • G1 First Lady 
    • $750,000 purse for fillies and mares, three year olds and up, run at one mile on the turf. 
  • G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity 
    • $600,000 purse for two year olds, run at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
  • G2 Thoroughbred Club of America
    • $350,000 purse for fillies and mares, three year olds and up, run at 6 furlongs on the dirt. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. 
  • G2 Woodford
    • $350,000 purse for three year olds and up, run at 5.5 furlongs on the turf. 

Sunday, Oct. 9 

  • G1 Juddmonte Spinster
    • $600,000 purse for fillies and mares, three year olds and up, run at 9 furlongs on the dirt. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
  • G2 Castle & Key Bourbon
    • $350,000 purse for two year olds, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
  • Indian Summer 
    • $250,000 purse for two year olds, run at 5.5 furlongs on the turf. 
    • ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifying race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. 

Friday, Oct. 14

  • G3 Sycamore
    • $300,000 purse for three year olds and up, run at 1 ½ miles on the turf. 

Saturday, Oct. 15

  • G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
    • $600,000 purse for three year old fillies, run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. 

Sunday, Oct. 16

  • G3 Franklin
    • $300,000 purse for fillies and mares, three years old and up, run at 5.5 furlongs on the turf. 

Saturday, Oct. 22

  • G2 Lexus Raven Run 
    • $350,000 purse for three year old fillies, run at 7 furlongs on the dirt. 
  • Perryville
    • $350,000 purse for three year olds, run at 7 furlongs on the dirt. 

Sunday, Oct. 23

  • G3 Rood & Riddle Dowager
    • $300,000 purse for fillies and mares, three year olds and up, run at 1 ½ miles on the turf.  

Friday, Oct. 28

  • G3 Rubicon Valley View
    • $300,000 purse for three year old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 
  • Myrtlewood
    • $200,000 purse for two year old fillies, run at 6 furlongs. 

Saturday, Oct. 29

  • G2 Hagyard Fayette
    • $350,000 purse for three year olds and up, run at 9 furlongs on the dirt.
  • G3 Bryan Station
    • $300,000 purse for three year olds, run at 1 mile on the turf.
  • Bowman Mill
    • $200,000 purse for two year olds, run at 6 furlongs on the dirt.

Fall Guide to Horse Country

Posted on October 5, 2022 - 12:07 pm by

Fall is the perfect time to experience the best that the Bluegrass has to offer! Check out our Guide to Fall in Horse Country for suggestions on some of our must-see activities in Central Kentucky during the autumn months.

  • Visit a horse farm
    • Come enjoy the crisp fall air and brightly colored leaves on a tour of one of Kentucky’s famed horse farms! Our tour experiences are a great way for fans of all interest and experience levels to get a behind the scenes look at why Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World. Depending on your tour choice, you might pet and/or feed horses, learn about the training process, see Kentucky Derby winning stallions and more. 
    • A number of farms and facilities are offering tours during the fall, including stallion and nursery farms, aftercare facilities, training operations and other equine care facilities. For the most up-to-date availability, please click here and utilize the filters located in the left hand corner. 
  • Go racing at Keeneland
    • Keeneland Racecourse is home to two of the most prestigious race meets in the world, along with a prominent Thoroughbred auction house. The Keeneland fall meet kicks off on Friday, October 7th and runs through October 29th. Races are hosted during the week from Wednesday – Sunday, gates open at 11 am and post time is 1:05 pm.  Head out to the races to see elite Thoroughbreds, place a few win bets and be sure to try some Keeneland Bread Pudding! Tickets are required for race days, and can be purchased here. Looking for a unique raceday experience? Be sure to check out the Keeneland Owners Experience. 
    • Along with its fall meet, Keeneland is hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on November 4th and 5th. The Breeders’ Cup brings together the best of the best Thoroughbred racehorses in 13 championship races. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
  • Watch Thoroughbreds train at Keeneland
    • Every day, horses take to the track at Keeneland to exercise. Visitors may see horses jogging, galloping or breezing on the main track as they work on their fitness prior to their next race. Keeneland morning workouts are open to the general public, but are made even more special with a tour! Get a behind the scenes look at Keeneland on one of their tours, including the Morning Works Tour, Backstretch Tour and Road to the Breeders’ Cup tour. 
    • We recommend stopping by the track kitchen after workouts for a hearty breakfast – you can’t go wrong with the baked apples! 
  • Enjoy the day at an orchard or pumpkin patch 
    • Central Kentucky is home to a number of agri-tourism locations that provide a great opportunity to pick your own apples, pumpkins and other fall favorites! Sip on some cider, enjoy a delicious baked good and pick the perfect jack-o-lantern at one of the many orchards in the area. 
    • Some of our local favorites include: Evans Orchard (Georgetown), Eckert’s Orchard (Versailles) and Stepping Stone Farm (Paris). 
  • Experience the fall scenery on a hike 
    • Fall is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors here in the Bluegrass! Raven Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington is home to 700+ acres of natural scenery, not too far from downtown Lexington. There are ten miles of trails at the park, and it is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and see views of the Kentucky River Palisades area. Just an hour away in Slade sits the Red River Gorge, a world-renowned natural landscape with hiking trails and gorgeous scenery. The area has views of arches, rock shelters and more ancient Kentucky landscapes, and we recommend taking a hike and visiting Natural Bridge State Park!

The Week Ahead in Horse Country

Posted on September 19, 2022 - 2:53 pm by

From tours to events – there’s always something to do in Horse Country! Check out the available tours, as well as events and things to do in the area, for the week of Sept. 20 – Sept. 25. 

Upcoming Public Tours: 

Horse Country Member Events: 

Keeneland September Yearling Sale | Lexington: the world’s largest yearling sale continues through Saturday, September 24th. The Keeneland Sales Pavilion is open to the public – just make sure you don’t wave or scratch your nose in the auction ring, or you might bid on a Thoroughbred yearling! 

The sale begins at 10 a.m. each day, and more information can be found here. 

Bluegrass, Brunch and Bubbles | Lexington: join the Secretariat Center for their annual charity brunch and silent auction this Saturday, September 24. This event pairs adoptable Thoroughbreds with a classic brunch & silent auction – all benefitting the Secretariat Center’s work to reschool and rehome retired racehorses. 

Purchase tickets and learn more here. 

Chestnut Hall Afternoon Tea | Prospect (near Louisville): Support the herd at TRF at Chestnut Hall and enjoy the timeless ritual of afternoon tea, served in China with a delicious selection of scones, tea sandwiches and a sumptuous display of sweets.

Purchase tickets and learn more here.

 

Things to do: 

Join the Kentucky Equine Education Project for a night of polo at Commonwealth Polo Club this Friday, September 23. This event will feature a VIP sponsor and viewing area, food trucks, a beer garden, educational kids activities, and meet and greet with the players and their polo ponies.

Learn more and purchase tickets here. 

Go racing at Churchill Downs in Louisville! The home of the Kentucky Derby is currently hosting their Fall race meet, with races each Thursday – Sunday through Oct. 2. This Saturday, four stakes are on the card, including the G3 Dogwood Stakes.

View the Fall meet race schedule and purchase tickets here. 

Bourbon tours are a great way to become well-versed about Kentucky’s native spirit and the history of this signature Kentucky industry. Whether you are a bourbon aficionado or a newbie who wants to learn more, these tours have a little something for everyone, and are located across the Commonwealth! 

Learn more about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and book your tour here. 

Keeneland September Yearling Sale Begins

Posted on September 12, 2022 - 11:19 am by

Today kicks off the Keeneland September Yearling Sale – one of the most prestigious sales events in the Thoroughbred industry! Over 4,000 Thoroughbred yearlings are cataloged for the sale, which runs from Sept. 12 – 24. 

The Keeneland September Yearling Sale is an annual event that brings some of the biggest names in Thoroughbred breeding and racing from all around the world to Central Kentucky. Sales are the culmination of many years of work, from choosing a sire and dam, to breeding, raising and preparing the horse from the foaling barn to the sales ring. 

The sale is broken down into six ‘books’, or catalogs, which are separated by sale date and perceived value. Book 1 horses are typically those that are seen as premium sales prospects, and each subsequent book includes horses more suited for lower budgets. 

A number of factors go into appraising horses, including their pedigree, conformation, athletic ability and more, and the Keeneland sales team travels to farms to see these horses in the months leading up to the auction to assess their possible value. Each horse is then assigned a hip number which corresponds to the approximate date of their sale as well. 

Employees have worked to prepare these horses for the big stage by grooming, exercising and handling them daily for the past few months to ensure their manners and physique are at their best. Horses will arrive at Keeneland a few days prior to their scheduled day in the sales ring to be shown to potential buyers. Buyers will then analyze a horse’s pedigree and physical appearance before bidding. 

When it comes time for a yearling to head to the auction ring, the yearling, their handler, and an additional groom (or more than one!) will head to the ‘back ring’. The back ring gives buyers one last chance to view a horse as they are showcased prior to heading to the auction ring. Horses will be in the ring for just a few minutes at maximum, as they are bid on and hopefully sold. Once a horse is sold, it will head to its new home and prepare for the process of learning to be a racehorse!

A bit overwhelmed with all of the sales terminology? Check out Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale Dictionary, or even better – take a Behind the Sales tour at Keeneland to see the action firsthand! 

The sale can be watched live here, starting at 1 p.m. ET on 9/12. The catalog can be viewed online here. 

A number of Horse Country members are involved in the sale as consignors, breeders, stallion owners and even sales host! We’re wishing the best to all participants, especially our members and the host of the sale, Keeneland.

Racing Recap: Weekend of August 27th

Posted on August 31, 2022 - 11:49 am by

While the summer is coming to a close, that just means that we are headed into the ultra-competitive fall racing season. The road to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is top priority for a number of horses and their connections, and along the way lie a variety of top-level races. 

This past weekend was highlighted by Saratoga Racecourse’s Travers Stakes Day, which included six graded stakes races. Check out some of the #HorseCountryConnections below, and we’d like to send our congratulations to all involved with these horses! 

G1 Travers Stakes – Epicenter

G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes runner-up Epicenter put in his claim for top three year old colt with a definitive victory in the G1 Travers Stakes. Known as the Midsummer Derby, the Travers Stakes bring together some of the best three-year-olds each year. Epicenter is a son of Not This Time, who stands at Taylor Made Farm. 


You can visit Taylor Made Farm, the home of Not This Time and his dam Miss Macy Sue! Click here to book your tour.

G1 Personal Ensign Stakes – Malathaat

Kentucky Oaks (2021) winner and Eclipse Champion Malathaat got back to her winning ways with a victory in the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes. This was the fourth G1 win for the filly, who is out of Stonestreet Farm’s Dreaming of Julia. She was bred by Stonestreet, and consigned by Denali Stud at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $1.05 million. 

You can visit the nursery division of both Stonestreet Farm and Denali Stud for a more in depth look at the process of raising Thoroughbreds and preparing them for the sales. You may even get to pet and feed some mares and foals when you visit!

Click here to visit Stonestreet Farm, and click here to visit Denali Stud . 

G1 Forego Stakes – Cody’s Wish

G1 Forego Stakes – Cody’s Wish, bred, raised and owned by Godolphin. Cody’s Wish is named after Cody Dorman, a racing fan who met the colt and his mother, G1 winner Dance Card, at Gainsborough Farm through the Make a Wish program. The colt notched his first G1 win in the Forego Stakes, defeating champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior. 

You can visit Gainsborough Farm, and have the chance to see his dam Dance Card and his siblings! Book your tour here. 

G1 Allen Jerkens Stakes – Jack Christopher

G1 Allen Jerkens Memorial – Jack Christopher 

Jack Christopher avenged his loss in the G1 Haskell Stakes one start back with a strong victory in the G1 Allen Jerkens Memorial, a top-rated sprint race for three year olds. The colt is a son of Munnings, who stands at Coolmore at Ashford Stud. 


You can visit Coolmore at Ashford Stud, the home of Munnings! Book your tour here.

G2 Pat O’Brien Stakes – Laurel River

On the West Coast, Del Mar racing hosted a great weekend of graded stakes as well. The G2 Pat O’ Brien Stakes went to the four year old colt Laurel River. A son of Spendthrift Farm’s stallion Into Mischief, Laurel River has earned a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile thanks to his win in the Pat O’ Brien Stakes. 

You can visit the Spendthrift Farm stallion complex, home of Into Mischief, on a tour of their farm! Click here to book your tour. 

Be sure to follow along with our #BitbyBitBlog as we follow the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, as well as other big racing events throughout the rest of the year! 

Breeders’ Cup Week Tours

Posted on August 24, 2022 - 10:36 am by

The best Thoroughbreds, jockeys, owners and trainers are descending on Keeneland Racecourse this fall for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships! The event is set to take place on Nov. 4 & 5 with 14 championship races, the ultimate year-end event for Thoroughbred Horse Racing.

We are so excited to celebrate the world championships of Thoroughbred horse racing with a week packed-full of experiences at some of the best breeding, training and racing operations in the world. Stay tuned to our Bit by Bit Blog and social media channels as we follow along with the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series and commemorate the many connections to Breeders’ Cup here in Horse Country. 

Tours are available at over a dozen locations throughout Horse Country during Breeders’ Cup Week! Public and private tours are available, including unique experiences exclusive to Breeders’ Cup Week 2022. See past champions and meet the next generation of racehorses during the week that celebrates the breeding and racing industry. Please note that all unique experiences, those tours with ‘Breeders’ Cup’ in the name, are fully non-refundable.

Click here for a listing of all tours available during Breeders’ Cup Week 2022. 

Looking for more information on things to do in Lexington during Breeders’ Cup week? Visit the Breeders’ Cup festival website for more details. 

Be sure to check out the Breeders’ Cup website for more information on tickets, the races and past champions. 

Weekend Availability: July 15 – 17

Posted on July 14, 2022 - 11:43 am by

There’s almost always something going on in Horse Country – and we would love to have you join one of our many horse farm and facility tours here in the Bluegrass! This list is updated twice a week with a list of public experiences, which are subject to availability. Click the tour name below to check availability and book your tour.

Private experiences are available to be booked on a case by case basis at a number of Horse Country locations. Please click here for a listing of all private experiences.

For questions on availability or assistance in booking your tour, please email info@visithorsecountry.com or call 859-963-1004.

Friday, July 15

TRF at Chestnut Hall | 10 a.m.

Retired thoroughbreds in historic Goshen, KY

Denali Stud | 10 a.m.

A family-owned and operated nursery

Godolphin at Jonabell Farm | 10 a.m.

Home of the Darley Stallions

Gainsborough Farm | 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. 

Shuttle tour featuring mares and foals

Hallway Feeds | 10:30 a.m. & 1:30  p.m.

Visit the feed mill of champions

Mill Ridge Farm | 10:30 a.m..

Mares, foals & stallion Oscar Performance

Runnymede Farm | 10:45 a.m.  

One of Kentucky’s oldest horse farms

Secretariat Center | 11 a.m.  

See thoroughbreds training for second careers

Spendthrift Farm Shuttle Experience | 1 p.m.  

Meet the mares and foals of Spendthrift 

Stonestreet Farm | 1 p.m.

One of the leading thoroughbred nurseries

Kentucky Equine Adoption Center | 1:30 p.m.

Kentucky’s only all-breed horse rescue 

Keeneland Backstretch | 3:30 p.m. 

Visit the stable area and more

Saturday, July 16

Keeneland Morning Workouts | 9 a.m. 

Visit grounds rich in history and tradition

TRF at Chestnut Hall | 10 a.m. 

Retired thoroughbreds in historic Goshen, KY

Gainsborough Farm | 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. 

Shuttle tour featuring mares and foals

Taylor Made Farm | 11 a.m.

See stallions, mares and foals 

Kentucky Equine Adoption Center | 1:30 p.m.

Kentucky’s only all-breed horse rescue

Sunday, July 17

TRF at Chestnut Hall | 10 a.m. 

Retired thoroughbreds in historic Goshen, KY

Gainsborough Farm | 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. 

Shuttle tour featuring mares and foals

Gainsborough Farm | 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. 

Shuttle tour featuring mares and foals

Mill Ridge Farm | 10:30 & 3:30 p.m.

Mares, foals & stallion Oscar Performance

Runnymede Farm | 2 p.m.  

One of Kentucky’s oldest horse farms

Spendthrift Farm | 2:30 p.m. 

Home of Kentucky Derby winner Authentic

Keeneland Backstretch | 3:30 p.m. 

Visit the stable area and more

Fasig-Tipton July kicks off Yearling Sale Season

Posted on July 13, 2022 - 11:38 am by

The Fasig-Tipton July Selected Yearling Sale was held this week in Lexington, and served as the kickoff to the yearling sales season in North America. 

A boutique sale, with around 300 entries in one day, the Fasig-Tipton July Sale featured exciting yearlings by first crop sires along with some of the most popular stallions in the country. Seven Horse Country members had consignments, and ten members had stallions that were represented with yearlings. 

Farms that have consignments at these sales work with the yearlings for months in advance to get them prepared for the sale. Yearling prep, as it is known in the racing industry, involves daily exercise to keep the fitness levels up and build muscle tone, handling the horses to ensure they are easy to work with and grooming to ensure that the horses look great for potential buyers! 

Once horses arrive at the sale grounds, they will be shown to potential buyers who view the horses as they are walking and examine their conformation to determine if they are interested in purchasing the horse. Along with viewing the ‘physical’ of the horse, buyers will analyze their pedigree and the race records of their maternal and paternal families. 

The following Horse Country members offered consignments at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale. 

  • Airdrie Stud – 3 horses sold for a total of $280,000, including a $130,000 colt by Summer Front. 
  • Darby Dan – 4 horses sold for a total of $322,000, including a $160,000 colt by Copper Bullet. 
  • Denali Stud – 4 horses sold for a total of $770,000, including a $320,000 colt by Munnings. 
  • Gainesway Farm – 8 horses sold for a total of $2,035,000, including the sales-topping $600,000 colt by Curlin.
  • Lane’s End Farm – 1 colt by Catholic Boy sold for a total of $10,000. 
  • Mill Ridge Farm – 1 colt by Practical Joke sold for a total of $20,000. 
  • Taylor Made Sales – 26 horses sold for a total of $2,833,000, including a $225,000 colt by Candy Ride. 

The Fasig-Tipton July Sale is the first time that yearlings by a number of new stallions have been available for public offering. These stallions entered stud in 2020, and currently stand at a Horse Country member farm. 

  • Audible (WinStar Farm) – nine yearlings sold for a total of $1,230,000. 
  • Catalina Cruiser (Lane’s End Farm) – five yearlings sold for a total of $385,000. 
  • Copper Bullet (Darby Dan Farm) – three yearlings sold for a total of $288,000. 
  • Enticed (Godolphin at Jonabell) – three yearlings sold for a total of $180,000. 
  • Flameaway (Darby Dan Farm) – five yearlings sold for a total of $427,000
  • Maximus Mischief (Spendthrift Farm) – ten yearlings sold for a total of $700,000
  • Mitole (Spendthrift Farm) – five yearlings sold for a total of $542,000
  • Omaha Beach (Spendthrift Farm) – five yearlings sold for a total of $1,180,000
  • Preservationist (Airdrie Stud) – one yearling sold for a total of $50,000
  • Vino Rosso (Spendthrift Farm) – eleven yearlings sold for a total of $1,490,000

Row one, left to right: Hip 40 – filly by Enticed | Hip 39 – colt by Catalina Cruiser | Hip 59 – colt by Maximus Mischief, consigned by Taylor Made Sales
Row two, left to right: Hip 61 – colt by Audible, consigned by Denali Stud | Hip 46 – colt by Vino Rosso | Hip 87 – filly by Flameaway
Row three, left to right: Hip 11 – filly by Copper Bullet | Hip 70 – filly by Mitole | Hip 98 – colt by Omaha Beach

For more information on Fasig-Tipton, please visit their website.

Real Rider Cup a Success for Thoroughbred Aftercare

Posted on July 11, 2022 - 11:13 am by

Over the weekend, members of the Thoroughbred racing industry competed in The Real Rider Cup at New Vocations in support of Thoroughbred aftercare, including some of our very own Horse Country members!

The Real Rider Cup is a charity competition in which racing industry personalities pair up with retired Thoroughbred racehorses to compete in show jumping class. Their goal is to raise a minimum of $1,000 per rider to directly support the Fair Hill Thoroughbred Show, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and the Retired Racehorse Project. 

The event brings together employees of breeding and racing operations, media professionals, trainers, jockeys, owners and more in support of Thoroughbred aftercare! The Real Rider Cup was first held in 2017, and went virtual for 2021 and 2022. This is the first year that the event will be held in two locations – Kentucky and Maryland. 

Thirty riders competed over the course of jumps, as both individuals and team, in Lexington, Kentucky at New Vocations’ Mereworth Farm. The riders wore silks of their choice – either their employers, sponsors or a connection to their horse on the racetrack! Airdrie Stud, Godolphin, Lane’s End Farm, Stonestreet Farm and WinStar Farm saw their silks donned for the event. 

Airdrie Stud was represented by Jocelyn Brooks, Director of Sales, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute was represented by Mary Sheerin, Marketing Manager, and Hallway Feeds was represented by Kara Knochelmann, Customer Service Specialist. Both Jocelyn and Mary also serve as the Horse Country tour guides for their respective locations!

Jesslyn Woodall, sporting the WinStar Farm silks won the individual division, and Team Blood-Horse (Jesslyn Woodall, John Ennis and Lauren Gash) took home the victory in the team event. 

As of Saturday evening, the Lexington leg of the Real Rider Cup had raised over $90,000 for Thoroughbred aftercare! Congratulations to everyone involved, and we can’t wait to tune in for the Maryland leg later this year. For more information on the Real Rider Cup, please visit their website.

Aidrie Stud’s Jocelyn Brooks aboard Perpetual Optimism, wearing the Airdrie Stud silks.

Hagyard’s Mary Sheerin aboard Turk, wearing the Godolphin silks.

Jesslyn Watson and Lead Player, wearing the WinStar Farm silks.

Larkspur Carroll and Promise Me Freedom, wearing the Lane’s End Farm silks.

Hallway Feed’s Kara Knochelmann and Rolli Coaster, wearing the Michael Ann Ewing Racing Stable silks.

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