Letter to the Editor: The Importance of the Retired Racehorse Project

As September arrives every year, we get excited about our homebred yearlings and future purchases that might come along, all for hopefully finding the Derby winner. But October is also something to look forward to with the Retired Racehorse Project, which we have been involved in since 2017. This year is a unique one; our former veterinarian Dr. Brittland Hughes has our homebred Town Of Gold in the Hunter-Jumper and Competitive Trail divisions; Am Prepared, a homebred out of the GI mare Tannery; and In the Loop, a $150,000 Keeneland purchase who won first time out for Colts Neck Stables. As I joined Mr Santulli's operation back in 2014 from my return from Saudi Arabia, I learned the importance of proper re-homing for all of our horses once retired, from monitoring horses we lost in claiming races and talking to connections when their forms are tailing off, inquiring for future re-homing plans, to being a big supporter of Second Call in New Jersey. In all my years at Colts Neck, I think RRP is one of my favorite events to watch, with my former horses growing and developing in new disciplines off the track. This year I am excited to be attending for the first time–both participating in two days of volunteering and obviously cheering on my three old trainees. Horse racing is in a crucial transition with HISA where we are seeing lots of positive stats but the general public should also understand that the reason we get up every day, 365 days a year, is for the love of the horse. Being able to watch these horses compete, whether it's on the track, in the field, or in the ring, is a treat every horse lover should appreciate.
–Jorge Duarte Jr, private trainer, Colts Neck Stables

Every year, there is excitement about the new two-year olds starting training in a racing yard. Who will be the next big stakes horse, Derby contender, Breeders' Cup candidate? But when I saw Town of Gold, aka Townley, I thought, gosh, he could be a really great show horse. With a flashy heart on his head, compact but correct conformation, and a curious but smart mentality, I thought this horse has potential to be an athlete–whether on the track or in the show ring. I loved his name, Town of Gold, which his Colombian trainer Jorge Duarte named after the Colombian mythical gold city 'El Dorado.' I quickly gave him the nickname Townley after my dad's middle name. As a two-year-old, he showed promise as a turf sprinter. Bred out of Speightstown, a multiple graded stakes dirt sire and Spunderful, a Medaglio D'oro turf sprint mare, Town of Gold was a well-bred homebred of Colts Neck Stables. He broke his maiden as a two-year old at Laurel Park where he put his nose down and refused to let another horse pass him. He then ran big at Aqueduct, placing in a black type stakes his first time in New York. He traveled to Florida for a winter at Palm Meadows Training Center where I was able to gallop him, enjoying the sunrise view between his pricked ears. He had a confident, safe disposition and a desire to please. After riding him, I knew he'd love the challenge of jumping someday. As I continued to watch his racetrack career progress, he unfortunately developed an intolerance to heat. Heat stroke can be a combination of environment and genetics and his mother had had similar issues with the heat. He did well in the cooler weather, however, turf season is primarily in the heat of the summer. As he got older, he still appeared game, but there was reservation in his drive to win. Many horses learn from experience and his experience with heat stroke had made him conservative compared to his rivals. In July of 2023, he ran his last race at Monmouth. I was crossing my fingers that he did not get claimed. Luck was on my side that day. Following his race, it was decided that he would be retired and I could finally start my project with this 6-year old I had loved since the age of 2.

When he came off the trailer to meet me at the farm, he still thought he was a racehorse. He was high-strung, hungry, and almost impossible to catch in the field. I was excited but also worried. I had never had a thoroughbred straight off the track. Initially, I doubted myself–what had I got myself into?! But as I put in the time and patience, we started making baby steps. He would spit out an apple but he loved carrots. He could trot over ground poles, at first hitting one or two then gliding through them like a pro. He learned to pick up both leads at the canter, not just the left like most racehorses prefer. In the barn, he started to recognize me and welcome me with his characteristic nicker. Even after a long day at work, I was still excited to see my boy, my Townley. The day finally came when I decided we were ready to pop over a cross rail. I let him sniff it, and he didn't seem bothered. I gave him a nudge and we picked up a trot to the tiny cross rail. As we got to the base, he picked up his legs, tucked his knees and jumped the neatest little jump. He landed with a look like, “hey, that was kinda different but fun!” After the introduction to jumping, I knew that not only could he do it but even more so that he enjoyed doing it, which made me want to jump the moon. From that day forward, I made a goal–to compete in the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. When I was in undergraduate studies at The University of Kentucky, I had volunteered when the RRP had first started. There were only about 50 horses competing and no one really knew about the concept of competing in second careers for retired racehorses. The Thoroughbred makeover now has over 400 entries yearly and has incentivized interest in OTTB competitions throughout the country. It has made people realize that just because a horse has retired off the track as a five-, six-, or seven-year old doesn't mean the horse's athletic abilities stop there. So as I prepare for my dream to compete in the Thoroughbred makeover project this October, I have learned so much about the heart of a Thoroughbred and the relationship you can shape with a racehorse to achieve dreams you never thought possible. I hope my story inspires others to adopt racehorses and promote the Thoroughbred for the great breed they are both on and off the track.

–Dr. Brittland Hughes, former veterinarian, Colts Neck Stables, current owner/rider of Townley