Kentucky Horse Park

A memorial service for the late dual Classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor) was held at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 8, where the 'gutsy gelding' lived out his retirement at the Hall of Champions on the grounds. During the event, attended by fans of the New York-bred as well as Sackatoga Stable's Jack Knowlton, officials at the Horse Park announced that a statue of Funny Cide would be added to the Memorial Walk of Champions. "Funny Cide was a true champion," said Lee Carter, Kentucky Horse Park President. "Adding...

MGISW and 2020's Eclipse Champion Turf Male Channel Maker (English Channel) has been retired from racing, his connections said Saturday. The announcement came one day after the 9-year-old gelding finished next to last in the GIII Sycamore at Keeneland. "It's time," part-owner Adam Wachtel said. Channel Maker ran a record six times in the Breeders' Cup. "I've never had a horse that's run at the highest level against the toughest competition from 2 through 9," Wachtel said. "I love what Bill had to say about him after the Bowling Green;...

GISW Arklow (Arch), one of the most accomplished horses competing at the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park this week, is adding another achievement to his resume as he advanced in the Field Hunter preliminary round under amateur rider Gina Gans, the Retired Racehorse Project said in a release late Thursday night. The former Brad Cox trainee, who earned over $3 million during his racing career, turned in three relaxed rides over two days of competition and has made it to the weekend. The 9-year-old will have the...

Out of the 404 entrants, the leading earner in this week's Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by the Thoroughbred Charities of America, at the Kentucky Horse Park is GISW Arklow (Arch). After being gelded once his racing career ended last year at this time, the former Brad Cox trainee with a $3,025,996 in earnings over a seven-year career for Donegal Racing will be ridden in the event by Gina Gans in the field hunting division. The 9-year-old will jump obstacles at the Horse Park's grass steeplechase course. Recently retired...

At 12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, the Kentucky Horse Park's free September EquineEd lecture series welcomes Jena Antonucci and Katie Miranda, trainers and co-owners of horseOlogy, the organization said in a release early Thursday. HorseOlogy is a full-cycle Thoroughbred training and ownership organization based in Ocala, Florida, that handles everything related to breeding, training, and racing. The event will be held at the Hall of Champions barn and attendees can enter through the Visitor Center. The next speaker in the series is Erin O'Keefe of the Retired Racehorse Project Oct....

2001 Horse of the Year and winner of both the GI Preakness S. and the GI Belmont S., Point Given (Thunder Gulch), passed away Sept. 11 at 25 years old. In 2017, the champion Thoroughbred became a resident of the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions, making him the fifth Horse of the Year to occupy the famous barn. "Point Given was a special horse, loved by all, and a wonderful ambassador for the Kentucky Horse Park," said Kentucky Horse Park President Lee Carter. "We are saddened by his passing...

The New York Racing Association will pay tribute to GI Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), one of the most successful and popular New York-breds of all time, on New York Showcase Day, Aug. 27, at Saratoga Race Course. Funny Cide, who died earlier this summer due to complications from colic, earned more than $3.5 million during his six-year  career, including when he became the first New York-bred to win the "Run for the Roses". He was later named the 2003 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. "Few...

Champion and dual classic winner Funny Cide (Distorted Humor), who passed away July 16 at age 23, will have his life and racing achievements celebrated with a Saratoga Send-Off party Aug. 16 at Siro's in Saratoga Springs. The event will be a tribute to "The Gutsy Gelding" who captured the hearts of racing fans and continued to be a fan favorite during his 15-year retirement at Kentucky Horse Park. Presented by Sackatoga Stable, the evening will feature a tribute video and a panel discussion emceed by Retired Race Caller Tom...

Edited Press Release Some 512 trainers have been accepted to the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, officials with the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have announced. The event takes place Oct. 11-14, 2023, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and offers prize money in excess of $100,000. "On behalf of TCA, we congratulate all of the trainers accepted into the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover," said Erin Halliwell, executive director of TCA. "We appreciate the time and resources trainers dedicate to transitioning Thoroughbreds into their...

Applications for the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, are now open for submission, the Retired Racehorse Project announced Tuesday. The application period closes at 5:00 p.m. EST on Jan. 20. Accepted trainers will be announced no later than Feb. 15. Interested applicants can start the application process now by logging on to Retired Racehorse Project website. Entering its ninth year at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, horses and trainers will compete for more than $110,000 in total prize money, plus the coveted...

In this new TDN column, Christie DeBernardis will tell the stories of accomplished and/or popular former racehorses who are now enjoying second careers as show horses, track ponies, etc. Champion sprinter Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) and Laura Moquett's relationship goes back to when he was just a 2-year-old who refused to go around the racetrack without some coaxing. Fast forward seven years and that cantankerous juvenile is now an Eclipse winner and Breeders' Cup winner and has been retired from racing as Moquett's personal riding horse. On Thursday, less than 13...

Stakes winner Get Western (Get Stormy--Marquetessa, by Marquetry) has joined the retirees at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. The 7-year-old gelding won the 2019 Old Friends S. at Kentucky Downs for trainer Charles LoPresti and owner Ward C. Pitfield. The "Win for Life" contest guaranteed him placement at Old Friends upon retiring from racing. Eventually transferred to J. Reeve McGaughey's barn, Get Western's last race was at Turfway Park in February of 2022. He was transferred to the Secretariat Center, located at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, for retraining...