September 9, 2021 – Lexington, KY – After an uncertain, challenging and virtual 2020, the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show, presented by Iris Smith Stables, LLC, returned to an in-person competition and raised a record-breaking $150,000 in sponsorships. All proceeds from the event will go directly to support New Vocations’ efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses.
The 18th annual show—held for the first time at Highfields Event Center, in Aiken, SC, Sept. 3-5—was an exciting and successful return to live events for New Vocations after a quiet past 18 months due to COVID-19. The competition brought together nearly 100 Thoroughbreds from 10 different states to compete in a variety of disciplines including dressage, hunter, jumper, Western and pleasure classes.
“We were thrilled that we were able to far surpass our goal of raising $100,000 through the support of our generous long-term and new sponsors,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director. “The new venue meant that we were able to put on a more intimate event, which allowed exhibitors extra opportunities to connect and share their love for Thoroughbreds. It was so rewarding to look across four competition arenas full of horses knowing that while they have rich racing bloodlines and histories, they now have new skills, new careers, and new purposes.”
Show highlights included:
· Winner of the War Horse W/T/C was Bail Bondsman, shown by Karen Morgan. Bail Bondsman, a 2009 Kentucky-bred gelding by Bellamy Road, raced 44 times and earned $106,499.
· Winner of the Open Hunter Derby was Blame it on Texas, shown by Elisabeth Demars. Blame it on Texas, a 2012 Kentucky-bred gelding by Blame, raced 12 times and earned $12,788.
· Winner of the Open Jumper Stake was Ballerino, shown by Susan Sisco. Ballerino, a 2008 Florida-bred gelding by Lido Place (CHI), raced 15 times and earned $38,709.
· Winner of the Dressage High Score was Big Iron, shown by junior rider Mayela Salazar. Big Iron, a 2015 son of Caleb’s Posse, raced 29 times and earned $65,281.
At the show’s inaugural exhibitor party, New Vocations also handed out several special awards recognizing:
· The Thoroughbred that earned the most money racing (Two Notch Road, $536,193);
· The most recently raced Thoroughbred (Jammin Jamie, 6/28/2021);
· The Thoroughbred with the most starts (Mind Magic, 58 starts);
· The youngest Thoroughbred competing (Jammin Jamie, 2/20/2018)
· The oldest Thoroughbred competing (Bold Estela, 3/22/1994);
· The Thoroughbred sold for the highest auction price (Ditka, $500,000); and
· The groups that traveled the farthest to compete (horses and riders from Sugar Creek Equinapy, in Harrisonville, MO, and North Country Horses, in Gansevoort, NY, hauled 974 miles and 956 miles, respectively).
“We were so glad to, once again, be able to celebrate the Thoroughbred with a weekend full of competition, fun and horses,” Ford said. “We’re excited to get started on plans for what we hope can be an even better 2022 event.”
Thanks to all our generous sponsors of the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show.
Title Sponsor
Iris Smith Stables, LLC
Day Sponsors
Heider Family Stable
Indiana HBPA
Ohio HBPA
War Horse Sponsor
Phil & Anne Creek / 100% Racing, LLC
Hunter Derby Sponsors
Louise & Len Riggio
Homewrecker Stable
Lebherz Family Foundation
Jumper Stake Sponsors
Bob & Jill Baffert
Godolphin
Robert LaPenta / Whitehorse Stables
Samantha Siegel / JMS Stables
Exhibitor Concert Sponsor
Churchill Downs, Inc.
Exhibitors Party Sponsor
Take2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, Inc.
Ribbon Sponsor
The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program
Wine Sponsor
Jackson Family Wines
Hunter Arena Sponsors
Lindsay LaRoche / Highland Yard
Jason Scott / Bar Down Investments
White Fox Farm, In Memory of John Hall
Back Number Sponsor
Churchill Downs Inc.
Mini Hunter Classic Sponsors
John Cummins, DVM
Mario & Dawn Martinez / Avanti Stable, LLC
Ann & Ron Turnicky
Warm Up Arena Sponsors
AmWest Entertainment
Paul & Lyn Boland / Journey Farms, LLC
Merriebelle Stable
Tracey Farmer
High Point Sponsors
Baum’s Plumbing and Heating
Nelson Clemmens
Ralph Evans
Eccentric Club Stables, LLC
Katherine Lingner, DVM
Antoinette Pilzner
Dean & Patti Reeves / Reeves Thoroughbred Racing
J. Kirk & Judy Robison
Purple Haze Stables
Specialty Thoroughbred Award Sponsors
Churchill Downs, Inc.
Rebecca Maker Rehab & Conditioning
Robert Adleta
David & Fay Donk
Linda Balfour / ELR Corp
John & Elizabeth Fort
Christine & Phil Hatfield / CHP Racing
Daniel & Anna Nolan
Carol Kirby
Marianne Stribling / Copper Fox Farm
Jack Swain
White Birch Farm, Inc.
Oldest Thoroughbred Award
Different Times Equestrian Ventures
In Honor of Dalton’s Delight
Division Sponsors
Jean Bickley
Daniel J. Donoghue / Signal Hill Farms, LLC
Olivia Godfrey
Jan Klein
Cindy McDonald
Sally McLaughlin
Gene & Maureta Ott
Christine & Rodger Potocki
Ellen & Joe Williams
Beyond The Wire, Inc.
Cambus – Kenneth Farm
In Memory of Be More Bullish
Rebecca Maker Rehab & Conditioning
Ro-De-Lo Racing, LLC
Pin Oak Stud
Varnan Manufacturing, Inc.
Class Sponsors
Andy Roberts, DVM
Jack Thistledown Racing
Andrews Dispute Resolution
Lois Angeletti
Ann Banks / Wild Aire Farm
Adam Bayroff
Dr. Dionne Benson
Michael Boules
Bruce N. Levine Training Stable, Inc.
Larry Campbell
Campbell Horse Transportation, LLC
Virginia Campbell Scott
Kelly Colliver
Johna Compton
Florence Cooper
Stephanie M. Dunatov /Horseworks Art
Jenna Encheff
Fanta-Sea Farms
Alli Farkas Horse Portraits
Yvonne Fedeyko-Kirby
Futurity Capital, LLC
Jane Fraser
Dr. Larry Gaudreau DVM
Hugh Gillen
Karen Holtz
Lucy Howard
Marc James / Whataview Farm
Marty Johnson
Vanessa Kerr
Dora King
William Koester
Janine Martinelli
Siobhan McCormack
Nancy McDaniel
Gary & Susannah Miller
James & Priscilla Potter / Chamerolles Farm, LLC
Joy Tavel
Kimberly Thurler
Peggy & Bob Ullom
Famousstyle Stables
James Shircliff Family
Sperando Racing Stable
Three Crowns Farm of Wolcott, CT
Y-Not Racing Stable
Additional Sponsors
Buckeye Nutrition
Boehringer Ingelheim
Kinetic Vet
McGuinn Farms, Inc.
Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption program in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 7,500 individuals, serving over 600 horses annually. With facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and New York, New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks, working directly with owners and trainers in need of equine aftercare options. Learn more at newvocations.org.
New Vocations Press Release
Photo: Blame it on Texas, (New Vocations)
