We know that not every horse was meant to be a champion on the track. But sometimes you find a Thoroughbred that is meant to be a champion in another sport. Enter Lainey Ashker, five-star eventing and professional dressage rider, who has plucked two geldings from obscurity and turned them into eventing machines. Anthony Patch (Al) is deathly afraid of cows, and Paddy is allergic to flying changes, but line them up to jump a five foot ditch and their ears go forward and they soar.
From gamblers to exercise riders to former trainer and Hall of Famer Bill Mott, they all have asked or told me their own stories about Ninety One Assault, aka Boo. So, we had to do an episode about him, right? This is his story from gangly young racehorse to Louisiana bred champ to OTTB.
For seven racing seasons we watched the fiery, sometimes cantankerous, chestnut gelding named Whitmore blitz down the racetrack. We all cheered him on as he finally got his Breeder's Cup win in his fourth try at the ripe age of seven. But did you know that when he came to the track as a two year old it took him nearly two months to be able to just canter around the track? He would likely have never gotten to all those winners circles without the horsemanship and guidance of Laura Moquett. Now she is guiding him through his second career off track.
When I began Off Track, I described it as a personal passion project. It is my way of expressing the impact that Thoroughbreds have had on my life and how much they've done for me. This podcast has allowed me to tell so many other people's unique stories with OTTB's that I hope they've inspired others to become involved with former racehorses in one way or another. Though at the end of the day, I was happily sailing this ship solo. But then one day Maddie Hogan jumped on board to manage an "Off Track" Instagram account, without me even knowing her personally. So, it's Maddie's turn to tell her story of Wepner.
Lindy Gutman is living proof that the Off Track Thoroughbred community is one of most supportive, encouraging, and energetic horse communities there are. And why wouldn't she be? When you own a horse like Talk Show Man, who was a rock star on the track and off the track, you make sure he has a fan following.