Tag: thoroughbred horses

Where is Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue based? It is based in Pawling, New York. How did your rescue group begin? Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue was founded by owner, trainer, and breeder, John Hettinger. When he sold race horses, there was an agreement attached to the bill of sale that if the horse was no longer wanted, Hettinger would take the horse back and either provide sanctuary or an opportunity for a second career. He fought tirelessly to eliminate slaughterhouses in America. Upon his death in 2008, he donated 300 acres to become Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue. What makes your program unique? We have…

What attracted you to the horse racing industry? I was attracted to horse racing at an early age when I started going to the track with my grandfather. As I grew older, the excitement of race day grew stronger. What aspect of horse racing do you enjoy the most? For several years now, I have followed the prep races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. After that, I start focusing on the second season leading into Breeder’s Cup. You start seeing lots of really good races throughout the Summer and Fall. Why did you join the Wasabi Ventures Co-Owner Club?…

What attracted you to the horse racing industry? When I was 12, my aunt took me to the Fair Grounds here in New Orleans for the first time and I was hooked! The whole experience — the horses, the atmosphere, the excitement — was unforgettable. In those days, the daily race results were part of the local sportscast so I began following the sport and trying to learn a little along the way. It was a great time to be introduced to the sport because it happened to be 1973 when a certain unforgettable legend became the first Triple Crown…

Kind of A Big Dill (formerly known as Vineyard Harbour) is still on stall rest with hopes to have him start training by the end of March with groundwork beginning in just a few weeks. Stall desensitization has begun with bag tarps and hula hoops and is going well. Check out his previous update here.

Meet Wasabi Ventures Co-Owner Club Member and Ambassador, Lauren Floyd! She grew up riding horses in northern Virginia. Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown run sparked her interest in racing, but she didn’t become a serious fan until 2014. Lauren rode horses all through college at the University of Mary Washington and graduated in 2014 with a degree in English. Currently, she works in the software development industry in the DC area, which helps finance her horse racing hobby. She joined Wasabi Ventures Stables in May 2018 and is now one of two Maryland track ambassadors for the club. 1.What attracted you…

1. Where are you based out of? Our main farm is located in Chesapeake City, MD - there we do some rehab, most of the retraining and adoptions from this location. We have satellite farms in Thurmont MD (rehab), Westminster MD (retraining) and Salley SC (retraining). 2. How long has your group been active? Ginny Suarez and I started in September 2002 with 3 horses on a rented 3-acre field with a shed. We built our program gradually from there. Today we have a permanent home on 158 acres along the Sassafras River, just south of Chesapeake City MD. The…

Wasabi Ventures Stables recently had an interview with Beyond The Wire, an industry-wide initiative between the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the Maryland Jockey Club, the Maryland Horse Breeders Association and Maryland jockeys, that is designed to facilitate safe and enriching placements for retired Maryland based racehorses. 1.What are some factors that can contribute to a horse retiring? Horses retire for a number of reasons. Some are just too slow to be competitive, some sustain injuries and still others have raced for years and the owner and trainer make a decision to let the horse go on to new, enriching activities.…

Gary is a fourth-generation handicapper. Currently, Gary’s handicapping prowess is on display as “The GQ Approach” at TheRacingBiz.com, providing selections & analysis for every race day at Maryland tracks. In the past, he’s been a guest handicapper at Laurel Park on Maryland Million Day and at Pimlico on Preakness Day in the Preakness Infield Corporate Village. During Preakness Week, he has conducted interviews with horsemen, jockeys, and others in the racing industry at Pimlico Stakes Barn, Alibi Breakfast, and Preakness Post Position Draw since 2008. Though an IT professional by trade, he has had part-time roles with the Maryland Jockey…