Off Track

From winning a stake in his second start as a maiden to competing at a recognized show after only being off the track for four months, Blindwillie McTell has always been an over achiever. But TDN writer Christie DeBernardis refers to him has the ultimate sweetheart, as she has ensured "Willie" an active second career, much like many other former Linda Rice trainees. And how can you not fall in love with a horse who loves Goldfish and muddy puddles?

Monroe's Music, aka Louie, has life figured out. Despite being beautifully bred, he knew the racetrack wasn't for him. He enjoyed being a hunter for a brief time, but he gave that up for a life of leisure and Swedish Fish. Hear his story from his "mom", Shelly Ferrall, who says she would let him live in the house if he was smaller.

As the old saying goes at the racetrack "you start as a hot walker and you end as a hot walker", and Danielle Montgomery has probably done everything in between. In her current role as the program director of PATHA's Turning for Home, she has found homes and second careers for over 3,200 horses. But one horse found his way to her farm and straight into her heart- Dover Point.

Jazz Napravnik dominated the Retired Racehorse Project. She won the People's Choice award and was crowned the champion in eventing. Of course many people knew of her Pennsylvania bred millionaire, Page McKenney for his merits on the race track, but it was her modest Maryland bred, Legends Hope that stole the show. Listen as Jazz eloquently takes us back through the the RRP experience, as well through her first win as a trainer with her sister Rosie aboard and about all the horses who have taught her an important life lesson: to be authentic.

"Into the Great Wide Open" may be a great rock song but Great Wide Open, aka "Tom" is a rock star of an OTTB (and he was a pretty darn good racehorse too). And even though his now owner and rider Jamie Hernandez is a third generation racetracker, this is her first foray into the world of re-training an ex-racehorse. Hear how their adventure is going as Jamie has her sights set on the Retired Racehorse Project with "Tom".

For Dr. Carleigh Fedorka there is very little left to accomplish in the equestrian world (although in her eyes there is still a laundry list of milestones that need to be checked off). Formerly a breeding stable manager, she has written manuscripts on the reproduction of Thoroughbreds, and has opened her own retraining and sport horse business, Sewickley Stables. But the one thing that had eluded her was taking a horse to to the preliminary level in eventing. Yet the "unassuming", failed sale horse, Dynamaker has changed all of that.

More often than not, things in the world of horse racing come full circle. That couldn’t be more true for Kirsten Fada and Inked. A horse Kirsten was apart of purchasing and naming as a yearling, was claimed away as a three year old and ended up running on the Wyoming fair circuit. Life for Inked did not look particularly promising. But in a twist of fate and thanks to his breeder, Inked found himself one day at a farm in Kentucky staring back into the face of the woman who gave him his name.

Two former stakes winners, plus three OTTB loving women, plus wine and cheese, equals adult pony club. At least that is what Alysse dubbed it. Hear how Bertle kicked Brittney when they first met, Alysse's spot on impressions of Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher, how the name Notacatbutallama came to be, and so much more.

Remember watching the 2019 Preakness when Bodexpress dropped John Velazquez at the start and ran lose wreaking havoc on the track? And then the valiant catch by the female outrider? That was the mighty talented horsewoman Kaymarie Kreidel, who uses all OTTB's as her outriding mounts, but the horse who stole her heart was the high flying Trey Bear.

He's a State Farm agent by day and an OTTB saviuor by.... well, all of the time. Meet Ben Samrick of NorCal OTTB and his "ride or die" mare, Hey Maria.