Genuine Reward to Old Friends
Jun 30, 2015 22:52:42 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Jun 30, 2015 22:52:42 GMT -5
Thank God for Old Friends!!
Genuine Reward to Old Friends
By Claire Novak
BloodHorse
Genuine Reward, one of only two living foals produced by 1980 Kentucky Derby (gr. I)-winning filly Genuine Risk, has found a new home at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center near Lexington.
The 22-year-old stallion, who had been at stud near Sheridan, Wyoming, was discovered via an advertisement on Craigslist offering him to a good home for "$500 or best offer." Several fans contacted Old Friends to express their concern over the potential of Genuine Reward ending up in the wrong hands, and founder Michael Blowen confirmed June 30 that the striking chestnut had been secured by the organization. He is expected to arrive in July.
"We're just working out the details now," Blowen said. "They're donating the horse to us, so the only thing we'll handle is transportation, and (author) Laura Hillenbrand is sponsoring him, so she's going to pay whatever it costs to bring him home."
Old Friends volunteer Cindy Grisolia made it clear Genuine Reward was not living under negative circumstances in the care of owner Perk Connell, a longtime breeder of polo ponies.
"She's a lovely lady and they've taken excellent care of him for the number of years they've had him, and we don't want anyone to think she was 'dumping' this horse," Grisolia said. "He's been a wonderful stud for her and she's taken great care of him. They were just trying to find a good home for the horse because they were done breeding him, and she's very happy we were in touch about arranging just that."
Grisolia said the Firestone family reached out to Connell after the advertisement was discovered to ensure the horse they bred was safely retired from stud.
"She didn't even put up the Craigslist ad for him; a friend did that, and I think they were trying to just see what kind of interest there would be in the horse," Grisolia added. "Of course she was flooded with inquiries and those that didn't seem like legitimate farms or rescues she didn't even pay attention to. She got messages from many fans and rescue farms, including Old Friends, and everyone seemed to think he should be coming here. She was very happy we were in touch yesterday and she took the ad down.
"He's in great shape and as soon as we figure out the logistics, we'll work on getting him picked up ... we have to find a cross-country shipper who can work with us. We don't know the exact dates yet, but he will be coming to Old Friends and we're thrilled to have him."
Genuine Reward sired 47 Thoroughbred foals from eight crops, with 24 starters and 13 winners according to reports from The Jockey Club. Unraced, he stood at Meadowville Farm in Virginia from 1997-2000, was at Eagle Point Farm in that state in 2001, and moved to Wyoming in 2002. His last registered Thoroughbred foal was the unraced 2007 horse John Hugh.
Bred and campaigned by Diana Firestone and trained by LeRoy Jolley, Genuine Risk was only the second filly in history to win the Kentucky Derby. She went on to finish second in the Preakness (gr. I) and second in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), and won the Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) before ending her career in 1981 with an allowance victory at Saratoga Race Course.
After retirement, the talented filly struggled to produce viable foals, eventually only producing Genuine Reward and a 1996 son of Chief Honcho named Count Our Blessing. Neither ever raced. Count Our Blessing was eventually gelded and became a show horse competing under the name "Westley." Genuine Risk died in her paddock at the age of 31 at the Firestone family's Newstead Farm in Virginia on Aug. 18, 2008.
"There are a lot of people that followed this horse for a while and knew where he was. Apparently he bred some very successful polo ponies," Grisolia said. "We feel like Genuine Reward will be a great attraction for Genuine Risk's fans and lovers of her career."
cdn.bloodhorse.com/images/content/GenuineRewardGenuineRisk1993AE298.jpg
Genuine Reward to Old Friends
By Claire Novak
BloodHorse
Genuine Reward, one of only two living foals produced by 1980 Kentucky Derby (gr. I)-winning filly Genuine Risk, has found a new home at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center near Lexington.
The 22-year-old stallion, who had been at stud near Sheridan, Wyoming, was discovered via an advertisement on Craigslist offering him to a good home for "$500 or best offer." Several fans contacted Old Friends to express their concern over the potential of Genuine Reward ending up in the wrong hands, and founder Michael Blowen confirmed June 30 that the striking chestnut had been secured by the organization. He is expected to arrive in July.
"We're just working out the details now," Blowen said. "They're donating the horse to us, so the only thing we'll handle is transportation, and (author) Laura Hillenbrand is sponsoring him, so she's going to pay whatever it costs to bring him home."
Old Friends volunteer Cindy Grisolia made it clear Genuine Reward was not living under negative circumstances in the care of owner Perk Connell, a longtime breeder of polo ponies.
"She's a lovely lady and they've taken excellent care of him for the number of years they've had him, and we don't want anyone to think she was 'dumping' this horse," Grisolia said. "He's been a wonderful stud for her and she's taken great care of him. They were just trying to find a good home for the horse because they were done breeding him, and she's very happy we were in touch about arranging just that."
Grisolia said the Firestone family reached out to Connell after the advertisement was discovered to ensure the horse they bred was safely retired from stud.
"She didn't even put up the Craigslist ad for him; a friend did that, and I think they were trying to just see what kind of interest there would be in the horse," Grisolia added. "Of course she was flooded with inquiries and those that didn't seem like legitimate farms or rescues she didn't even pay attention to. She got messages from many fans and rescue farms, including Old Friends, and everyone seemed to think he should be coming here. She was very happy we were in touch yesterday and she took the ad down.
"He's in great shape and as soon as we figure out the logistics, we'll work on getting him picked up ... we have to find a cross-country shipper who can work with us. We don't know the exact dates yet, but he will be coming to Old Friends and we're thrilled to have him."
Genuine Reward sired 47 Thoroughbred foals from eight crops, with 24 starters and 13 winners according to reports from The Jockey Club. Unraced, he stood at Meadowville Farm in Virginia from 1997-2000, was at Eagle Point Farm in that state in 2001, and moved to Wyoming in 2002. His last registered Thoroughbred foal was the unraced 2007 horse John Hugh.
Bred and campaigned by Diana Firestone and trained by LeRoy Jolley, Genuine Risk was only the second filly in history to win the Kentucky Derby. She went on to finish second in the Preakness (gr. I) and second in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), and won the Ruffian Handicap (gr. I) before ending her career in 1981 with an allowance victory at Saratoga Race Course.
After retirement, the talented filly struggled to produce viable foals, eventually only producing Genuine Reward and a 1996 son of Chief Honcho named Count Our Blessing. Neither ever raced. Count Our Blessing was eventually gelded and became a show horse competing under the name "Westley." Genuine Risk died in her paddock at the age of 31 at the Firestone family's Newstead Farm in Virginia on Aug. 18, 2008.
"There are a lot of people that followed this horse for a while and knew where he was. Apparently he bred some very successful polo ponies," Grisolia said. "We feel like Genuine Reward will be a great attraction for Genuine Risk's fans and lovers of her career."
cdn.bloodhorse.com/images/content/GenuineRewardGenuineRisk1993AE298.jpg