JJ Hall, a 10-year-old bay gelding out of Jailhouse Jesse and Flanery Hall, was recently retired in 2017 and placed at New Vocations last November. He was purchased by part owner and trainer Scott Mogan as a yearling and remained in his barn up until his retirement.
“He was a very special horse in our barn for eight years, he has a personality like no other horse I’ve been around in my career,” Mogan said.
With 113 starts, 28 trips to winners circle, JJ Hall earned $343,934 in his lifetime of racing. At age 2, he took a mark of 2:00 at Delaware County Fairgrounds. His three-year-old year was sensational, he took a mark of 1:55.4 at Scioto Downs, and also won the Ohio Sire Stakes Final for three-year-old colt trotters at Scioto downs with Chip Noble in the bike, earning over $89,000 for the year. He was also named the Horse of the Year in the state of Ohio. His career was nothing short of remarkable.
“Chip Noble drove him almost every start before he became ill, and everybody who drove him after loved driving him, including my son Zach who won with him in one of his last starts before we retired him," said Mogan. "He was like a cadillac to drive.” At the age of seven, JJ Hall put his lifetime mark on his card at Scioto Downs, trotting in 1:53.1.
JJ Hall is enjoying his retirement. “He did sustain a superficial kick awhile back which set him back a few weeks but he can now walk and trot under saddle. He has learned to stand on his own while getting off and on and ride around the arena.” per Winnie Nemeth, director of New Vocations.
In December of 2017 the Ohio Standardbreds and Friends group visited the facility and were able to meet all the horses on there. “A few of the kids were hanging on him, petting him, and a few of them even remembered him from when he was racing.” Nemeth said.
The connections of Post Time With Mike and Mike are teaming up with New Vocations to publicize the amazing athletes we have and have had in our sport and help them get matched with a forever home. “JJ Hall will be posted soon to our website, but there were some very interested people in him last week, so he may soon be adopted.” Nemeth said.
(with files from Post Time with Mike and Mike)