Recently adopted from the New Vocations program, Rush N Supreme is heading to a new home for his second career. He was donated by Kelly and Sharon Walker who raced him all over North America. This beautiful bay trotting gelding made over 50 trips to the winner's circle, rolling in over $350,000.
“It’s not often you get to keep your favourite racehorse through his entire racing career. Rush’s story is worth telling,” Sharon Walker said with passion.
According to Sharon, Rush N Supreme had a little bit of a hard time getting started in his harness racing career. Before he met his recent owner, trainer, and driver, “Rush” would always make breaks and it seemed as if drivers had a hard time keeping him flat. Rush was sold to the Amish, then was brought back to the races, where June DeRussel asked Kelly Walker to drive him in an amateur race. From there on out, Rush N Supreme and Kelly just clicked.
"Not that Rush never broke again, it just seemed Kelly could keep him steady," Sharon explained.
From there Rush N Supreme was in the hands of Sharon and Kelly Walker, and the fit for horse and owners seemed perfect. One of Kelly’s fondest memories with Rush was a race at Chester on November 3, 2012.
"We had sent him to Pennsylvania trainer Bobbie Baggitt and he was having a hard time finding drivers that could get along with Rush and not let him break. I watched the races from Michigan and because I knew my horse so well I knew the mistakes the ‘pro’ drivers were making. After watching him break again and the trainer putting the same driver on him for next week’s race, I called Bobbie and said ‘take him off Bobbie, I’m coming out there to drive my horse.’ He ended up winning the race in 1:56.1 and paid $120.60 to win!"
Rush N Supreme was so good to both Kelly and Sharon over the years while being in the barn, and he was Kelly’s main mount in the amateur driving events.
“Rush was by far my most favourite horse to work with and groom. He was always a gentleman,” Sharon said. “He would let me groom him in his stall without cross ties, he preferred to stand with his head toward the back wall in the corner of the stall. He would lick and bite the boards of the wall while I groomed him and would never move unless I asked him too. He also trusted me enough to let me ride him, what a treat.
“Rush was always the one that we would let the kids pet, sit on, or feed treats too. As I said before, always a gentleman. Maybe that is why he and Kelly got along so well. There was a deep, mutual respect between the two of them and a shared a competitive spirit. A winning combination,” added Sharon.
Rush N Supreme is heading to Iowa to meet his new owner Melanie. “She wanted a horse that she could ride with her friends on trails and do trail obstacles and small jumps with. She fell in love with Rush to be her new horse, he is just awaiting a ride to Iowa in the next week,” stated Winnie Nemeth, New Vocations Standardbred Director. “Rush really already came used to a rider, as Sharon had ridden him in Florida, so it took a few rides to teach him some simple queues under saddle. We rode him a few times a week since his arrival in March to make sure he had a good and solid foundation. He loves to trot under saddle and is so fancy. We have loved transitioning him to his next career. A big thank you goes to The Walker’s for sending him!"
Racehorse aftercare is so important to our amazing athletes; they give us their all week in and week out, and ask for nothing in return. The least horsemen can do is make sure they go to forever homes after their racing career is over, and New Vocations is one aftercare program that can help you do that! If you or a friend are looking for your next show, pleasure, riding, or trail horse, head over to newvocations.org and make your next horse an ex-racehorse.
(Jessica Otten, for Post Time with Mike and Mike)