Since it burst on the scene years ago, social-media giant Facebook has put friends back in touch, kept visitors 'liking' everything, and, in some cases, helped change the world. In the case of retired standardbreds Special Report and Four Trumps A, Facebook is helping them get the most out of retirement.
The New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program has announced that Special Report and Four Trumps A left the Big Z Training Center in Montegue, New Jersey over the weekend to transition into their second career as riding horses with New Vocations at its Laurelville, Ohio facility.
Larry Stalbaum trained and raced both horses for most of their careers. Special Report raced 186 times and earned more than $1.5-million in purses. Four Trumps A started 129 times and earned $698,844 in purses.
“Special Report has been retired since last summer," said Stalbaum. "We sent him to North Carolina to enjoy just being a horse, however it became very clear that he was unhappy not having anything to do. We brought him back this spring and started jogging him a little, and he really enjoyed the exercise and daily interaction. He has a great following on Facebook, and we put it out there that Special Report wanted to be a riding horse and asked for suggestions on how to make that happen.”
New Vocations Standardbred Program Director, Winnie Morgan Nemeth contacted Stalbaum since the program had taken horses for him in the past. “We are excited to receive Special Report and Four Trumps A as these two great racehorses truly deserve to have a second career. It was good of Larry to recognize that they still have much more to offer. At New Vocations we will teach them a new skill, so they can go on and make more dreams come true with their next family.”
“Special Report and Four Trumps A stabled, shipped and raced together for many years at New York tracks. Now they will transition together as riding horses. “They both are top-class horses,” Nemeth said, “and that always carries over under saddle. Our goal is to have them ready to show at the Standardbred World Show in October, and then make them available for adoption. I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate to both the harness racing community and the equestrian world the versatility of the standardbred. These two horses will be great ambassadors for the breed and the sport.”
To access Four Trumps A's Facebook page, click here.
(With files New Vocations)
