Let's face it, being the richest horse in the history of Standardbred racing doesn't mean you live in a palace, or drive a Ferrari.
It doesn't go to your head or make you unapproachable like some other star athletes.
Despite $7.6 million in the bank and 100+ wins to his credit, Foiled Again is all heart.
In September, 2018, at the age of 14, and with only four months to go before his mandated retirement, his owners, Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and JJK Stables, began the farewell tour of the son of Dragon Again.
At the 166th Mercer County Fair in Celina, Ohio, fans lined the rails. They cheered and applauded as the great Foiled Again raced over the half mile oval. Despite a third place finish, one elderly fan looked around with tears in his eyes, smiled, and said softly: "It seems like old times, doesn't it?"
A week later, it was the Darke County Fair in Greenville, Ohio, where Foiled Again won convincingly. And 11 days after that, it was time for a 1000-mile trip east to the Windsor Fair in Maine, where the grandstand was once again packed to full capacity for his race. Once again, Foiled Again was victorious, and the winner's circle was bursting at the seams, for the photo.
After Maine, it was a jaunt down to New Jersey, to Freehold Raceway. After his third victory in a row, Foiled Again paused for photos, and time with the racing fans, who pulled out cameras to take selfies with the racing rock star.
A harness racing celebrity, Foiled Again was lined up to train on Jugette Day and lead out the post parade for the first heat on Jug Day, with more races scheduled across North America over the coming months, including dates in New York, Virginia, and on Breeders Crown Day in Pennsylvania.
On December 22nd, Foiled Again will make his penultimate start at Woodbine Mohawk Park, before going back home for his final race on New Year's Eve at the Meadows.
A lot has been written and said about Foiled Again, and at age 14, he has probably received more mainstream press than he did at the height of his career - including recently appearing on both CBS News and ESPN. Like Dan Patch and Cam Fella before him, the Foiled Again tour is a win for the sport, and a decision that should be applauded.
Will we see another Foiled Again in our lifetimes? It's tough to say. But while he's here, still racing on our tracks, let's appreciate him and all of the positive things that he represents.
Darryl Kaplan
[email protected]
To all who have been around
To all who have been around horses and watched the races there is none finer then this classy old campaigner Foiled Again.
I saw him race a few times as a 3 year old and 4 year old at Freehold. He will be missed and there is no replacement for Foiled Again.
Enjoy your retirement fella.
It's been an amazing journey
It's been an amazing journey watching this great horse race over the decade.
He will truly be missed by not only the fans but the sport itself.
5 Stars to Burke and Co for touring this great horse, and even prior to now I know they did some real work with this horse in promotions as he made it to tracks down here on the East Coast and you rarely ever see the top stars of the sport here (even ones that are owned by maritime connections)
It was amazing getting to see him race and I has wished he made 1 more trip here this summer during Gold Cup week but it wasn't in the cards. (Part of me was wishing he had made his win number 100 here)
Truly a horse for the ages
I was hoping this article was about a statue that was going to be unveiled outside of The Meadows or somewhere of him
Trevor Otterson
We'll need a new face of
We'll need a new face of harness racing in 2019 - let's hope that Wiggle It Jiggleit finally returns to action next year.
Very nice peace of writing
Very nice peace of writing Darryl to a real CHAMPION of our sport, and a very BIG THANK YOU to RON BURKE AND CO. for giving us the opportunity to see and say goodbye to the CHAMP.