Dry Martini has a retirement plan

[OldDog]

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement farm, is one of Carol Nyren’s biggest fans.

“She’s the first owner,” he said recently, “who started a retirement plan for a horse that’s still racing.”

http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2...1776243161.txt

[TouchOfGrey]

Though Dry Martini is in fine racing health, last year the Nyrens began to think about the end of his racing days, and they called Michael Blowen. Learning that it would cost less than $3,000 a year for their horse to live at Old Friends, they made the decision to fully fund the horse’s retirement. A portion of Dry Martini’s purse money is set aside for his retirement, and the Nyrens donate 1% of the purse money from all of their horses to Old Friends.

While the challenges for horses after their racing days are over are not lost on the Nyrens, their feelings on the subject are unequivocal. “Anybody who wants their horse to go to retirement should contribute something,” stated George.

Carol concurs. “If you can manage to find the money to nominate your horse to the Breeders’ Cup, you can find the money to support its retirement. Breeders and owners need to be responsible, and their financial support for retirement needs to be mandated.”

We need more horse owners like this.

[my miss storm cat]

I hope he does well here...

http://www.drf.com/news/dry-martini-...llions-classic

[OldDog]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

I hope he does well here...

http://www.drf.com/news/dry-martini-...llions-classic

Alright!

Show 'em what you got, boy!

(Thanks for spotting that, MMSC)

[richard]

After winnig the Suburban H.

Greg Brandow photo

[smuthg]

this really is an amazingly cool story... I do wish more owners would do something like this for their horses, especially the geldings who are more apt to be neglected. thanks for posting.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by smuthg

this really is an amazingly cool story... I do wish more owners would do something like this for their horses, especially the geldings who are more apt to be neglected. thanks for posting.

It's an age-old, specious debate.

"Owners" - which one?


The reality is that 99.99% of these geldings will go through multiple "Owners" in their career ... So who gets the lucky straw?

Is it the breeder's responsibility to care for the horse after his racing career is over, since it is he that arranged and profited from the birth, and subsequent breeder awards?

Is it the purchaser at the sale?

Is it the trainer that claims him back multiple times in his career be cause he was "useful"?

Is it the last guy that wound up claiming the unsound or uninterested beast?

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by merasmag

its delast guy
of course...
dat bein said...i always try2betdehorselet(TM) w/alcohol initsname and/or pedigree (gottaluvdeMoonshines)

knotabadding
and he is 1 datmade me sum $$$ indeprocess

With your permission please....


Hello new siggy

[Rudeboyelvis]

hmmmph.... too late.... Already there

The good news is that I don't think anyone will confuse your sentiment with your posts..... It's all the same, basically........Is what I'm gettin' at.

[freddymo]

The horse made these people 1.3 mil less expense, people are all excited about them taking care of him for the rest of his life?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The horse made these people 1.3 mil less expense, people are all excited about them taking care of him for the rest of his life?

Yes.

Freddy no matter how I answer this I'm going to sound like i live in fairyland or something.

He's 8. How long do horses live for?

Wouldn't it be great if every owner (I know, I know) did this or something like it?

We all know it doesn't happen so yeah... these people deserve applause.

It's too bad that it's so rare were talking about it, isn't it?

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The horse made these people 1.3 mil less expense, people are all excited about them taking care of him for the rest of his life?

Why does every positive thread bother you so much?

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Why does every positive thread bother you so much?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

Why does every positive thread bother you so much?

because this is utterly absurd. ballywhoing for people that are giving a horse a place to stay after they had him for 6 or 7 years and the horse made them 1.3 mil. This is not the typical, nothing about this situation is typical.

Start a thread about a guy who claimed a horse for 5k, but the horse sucked never earned a dime and still the people found a spot to retire the horse and PAY thousands a year to keep the beast alive. That is a feel good thread. this is just utter nonsense, a horse that made 1.3 mil for people is getting a good home..Yea Think?

Seriously this is pandering for applause.. It's the same thing as the Repole speech, the guy made 400mil net and his horse won the BC Juvy and is worth 10mil tomorrow and everybody is wet in the panties because he made a donation to horse rescue.. The act of kindness is fine but isnt it something most big owners do? You think Dinny is stffing a horse resue operation when they hit him up for a significant donation? You think Ms. Webber lets her stock end up in kill pens? Satish buys all the Padua stock he bred back if his son gets the news, i have heard him tons of times explaining how it cost him 5k just to retreive vet and find a decent spot for a laimo animal just because the tatoo in its mouth was signed Padua.

Did you hear the Aga Khan found a good home for Sea the Stars. Let's all feel good that are friend Sea the Stars will be ok. lol

You know how lucky you have to be to own a horse that earns you 1.3 mil.. Come Nic its hardly a feel good story. Someone took care of a stud 7 fig earner call the Katie Couric film at 6 of the big guy romping in the paddock.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by freddymo

because this is utterly absurd. ballywhoing for people that are giving a horse a place to stay after they had him for 6 or 7 years and the horse made them 1.3 mil. This is not the typical, nothing about this situation is typical.

Start a thread about a guy who claimed a horse for 5k, but the horse sucked never earned a dime and still the people found a spot to retire the horse and PAY thousands a year to keep the beast alive. That is a feel good thread. this is just utter nonsense, a horse that made 1.3 mil for people is getting a good home..Yea Think?

Seriously this is pandering for applause.. It's the same thing as the Repole speech, the guy made 400mil net and his horse won the BC Juvy and is worth 10mil tomorrow and everybody is wet in the panties because he made a donation to horse rescue.. The act of kindness is fine but isnt it something most big owners do? You think Dinny is stffing a horse resue operation when they hit him up for a significant donation? You think Ms. Webber lets her stock end up in kill pens? Satish buys all the Padua stock he bred back if his son gets the news, i have heard him tons of times explaining how it cost him 5k just to retreive vet and find a decent spot for a laimo animal just because the tatoo in its mouth was signed Padua.

Did you hear the Aga Khan found a good home for Sea the Stars. Let's all feel good that are friend Sea the Stars will be ok. lol

You know how lucky you have to be to own a horse that earns you 1.3 mil.. Come Nic its hardly a feel good story. Someone took care of a stud 7 fig earner call the Katie Couric film at 6 of the big guy romping in the paddock.

Well said

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by freddymo

because this is utterly absurd. ballywhoing for people that are giving a horse a place to stay after they had him for 6 or 7 years and the horse made them 1.3 mil. This is not the typical, nothing about this situation is typical.

Start a thread about a guy who claimed a horse for 5k, but the horse sucked never earned a dime and still the people found a spot to retire the horse and PAY thousands a year to keep the beast alive. That is a feel good thread. this is just utter nonsense, a horse that made 1.3 mil for people is getting a good home..Yea Think?

Seriously this is pandering for applause.. It's the same thing as the Repole speech, the guy made 400mil net and his horse won the BC Juvy and is worth 10mil tomorrow and everybody is wet in the panties because he made a donation to horse rescue.. The act of kindness is fine but isnt it something most big owners do? You think Dinny is stffing a horse resue operation when they hit him up for a significant donation? You think Ms. Webber lets her stock end up in kill pens? Satish buys all the Padua stock he bred back if his son gets the news, i have heard him tons of times explaining how it cost him 5k just to retreive vet and find a decent spot for a laimo animal just because the tatoo in its mouth was signed Padua.

Did you hear the Aga Khan found a good home for Sea the Stars. Let's all feel good that are friend Sea the Stars will be ok. lol

You know how lucky you have to be to own a horse that earns you 1.3 mil.. Come Nic its hardly a feel good story. Someone took care of a stud 7 fig earner call the Katie Couric film at 6 of the big guy romping in the paddock.

What you fail to realize is that those of us who post these stories care whether it is Dry Martini or a horse who never earned a dime on the racetrack. Most of us who post in this thread and others probably follow (and donate to) the TRF and other rescue organizations and either own an OTTB, know someone who does or ride them. Dry Martini is a recognizable name to anyone who follows the sport - it is a horse that most people have some sort of connection with and therefore someone thought it would be threadworthy. It doesn't make that horse any more important than the horse struggling to break his maiden at Mountaineer.

You of course, would post something against any story.

[OldDog]

I don’t see what’s absurd about this. The Nyrens aren’t pandering. They’re putting their money where their sentiments are. For that they happened to garnish the praise of Michael Blowen, a guy who knows a thing or two about retirement programs for thoroughbreds. Are the Nyrens unique? Perhaps among “big owners” they aren’t. I don’t know. Who can tell me? But among owners in general they must be. Otherwise thoroughbred rescue and retirement programs funded by non-industry people and staffed by volunteers wouldn’t be necessary.

I take it back: I do see the absurdity in this, which is that the industry itself doesn’t mandate providing retirement for the very horses which it professes to love and without which it wouldn’t exist, like this one:
http://thesaturdaypost.org/blog/2011...ary-racehorse/

and that because of that fact stories like this seem extraordinary.

[Dahoss]

Dry Martini will always hold a special place in my heart, as he was the horse that enabled me to win a contest. Glad to hear he's going to have a nice home.

Freddy does have a point though. I just don't think he made it the right way. If this were the norm, instead of the exception it wouldn't be a story. It's too bad we are so excited when someone does the right thing, because it means we are so accustomed to people not doing it.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

What you fail to realize is that those of us who post these stories care whether it is Dry Martini or a horse who never earned a dime on the racetrack. Most of us who post in this thread and others probably follow (and donate to) the TRF and other rescue organizations and either own an OTTB, know someone who does or ride them. Dry Martini is a recognizable name to anyone who follows the sport - it is a horse that most people have some sort of connection with and therefore someone thought it would be threadworthy. It doesn't make that horse any more important than the horse struggling to break his maiden at Mountaineer.

You of course, would post something against any story.

Come now why in the world does someone (owners) need to create a story about the retirement of a horse? How many horses get retired daily without fanfare?

I like you care about the future of retired animals. I don't necessarily think that a horses successful retirement is anything more then being human with a beast. I give a lot of extra credit to owners who go the extra yard to make sure their horses are well provided for, I cant image Satish likes spending 5k on something that needs to be rescued and is worthless. Owners like Sanaan have to protect their name (Padua) you think he gives a fcuk about the horse? I don't.

Is claiming/buying a horse a lifetime committment to a horses welfare? It's a very difficult issue. The ones that make you 1.3mil are a lot easier to care for then the ones that dont.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Come now why in the world does someone (owners) need to create a story about the retirement of a horse? How many horses get retired daily without fanfare?

Um, because people care to know what happened?

We get it Freddy, you don't care. Is it really necessary to be so passive aggressive everytime someone wants to post something they care about?