Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue doesn’t boast any Derby winners—or maybe even any Derby runners–but its equine family of 150 stakes winners and claimers invite you to the farm’s first Derby party, a fundraiser at Madava Farms in Dover Plains, NY. The home of 100% organic Crown Maple syrup, the beautiful Madava Farms is a working farm…
I’m a little late in wishing Evening Attire a happy 17th birthday–the big day was Valentine’s Day, two days before his namesake race was scheduled to be run. Bad weather scuttled that, so the Evening Attire–formerly the Aqueduct Handicap, which this guy won in 2002–is being run today. And in his honor, his retirement home,…
A year ago this month, multiple stakes winner Stud Muffin was on a farm just outside Saratoga, resting up for a fall racing campaign. Then eight years old, he hadn’t hit the winner’s circle in 2012. He raced twice more last year, non-competitively, and it was clear that his best racing days were behind him.…
Two high-profile Thoroughbred aftercare organizations will have a presence today in Saratoga. Old Friends at Cabin Creek is holding an open house this evening to celebrate Palace Malice’s victory in the Belmont Stakes. Join Cot and Anne Campbell, Todd Pletcher, Mike Smith, and co-0wner Charlie Pigg from from 6:30-8 p.m. at Anne’s Washington Inn, 111 South…
It all started at Aqueduct, on a Saturday afternoon in January of 2005. It was the day of the Sunshine Millions: a horse named Lava Man was racing at Gulfstream, and an undefeated Florida-bred, California-based sprinter had shipped east to make his third start. Lost in the Fog won that day by four and a…
He made his first start at the very end of two-year-old year–December 16, 2006–and it was not what you’d call an auspicious debut. Racing for his breeder, Majesty Stud, Stud Muffin finished seventh by 17 lengths in the 1 1/16 miles race over the inner dirt at Aqueduct. It would take Stud Muffin another five…
John Hertler and Akindale Farm go back a long way together. Akindale’s John Hettinger was one of Hertler’s first clients when the trainer went out on his own in the late 70’s, after working for Hall of Fame trainer P.G. Johnson for 14 years, during which time Hettinger had horses with Johnson. “I was Mr.…
Dormant for most of the year, the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds spring to life this week, in preparation for the yearling sales on August 6, 7, 11 and 12. Thoroughbred auctions have been held by Fasig-Tipton at Saratoga since 1917, and next week, sellers and buyers will gather, as they have for nearly a century, in…
Akindale Farm gained national attention in 2008, when it became home to fan favorite Evening Attire. The folks at Akindale had long been committed to Thoroughbred aftercare; Akindale founder John Hettinger established Blue Horse Charities in 2001 to help fund Thoroughbred retirement, and the rescue part of the farm was founded in 2006. But until…
Last Tuesday morning, I bundled up against 19 degree cold, scraped the snow and ice off my car, and headed north to Pawling, New York, to visit Akindale Farm. I’d been there once before, last summer, to visit Evening Attire and talk to Erin Pfister, who runs the farm’s rescue division, for a story for…
Brooklyn Backstretch 