Walking through the crowded hallways inside the grandstand at Canterbury Park racetrack, I could hardly contain my excitement. There I was, gripping the Jockey Club ownership papers for a thoroughbred racehorse that was now in my possession. Moments earlier I had met with the trainer outside the paddock area and on a handshake, the deal was done. Four year old gelding Solo Tour now belonged to Standing In The Gap. Ironically, my excitement came not from his potential as a racehorse, but from his potential in retirement. Solo Tour’s racing days were over. He was injured.
I quickly found a table inside and began to look through the info. “Who was he?” …Where and when was he born? …How many races had he won and how many owners did he have?” As I was feverishly pouring through the details, something caught my eye. Stapled to the inside was a small, foil gilded certificate. “Solo Tour -Nomination for Breeders Cup” it proclaimed. “Wow” I thought to myself…. “there must have been some high hopes for this guy at the start.” I couldn’t wait to tell Darla.
Solo had been bred by a prestigious breeder in California. I imagine that there had been some excitement about the yearling as he was sent off to his first owner. He had a nice pedigree and was ready to go into training. More than likely, a pretty good amount of cash had been exchanged. Solo started his early races in California. He picked up a win or two, before changing owners several times and finally landed at Turf Paradise for most of his three year old campaign. But, as with ninety-five percent of thoroughbred racehorses, Solo did not develop into the world’s next Triple Crown winner. Instead, Solo settled into a career that had him racing as a mid level claimer. Now, owner number five had brought him to Minnesota and he was ready to start pounding the dirt at Canterbury Park for the 2009 meet. Even though he was dropping in class, I am sure that each time he traded hands, expectations for him were hopeful. A racehorse needs to hit the board in order to stay in the game.
Ready to take his shot at the winners circle again, the bay horse with the star was entered to race on June 28, 2009 in nice 15K claiming race. However, after a very game start, Solo was done halfway through the race. This would prove to be his final trip around the oval. Solo came back from the race lame and track Vets confirmed the reason…A chip in the knee bone.
Standing in his stall at the backside of Canterbury, Solo had now entered that precarious place for an injured racehorse. The place that Darla has named THE GAP. In monetary terms, it is here in THE GAP, that an injured racehorse becomes worth only their weight at the going rate of about 18 cents a pound. Solo was now in a race against time. He needed to be out of his stall in forty eight hours to make room for other horses shipping in for the next races. In four short years he went from a pricey CA bred Breeders Cup hopeful, to simply a racing business write off.
Most of the time it is the trainers that are charged with the duties of negotiating the placement of these write offs. There are really only three options. Euthanize, sell for slaughter, or find a benevolent organization willing to take on the expense of rehabbing the horse. Fortunately for Solo, his trainer recognized that the playful, people friendly horse had value beyond his stint as a racehorse. So he set out to find a home. One well placed phone call lead him to Standing in the Gap. Rushing to the backside that day, it took only moments for Darla to see that same potential in Solo. Benefactors quickly contributed the mere two hundred dollars needed to purchase Solo and lead him out of The Gap. The sad truth is that this is a very rare occurrence for most injured race horses. Due to time constraints and cost control, most go to the auction house.
Solo will now join Maverick at Standing In The Gap as he begins his medical rehabilitation and subsequent training for a new life beyond the track. A few months to heal his physical body are all that is needed. He has already begun to show us his true talents. Here, it is not about past performances, number of wins, or lifetime earnings. It is about healing, and nurturing the hidden potential in each horse.
At Standing in the Gap, it is our goal to lead these horses safely away from the realities of the racing business and straight into the hearts of America’s military veterans.