Horowitz On OTTBs

The success of the Arabian Sport Horse Championship is going to change the image of one of the oldest horse breeds in the world. The impact that this event can make is similar to what the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover has done for the Thoroughbred breed. “The Arabian Sport Horse Championship is the best […]

The next two weekends will bring out the best qualities of the Thoroughbred breed — the last weekend of April for the Thoroughbred sporthorse at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event and then the first weekend of May for the Thoroughbred racehorse at the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby in Louisville is about showcasing the […]

Sergio de Sousa and Ann Holbrook spoke on March 8. It’s something they do frequently, and this time, it was to celebrate the birthday of the horse that brought them and the racehorse and sporthorse worlds together and changed the game for the recognition of OTTBs – Cozmic One. Cozmic One was born on March […]

There are many ways to present horse racing during a broadcast of the Sport of Kings. There’s the sport, the gambling, the stories about the people involved, the history, and more. When I appeared on the international broadcast of last Saturday’s Obaiya Arabian Classic at the Saudi Cup that was carried by Fox Sports in […]

Racehorse trainers will be part of many decisions in their horses’ careers. Dirt or turf. Sprint or route. Put on blinkers or take them off. Trainer Linda Loftin was part of the two biggest decisions someone in racing can make for a horse’s welfare when it comes to Grand Lily. — Number one: when to […]

If there’s one thing that’s predictable when it comes to horses, it’s that they’re unpredictable. And, that’s a big part of their intrigue and attraction. In 2022, a year when crowds returned to racetracks at full capacity, an 80-1 longshot won the Kentucky Derby and a once-in-a-generation star emerged that was worthy enough to be […]

When Prince of New York arrived at Morning Line Equestrian in Paris, Ky., in the spring of 2021, his new owners needed to come up with a barn name. Chris and Celia Bennings’ first idea was “Pony,” the first letter of each word in the horse’s name. “We thought that would be cute, but then […]

There are many decisions to be made in the life of a racehorse, with no guarantee that they will work out. When 15-year-old Isabel Wells calmly walked 5-year-old chestnut gelding Hieronymus over to the final obstacle of the competitive trail course during the finale of the 2022 Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover and raised a […]

The Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover has led more people to find their next sporthorse at the racetrack, providing more homes and new careers for OTTBs. It also goes the other way, and the off-track Thoroughbreds are inspiring new people to head to the racetrack. Like Samantha Fawcett, a lifelong equestrian from Ontario, Canada, who […]

I began this column in January 2020 because my goal was to go from announcing horses to riding them. (See “Horowitz’s Unlikely Journey from Broadcasting to Riding Horses”) Specifically, it was to compete with an off-track Thoroughbred at the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. Unfortunately, I did not get to compete in the 2020 Thoroughbred […]