Jumper Futurities and OTTB's

[bridlewise]

I am part of a non-profit racetrack (an oxymoron, I know!) in Fargo, North Dakota (yes, we really DO have horse racing here! ) and we're rolling around new ideas for stakes programs and I had a thought that I'd appreciate feedback from the minds on this excellent forum!

The North Dakota Horse Park (www.hrnd.org) recently created a Retired Racehorse Placement (both QH's and TB's run at our track) service through the track that placed several horses at the end of our 2008 racing season. We have been approached by several horsemen in the area about the creation of an auction at the end of the race season as well...which leads to our possible game plan.

I would like to create a stallion progeny and auction competitive series that offers the progeny of nominated stallions and horses that go through our auction ring to participate in the following series of competitions (one each for QH's and TB's):

2 Year Old Futurity
3 Year Old Derby
4 and Up Maturity/Handicap

AND

5 and Up Jumper Futurity (for our retired TB's)
5 and Up Barrel Racing Futurity (for our retired QH's)

The idea is to have a long term game plan for horses bred, raised and raced in the Upper Midwest...that is, provide off track horses with a chance to come back and strut there stuff after their racing career is over. The North Dakota Horse Park is a true "horse park" in the sense that we have a full 3 Day Event course at the track, outdoor and indoor competitive riding arenas and plenty of stabling for all competitions.

I can honestly say I've spent little time at Jumper Futurities and I'd appreciate any feedback from those out there that have been a part of that scene as well as thoughts from Breed to Race breeders on how they would take this trajectory into account in their programs.

We're busy creating our new 5 year plan and this may well play a fun and interesting new part of it!

Thanks ahead of time for any feedback!

[Bedouwia]

I think that is a great idea... question, why the breed limits on the jumping and barrel racing? I have seen some very good quarter horse jumpers, and also a few thoroughbreds that can whip around the barrels. You know your local area better than I do, but why limit the events?

Bedouwia

[bridlewise]

Bedouwia,

Excellent point! I think what I had in mind was differing the interactions and involvement with each Horsemen's Association (just as we do for the stakes race for each breed)...but then again, the AQHA has a HUGE hunter/jumper following and TB's can do it all!

H.

[madelyn]

For the retired TB's, you could throw in a steeplechase - those are always quite fun. If you wanted another QH event, you can always have poles.

Some of the other state TB programs have stallion season auctions, and offspring from a stallion who had a season donated, regardless of which state the stallion stands in, are all eligible to run in certain races. Would it be like that? Or does the stallion have to be in North Dakota?

[achinjrt]

Are there any "large" hunter/jumper shows in your area? There might be a venue for you to have qualifiers and also hit some of the hunter market also.

[bridlewise]

The idea is to make it a regional event, so stallions from anywhere and everywhere would hopefully be a part! We're actually in discussions with many of the smaller tracks in the Upper Midwest about teaming up for marketing our racing events, so who knows, it could become a race and riding event series ala the Breeder's Cup (dreaming big is fun!) .

Our local English club already hosts 5-6 big hunter/jumper/3-day/dressage shows at the Horse Park already and they will be our partner on creating the jumper side. We have a regional barrel racing futurity operator that would likely assist in that side as well.

I have a pretty good idea of how long it takes a racehorse to become a barrel horse, but does anyone out there know how long it would take to have a racehorse ready to compete in a junior jumper futurity (assuming he was retired sound)? I'm trying to project a timeline for when some of these events could get off the ground.

[Bedouwia]

I really like your willingness to think big and try something new. Years ago, my husband and I were doing some horse dealing in Ireland. We could usually take a horse from auction to sale in about three to six months. That was having a horse showing at the beginner levels. However, there is no real set time line. Much would depend upon the level of competition that you envision, and also the local owners/riders in your market. I would expect that the group you mention in your post could give you the most reasonable estimate for your area. I would think that there are some existing OTTB horses already available to get the idea started?

Just curious about the facility. In some places they have riding activities and displays going on between races. Would something like that work in your case?

Bedouwia

[bridlewise]

This year was actually my first year managing the track here in Fargo and we did indeed have jumping demos between the races as part of our showcase of retired racehorses for our placement program! We are lucky to have great support from horsemen in both racing and show worlds...it makes my job infinitely easier! We also have a graded stakes winning gelding donated by a large NA breeder that was our official racehorse "ambassador" at the front gate all summer...a huge hit with the kids!

Since our track is only 6 years old, there are actually very few local hunter/jumper OTTB's in the immediate vicinity...we have re-schooled trail QH's and lots of warmbloods, but so few TB's it amazes me! People are just catching on to what these horses can do!