Today, we present updates on three horses previously featured on our website. The updates come from longtime HW supporter and tireless advocate Mary Johnson. Thank you, Mary.
Shamrock Road
Shamrock Road was first brought to readers’ attention in early June, 2015, and two subsequent stories followed that same month. At the time, Shamrock was literally being raced into the ground. Over the next four and a half years, I followed him, as did other advocates, and, ultimately, I was able to purchase him in the fall of 2019.
During the seven months I boarded him, I networked for a 501c3 rescue to accept him into their program, and in July, 2020, Shamrock entered Omega Horse Rescue in PA. That would seem to be the end of the story, right? No, not even close.
Shamrock was quickly placed with a trainer who was “new” to Omega, and a few months later he was sent to a barn where an Omega board member was based. Kelly Smith, Omega’s director, asked her board member, Nikki Scherrer, to reach out to me with an update on Shamrock. I had made it clear to Ms. Smith that I wanted to follow him and I would ALWAYS take him back if things didn’t work out.
On November 9, 2020, Scherrer stated: “He has potential but is still very green. He is quiet on trails and w/t/c [walk, trot, canter]. My concerns are he cribs and those are almost impossible to find adopters for. He actually bolted on me today and it took me three laps to stop him.” Just to be clear, I had always been transparent about Shamrock being a cribber and he had never been a problem during the seven months he was boarded by me. But to be fair, he hadn’t been ridden during that time.
Scherrer then insinuated that the first trainer may have been hesitant to label Shamrock as dangerous and the last thing she wanted was for an adopter to get hurt. Suffice it to say, I was blindsided, especially since she felt that Shamrock would, most likely, bolt again. She was willing to give him some more time but didn’t know if he would be “safe for adoption.” I felt as if my soul had been crushed, because once a horse is labeled as “dangerous,” euthanasia is often the only remaining option.
It was fortuitous that another trainer Scherrer knew came to the barn and, after trying Shamrock out under saddle, decided to adopt him. When I reached out to Catherine, the adopter, in late November, this is what she said about him: “He’s a very special guy and I feel so lucky to have him! By far the sweetest horse at the farm already.” From being labeled as “dangerous” to being the sweetest horse at the farm. Sometimes there are simply no words. Was this the (happy) end to the story? No, there is one final chapter.
Two years after being adopted by Catherine, Shamrock was, once again, in need of a new home. Apparently, he no longer fit into her program. So in late October, 2022, Kelly Smith reached out and said I needed to consider taking Shamrock back because Catherine wasn’t interested in keeping him. I am grateful to Ms. Smith for contacting me because I do believe that eventually Shamrock would have disappeared from my radar, as so many horses do. I decided to take a chance and reach out to Jennifer Astrop, who runs Zorro’s Crossing Horse Sanctuary in Georgia. I asked if she might be open to accepting Sham into her program. Thankfully, she said yes.
On November 8, 2022, Shamrock arrived at Jennifer’s sanctuary. Since then, he has been loved as a member of Jennifer’s family. He is being used in her therapy program and is a favorite with both kids and adults. What a journey, but his story is now complete.
Shamrock, safe…
Diva’s Kitten
The story of Diva’s Kitten is well documented here, starting with Rose Smith and myself acquiring her from her racing owner in 2018, to her subsequent abuse by Colt Rainville when she was under the jurisdiction of Blue Bloods Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement, a TAA-accredited organization. The TAA repeatedly blew Rose and me off when asked to hold Blue Bloods accountable, and both Janice Towles and Stacie Clark Rogers of the TAA ignored our phone calls and emails. I personally believe they were hoping we would just “go away,” but Rose was determined to get justice for Diva.
After much thought and careful consideration, and after being ignored by the TAA, Rose reached out to the Attorney General’s office in NC and filed a complaint concerning Blue Bloods. At that point, Blue Bloods hired an attorney who was adamant that Rose had no case and was just spinning her wheels and wasting everyone’s time.
It is always a difficult decision to go the legal route because you must consider the financial ramifications, in addition to the time involved. But Rose decided it was worth it and hired an attorney in NC to represent her. She was rightfully upset that Blue Bloods continued to lie to her as well as protect Diva’s abuser, Colt Rainville.
Rose’s attorney reached out to the Blue Bloods attorney, and eventually the case was handed over to Blue Bloods’ insurance company. Frankly, I think that Elizabeth Macdonald of Blue Bloods was shocked at Rose’s tenacity and commitment to Diva.
After going back and forth for several months, a financial settlement is close to being finalized. The settlement will not begin to cover the expenses that Rose has incurred over the past few years, but at least it brings a semblance of justice for Diva.
Diva entered Zorro’s Crossing in June, 2022, and has been rehabilitated, so her story ends here. How fortuitous that she has joined Shamrock, and both are in the same forever home. What a blessing to be truly loved like a family member.
Diva, at peace…
Salt On the Rim
Salt On the Rim’s story was first brought to my attention in November, 2022, when she was 12 years old and being unfathomably abused by the racing industry. I decided to try to “acquire her to retire her,” with Rose Smith’s help. Salty wasn’t eligible to race at Mountaineer in 2023 because of age restrictions, so I just had a feeling her owner might be willing to “sell” her to me.
Because I spent years on the backside of a low-level track and had developed relationships with racing insiders, I was able to network for her and ultimately touched base with her owner. This owner told me he wanted to race her one more time. And that occurred on December 13, 2022, where Salty finished last out of ten by 24 lengths. Finishing last by 24 lengths is something most wouldn’t celebrate, but, in fact, Salty did win that last race…the race to leave the racing industry.
The Bill of Sale was executed, the check cashed and Salty was mine. Within a couple days, Salty arrived at a friend’s barn in northeast Ohio where Rose and I had boarded other horses, including Shamrock and Diva. One chapter was finished, but her story didn’t end there.
My wish for Salty was to retire her to a sanctuary. There were a couple of rescues that offered to take her, but I felt that at the age of 13 she had paid her dues and I wanted her to be in an environment where nothing would be expected of her – where she could just be a horse.
Rose and I then reached out to the Exceller Fund, which has a sanctuary division for older horses who have raced over 75 times. Salty certainly qualified! After further discussions with Exceller, they agreed to accept Salty into their program after she had several months of downtime. Rose and I were ecstatic.
Before she left for her sanctuary home, I visited her, where the owner of the barn raved about her. Not only was Salty drop-dead gorgeous, she was also sweet and kind and easy to work with.
Salty left Ohio on April 22, 2023, and arrived at the sanctuary the following day. I had only owned her for a few months, but I felt an incredible bond with her, and I was thrilled that this “war horse” would now be safe. I am honored that I was able to be a part of her journey to a happy life. I wish all horses were as fortunate.
Salt, just being a horse…
As a child, I was addicted to anything that involved horses, including Saturday morning TV shows (“My Friend Flicka” and “Fury”) as well as horse books. I was a voracious reader and read the whole “Black Stallion” series twice. But one of my favorites was “Black Beauty,” and that book is still one of my prized possessions. Although parts of “Black Beauty” are incredibly sad, the ending is uplifting and the last paragraph in the book resonates with me:
“My ladies have promised that I shall never be sold, and so I have nothing to fear; and here my story ends. My troubles are over, and I am at home, standing with my old friends under the apple trees.”
Those words came from Beauty, but they could just as easily have come from Shamrock Road, Diva’s Kitten and Salt On the Rim. Finally, all three are at home.
Rose, your comment resonates with me. There are so many horses waiting for help…help that will never come. And even when you think that you have found the horse a safe place to go, the chance of them, once again, being in a precarious situation is ever present. In 2019, a study was done by the Standardbred Retirement Foundation which found that fewer than 9 out of every 100 adopted horses kept their homes for life. What a sad commentary.
Wanda, yes, I could write a book. Probably several books because the horror stories I have seen would fill the Empire State Bldg. However, I have no desire to do so. With that being said, the racing industry is in trouble, BIG trouble, and I do believe from what I have seen and heard, it will continue to contract and that to me is a huge win.
MRO, I hope you are reading also, about the horrific deaths of thousands of horses here on our pages. And I hope your “subscribe as a horseracing fan,” will soon change to “subscribe as a former horseracing fan.” Horses in racing are used, abused and thrown away at tracks like Mountaineer as well as tracks like Saratoga. The public’s support of racing is what is keeping the cruel cycle going – horses are being born, abused and killed for gambling and entertainment. And there is absolutely no need for it.
Spot-on, Rose. Thank you.
MRO, please consider the fact that Shamrock Road, Diva’s Kitten and Salt on the Rim would not have been in need
but for the racing industry. When racing is finished with their athletes they have nowhere to go.
Racing just walks away.
The number of horses rescued makes very little impact when compared to the overwhelming number of horses at risk year after year.
It’s similar to the Mustangs that get “adopted” and there is no guarantee that the horses will have a truly good home and be properly cared for and allowed to live out a natural life span. After one year, the adopters can sell the adopted horse(s) and killbuyers can do whatever they want with them. That is definitely not what Wild Horse Annie intended for the Mustangs.
Mary, thank you for your post.
It certainly highlights the fact that being “rescued” is not the happy ending we like to believe. For many of these horses it turns out to be a long journey involving a lot of commitment…
Please add my horse to the numbers of TBs rescued and given lives beyond the track. He was a cribber, too, bolted, and reared for a time. Not many have the skills and more importantly the patience, kindness, and perseverance to help these horses learn to be recreational riding horses. It’s so good to know rescue farms exist for OTTBs although few and far between. Eventually, my horse was given the chance to just be a horse like the horses in these pictures. The cribbing stopped as soon as he had access to pasture turnout and abundant hay. Absolutely anyone can handle him. My dream is for all racehorses to be set free. As Lame Deer, Native American Seeker of Visions, said: “Horses make a landscape more beautiful.”
Unfortunately, the industry goes to great lengths to hide as much of the damning evidence and information as they possibly can. I think the reason/s why are obvious. The people in this industry should be turning themselves in for continuous and egregious abuse, crippling, maiming and killing of horses exploited for racing and wagering and the other side of it, breeding and slaughter. Enough letting the foxes guard the hen house!
I subscribe to your blog as a horse racing fan. I appreciate your calling out abuse when you see it. I appreciate stories like this and the people who work tirelessly to get horses like Salt On The Rim off the track and retired to loving homes where they can just be horses. I appreciate your information on horses who were vanned off or did not finish. It’s difficult to find this information elsewhere.
You might not know how much of a relief it is to know that you, Mary Johnson, and you, Rose Smith, rescued these beautiful horses from more suffering at the hands of those arrogant types of people who put their own selfish desires on a higher priority than caring about what the horses need for basic health and well-being.
I still think you could write or contribute to that book that has not been written yet, Mary. You know that book with the working title of “Rescuing Racehorses for Dummies”…?!
What a beautiful tribute to these three very fortunate souls. All three were lucky enough to not only escape the clutches of the hideous, greed-driven racing industry, but to have crossed paths with Mary and Rose — two true heroes of the Anti-Racing Movement.
Thank you, Mary. Thank you, Rose. I applaud you for your dedication, both to these horses and to this cause. (Saving equine lives and eliminating this cruel, archaic anti-sport go hand-in-hand. As the whole, evil industry implodes, here’s to fewer and fewer Throwaway Thoroughbreds in need of your generosity, perseverance and rescue:)