Leighton Farm
"A Retirement Program created by Thoroughbred Horsemen,
for Thoroughbred Horsemen"
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Leighton Farm "A Retirement Program created by Thoroughbred Horsemen, for Thoroughbred Horsemen"
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My Passion for Horses
It seems appropriate that years later, I would have horses at Sagamore. I wanted, maybe needed to be around them, so I rode, gave lessons, and eventually found racing. This enabled me to support myself and have horses in my life every day. What started my involvement in thoroughbred rescue and placement? Well
it was several factors, but it involves a horse. I call her Graycie and to
me she is the most magnificent creature to ever walk the earth. She was a
rescue, when she was a baby. Lisa Amarino saved her and developed her into
a healthy, strapping yearling. My husband bought her for me at the Fasig-Tipton
Timonium Sale. JK Adams and I broke her. She raced until the
age of 6 earning over $80,000 and retired sound. Lisa always kept contact with me and I learned about her rescue efforts. I am grateful that I have such a wonderful mentor. She is the person who gets the credit for getting me involved and it's all because of a gray mare whose registered name is Cloud's Honor. I've often wondered what Graycie would think of all the good she's caused. Much of her earnings have gone to helping other horses. As I developed into a trainer, I faced new challenges in caring for and competing my horses. It's a fine line between fitness and disaster. Then there was the inevitable retirement from racing. By then, I was totally attached to each horse whether I owned them or not. Most horses I've trained, I broke and developed. This involves a lot of time and commitment to the horse. Retirement forced me to rebuild my earlier connection to the show world. I was excited to find there was such a desire for thoroughbreds. My impression was that everyone wanted the warmbloods and the thoroughbred's time had passed. The response I got was incredible. The biggest problem being, people didn't know how to get them off the track. The track is an intimidating place if you don't know your way around. It's an insulated community. The hours are so long we really don't go out much to socialize. Basically, we build most of our relationships within this environment. It's easy to ease people into this world because we all have the same love and respect for the thoroughbred.
Next I realized I could help other trainers place their horses. I'd now been involved with Maryland racing for 20+ years. I practically know everyone. Being a small trainer, I didn't have enough of my own horses retiring, but I knew other trainers who were excited to find that wonderful people wanted their horses. |
I've loved horses as long as I can remember.
Growing up in the Greenspring Valley of Northern Maryland, not far from Sagamore Farm,
was part of the reason. My
mother said she avoided driving by it because from a very young age, I would
express in no uncertain terms that "I wanted a horse!!"
