Rah Rah for Rolex #10: The Thoroughbreds for all event

Coinciding with Rolex is a wonderful program celebrating thoroughbreds in sport -- Thoroughbreds for All has been featured in Eventing Nation and elsewhere. Featured speakers and exhibitors have included Phillip Dutton, Bruce Davidson, Steuart Pittman, Dorothy Crowell, and well known eventers, veterinarians, jockeys, and even famous horses! I got to see Molokai, Rolex winner, in his retirement (he has since passed). Held at West Wind Farm on the Friday of Rolex, TFA is a cheap, good meal and a fascinating edu-tainment event and fundraiser.  It has more than doubled in size in the years since it was first held. You've just gotta go. Read about this year's lineup below, which includes dressage luminary Linda Zang and OTTB dressage star Ken's Kitten (read about him at offtrackthoroughbreds.com!

Thoroughbreds For All Kentucky

Retired Racehorse Training Project

Friday, April 25, 2014 from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM (EDT)

Lexington, KY

This year’s Thoroughbreds For All event star line up will include: Olympic dressage rider Linda Zang, Pan American Games eventing gold medalist Lynn Symansky, and Kentucky Oaks winning jockey Rosie Napravnik.  All three will share their experience in working with retired racehorses to an expected crowd of over 600 Thoroughbred enthusiasts. The evening event begins at 5:30pm, following the Rolex cross country on Friday, April 25, just fifteen miles from the Kentucky Horse Park in the covered arena at New Vocation’s Lexington facility at West Wind Farm.  A southern style dinner and cash bar will be included in the evening festivities.

This year’s event will focus on the versatility of the Thoroughbred by incorporating a variety of riding disciplines throughout the evening. Linda Zang, who is best known as America’s most respected international dressage judge and a veteran of the 1980 Olympics, will lead a session on retraining the Thoroughbred for dressage. During her session Nuno Santos will ride one of America’s most promising and best-bred dressage horses, Ken’s Kitten, by leading sire Kitten’s Joy.

Rosie Napravnik, who currently sits at the top of the jockey standings at Fair Grounds Race Course, is ranked fifth on the North American leader board. She became the first woman in history to win the Kentucky Oaks in 2012 and broke Hall of Fame jockey, Julie Krone’s 20 year standing year end earnings record that same year.  She will not only share her experience but will also demonstrate it with her own retired racehorse, “Sugar”. Napravnik’s demonstration will include a tack change to showcase the versatility and athletic ability of the Thoroughbred.

Lastly, Lynn Symansky, who with her retired racehorse Donner, helped the United States win gold at the  2011 Pan American Games Eventing Competition and placed fifth at last year’s Rolex CCI**** will share her experience in retraining Thoroughbreds for eventing. Lynn will use one of New Vocations’ horses during her session as well as an advanced horse to demonstrate different training tips.

All sessions will be moderated by Steuart Pittman of RRTP and Anna Ford of New Vocations.The event will run from 5:30pm to 9pm and will include a southern style dinner and cash bar. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://thoroughbredsforall.eventbrite.com for $35 each. Proceeds from the event will benefit New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and Retired Racehorse Training Project, both are 501(c) 3 charitable organizations.