Welcome to the StreamHorseTV Racehorse Retirement Planning series, where we showcase owners and other connections who are investing in their horses’ lives beyond racing and explore the planning that enables safe and stable long-term solutions for transition into retirement and second careers.
From sale reject, to problem child, to the unlikeliest of champions, Whitmore took his connections and fans on an illustrious journey, winning at the top level for a remarkable six years and capturing hearts through his final race in August 2021. His humans weigh in on their horse of a lifetime’s impact, inspiration, next chapters, and how finding the right match is a crucial part of successful retirement.
Things don’t always go as planned, and that can be especially true in the horse world. Jordan Sigmon saved up some money to buy and train a weanling thoroughbred, but she ended up with a 6-year-old named Barry Lee, who is jumping into a new life with Sigmon, debuting in competition at The Real Rider Cup, a charity jumping competition for retired racehorses taking place virtually June 20th-21st. Barry is competing less than two months after ending his racing career, with the support – and silks – of his former owner, Sagamore Farm.
Horses don’t generally come with retirement funds. The racing industry has made strides in their commitment to what’s now commonly known as “Thoroughbred Aftercare,” but it’s a seemingly infinite debate on which component of the industry should ultimately carry the burden of responsibility. Not up for debate are the facts that the scale of the problem is massive, and finding a single solution is complicated.
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