Retired Racehorses

On Sept. 10, Tom Riddle, DVM, a founding partner of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital,
presented the honor at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)
25th annual National Awards Dinner. As the decorative vase was presented to
Courageous Comet’s co-owner Tom Holder, husband of the horse’s rider Becky Holder,
the argument for giving ex-racehorses a chance seemed to crystallize.
“My goal in developing this award was to try to put the spotlight on Thoroughbreds and
on their usefulness in careers other than racing,” says Riddle in a telephone interview.
“It’s very important to me that these horses who have served us so well as racehorses be
given other opportunities.”
“They’re amazing athletes,” he adds. “People need to be aware of that.”
Mike McNally photo. Reprinted permission of Becky Holder
Riddle hopes more ex-racehorse Thoroughbreds will be given the opportunity that
Comet was, when the horse was purchased by the Holders in 2000.
“While some Thoroughbreds are raised specifically to be racehorses, others are finding
greater success in their second careers as sport horses,” Riddle said at ceremony.
“Through this award, we hope to decrease the number of unwanted horses in the U.S.
by demonstrating their value in these non-racing professions.”
Courageous Comet was selected by a celebrity committee made up by George Morris,
Mark Phillips, Patty Heuckeroth, Hilda Gurney and famed U.S. equestrian and race
horse trainer Michael Matz. Using a point system, the horse’s performance was weighed
against other competitive Thoroughbreds in hunter, jumper, dressage and eventing
disciplines.