Its on drf.com, it also showed up on Brisbet when I logged on.

Welcome to the forum..... hope you continue to post. :)

I love a happy ending.....

Thanks, your right, I didn't check there, drf. I usually check the tracks sites for late scratches, anyway I'm glad.
Shoot, sometimes it's easier to stay up to date here, this board is just full of info, at times it's like looking at old drf's with the info people have on pp's pedigree etc....really nice.

yeah this is a good place if you want some quick info breaking news on horses/racing.

YEA! He's an Ambassador! :)

BH.....

Ellis Park President Purchases 17-year-old Alpena Magic

(Edited press release)

After Alpena Magic scratched from Wednesday's entries at Ellis Park, track president Ron Geary announced he had privately purchased the 17-year-old from his owner Kenneth Robinette.

“It’s time for a new career for Alpena Magic,” said Geary. “This horse enjoys being around people and the racetrack. His new role will allow him to be our “equine ambassador” for our new Early at Ellis and backside tour programs.”

Retired from racing with over $200,000 in earnings, Alpena Magic was trained by Bill Hicks. Alpena Magic was originally retired at age 15, but retirement didn’t suit him, and he became so depressed those around him didn’t think he would survive. Hicks brought Alpena Magic back to the races and back to a healthy mentality.

Geary was excited to add a new member to his team at Ellis. “I applaud the owner and trainer of this horse for allowing us to give him a new life here at Ellis Park,” he said.

Alpena Magic will begin his new career this Saturday as a featured guest at the track’s family-focused Early at Ellis program.

Kudos to Ron Geary for doing the right thing.

Geary hasnt done anything wrong since buying the place. Good PR move

I never heard of this guy before, but I like him already.
This guy seems to know the right moves.
I'm going to send an email or a letter to Ellis applauding this.

The horses connections are doing this to obviously show the sheiks, the coolmores, the blue bloods, etc. that you don't need to retire your horse at age 2... or 3... or even 7 lol. Retiring a horse at age 2 on one extreme, still racing at 17 on another extreme, how about finding a happy medium lol?

I had a friend with an event horse who had the same problem with retirement. He had been a flat racer (14 wins in 115 starts and stakes-placed), a steeplechaser, and a novice level 3-day event horse. When he was retired to pasture at age 19, he started to deteriote physically. He needed somthing to do! So my friend leased to a younger rider for hunter classes. (That horse never stopped cross-country, just loved to jump over things.)

Really looks like both the connections and the owner of the track were doing what they thought was best. On one hand, the owner/trainer saw the horse was depressed away from the track and thought even a leisurely jog in a claimer would be better than seeing the animal depressed or worse.


Then, of course, Ron Geary does a great thing in buying him.

That is just what I was thinking. Its so good to see someone do the right thing. Kudos to everyone involved.

Thank God There Are Still Some Human Beings On This Earth. Let The Poor Animal Relax For Once Now!

wow
 

that is awfully old to be racing.


Must be one hell of durable horse.

ron.geary@ellisparkracing.com :)

a story with a happy ending! good for alpena!!

thanks Bill

I just sent Mr Geary an email.

Im glad to hear that
 

they scratched him I own a few horses that age, I could never expect them to go through the demands of a tough race.

I sent Mr. Geary an e-mail also... I think his efforts, not just with Alpena Magic, but with the 4% takeout on the Pick 4, should not go unrecognized. "Don't know him from Adam", but definitely think the sport could use a few more like him.

Great story. This is a very happy ending.