1. THOROUGHBRED FOCUSBEYOND RACING
B
eyond Racing is an initiative started by
Imagine Racing with the aim to promote
and publicise Thoroughbreds beyond
their racing careers, share their stories, showcase
their successes and promote their transition from
racing to knowledgeable and loving homes.
As breeders and racing owners who promote
and market racehorse ownership, Beyond Racing
are actively involved in all aspects of the industry
and feel that every Thoroughbred owner should
take an active interest in how and where their
horses are retired once they reach the end of their
racing careers. Creating a platform to showcase
the Thoroughbred, share information and
ultimately ensure the appropriate second career
is the motivation behind Beyond Racing.
NOT JUST A RACEHORSE
The Thoroughbred racehorse has been refined
over the last 300-odd years through selective
breeding and careful pedigree selection to being
the ultimate athlete that he is today. Bred to run
and born to race, their younger retirement age
and their inherent workman-like nature and
athleticism mean that they are highly suited
to other forms of equestrian sport after their
racing careers. From three-phase eventing to
showjumping, dressage, polo and polocrosse
to wonderful hacks and companions, the
Thoroughbred is not ‘just a racehorse.’
Beyond Racing is a drive to reposition the after-
racing demand for Thoroughbreds, promote their
appropriate transition from racing to sport and
leisure horses and ensure that Thoroughbreds are
well looked after beyond the racetrack.
SUCCESS STORIES
This month, we profile a few success stories
shared by Beyond Racing friends:
Sanctify, the now seven-year-old mare by
Fahal out of Eastertide, was bred by Bosworth
Farm. She had 20 starts for one win and three
places, and was retired from the track in 2011.
Her owner Fran Laidler tells their story:
“Here is our little success story. I bought my girly,
Sanctify, a year ago. She had a fair racing career
and then the previous owner tried her at hunting,
but that was a little too much excitement for her so I
boughthertoevent.Theeventingwasslightlytricky
as dressage was not her favourite either. But oh boy,
did she love showjumping.
We started off at 80cm where she was placed
in every single class. In 90cm she won her very
first class and got placed in just about every class
entered. The 1m classes took a little adjustment,
but soon she was winning there too. By the end
of the year she was crowned the Burlington 1m
Amateur Showjumping Champion and as we
had the fastest round of all the Amateur classes
we won the use of a car for a year! Now 1.10m is
our next step, and this year I will hopefully enter
her in the Young Horse Performance Series for
seven-year-olds.”
Into the arena
Racing
TEXT: CATHERINE HARTLEY
PHOTOGRAPHY: H2, TBIMAGES,
FINE PHOTOGRAPHY
BEYOND
Sanctify has performed well through
the classes, and Fran has her sights
set on 1.10m and the Young Horse
Performance Series for seven-year-olds
Another shining moment in the
winning line-up
A jubilant Fran Laidler won the use of a car for a
year thanks to Sanctify’s jumping prowess
CREATING A PLATFORM
TO SHOWCASE THE
THOROUGHBRED, SHARE
INFORMATION AND
ULTIMATELY ENSURE THE
APPROPRIATE SECOND
CAREER
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