Defending OTT Show Series Final champion Entourage (Image: Angie Rickard)
More than 40 retired thoroughbred racehorses will showcase their new talents in an equestrian career when they contest the Off the Track Show Series Final in Bendigo tomorrow, Saturday, 7 January.
The annual event is run in partnership by Racing Victoria (RV), via its popular Off the Track program, and Victoria Agricultural Shows Ltd (VAS) as part of the Victorian Saddle Horse Championships.
The Off the Track Show Series Final is only open to retired racehorses that have qualified by winning an RV-sponsored Off the Track class at one of the many VAS agricultural show events around the state during 2016.
Among the horses contesting tomorrow's final will be blueblood thoroughbreds by leading stallions Zabeel, Lonhro and Flying Spur, as well as gallopers formerly prepared by premier trainers John Hawkes, Leon Corstens and Chris Waller.
Defending champion and 2016 Garryowen hero Entourage, who raced in Queensland as Rolling Paradise, will line up in Saturday’s event, as will Sirmione, a dual Group 1 winner who captured the 2008 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington for the late ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings.
While many of the horses lining up in the Off the Track final have performed on racing’s biggest stages, others failed to forge a successful career on the track, highlighting that racing ability is not a prerequisite for success in a second career.
RV’s Equine Welfare Manager, Raelene Harrison, said the wealth of retired racehorses within the show horse industry was indicative of their suitability to all equestrian disciplines following retirement from the racetrack.
“The Off the Track Show Series, which culminates with Saturday’s Final, works to showcase retired racehorses in a second career and promote thoroughbreds as the ideal equestrian athlete,” Harrison said.
“The Off the Track Show Series, which is now in its fourth year, is one of many equestrian events supported by Racing Victoria that form part of the industry’s commitment to the welfare of horses following their career on the track.
“An expansion to the Off the Track program was detailed in Racing Victoria’s Equine Welfare Strategy last year and this will see Racing Victoria further its commitment to supporting our equine athletes before, during and after racing.”
The winner of the Off the Track Show Series Final will receive a $1000 cash prize as well as a personalised horse rug and Off the Track merchandise pack.
A $500 prize will also be presented to the runner-up of the class and the Off the Track Best Newcomer, eligible to promising, young show horses that have raced within the last two years.
The event, to be held from 5.30pm at the Prince of Wales Showgrounds in Bendigo, with racing fans, equestrian enthusiasts and the local community invited to attend.