NEWS
Racehorses to compete in Olympics
Posted: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 3:19 PM
by Frank Angst
While Curlin and Big Brown have made the most headlines among Thoroughbreds in the United States this year, neither will have a chance to earn a gold medal for his country at the upcoming Olympics Games in Beijing.
That opportunity will fall to a pair of retired racehorses in Poggio II, who raced in Oregon and Washington as Chesterstimetoofly in 1994, and Courageous Comet, who earned black type during a three-year racing career primarily in New York. Since their retirements from racing, the two Thoroughbreds have excelled in three-day eventing.
Poggio II and rider Amy Tryon will compete in their second Olympics after finishing sixth individually in the 2004 Athens Games and helping the U.S. team earn a bronze medal. Two years ago, Tryon and Poggio II earned an individual bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games in Germany. Tryon, 38, of Duvall, Washington, expects a top effort at this Olympics.
"Before [winning a medal], I had always been a good team member and could be counted on to produce a score that would benefit the team, but I didn't necessarily picture myself as being able to take that next step up and be competitive in an international venue," Tryon said. "I now feel like I have to set my sights higher for myself and Poggio as far as that's concerned."
Tryon is amazed her 16-year-old gelding continues to compete at the championship level.
"His biggest attribute by far is his desire to want to be trained," Tryon said. "He is a Type A personality. Every day that he goes to work, he enjoys what he's doing. Physically, his God-given talents as a horse pale compared to his ability to want to learn. I think he enjoys his job, and I've been lucky enough to work with some fantastic instructors that have helped me understand him better."
After retiring from racing after winning one of four starts at two, Washington-bred Chesterstimetoofly worked as a trail horse and pack horse in Washington for a new owner. The Tryons already owned horses by Chesterstimetoofly's sire, Polynesian Flyer, who had shown an affinity for jumps, and purchased him after they saw him advertised for sale.
"He's absolutely a fantastic jumper. He's very, very careful. ... Poggio has always been fantastic at being able to read a problem and keep his footwork going," Tryon said. "I have to always make sure that when I'm schooling him that I help boost his confidence because it's very easy for him to get too careful. But that's certainly a luxury that a lot of riders don't have."
Tryon would not trade her experience with Poggio II. "We've been together for 14 years now, and we're like an old married couple," Tryon said. "We know each other's strengths and weaknesses and I have a tremendous amount of faith in him. I think he has the same in me and understands that I'm not going to put him in a situation where he can't succeed."
Now an eventing veteran, Courageous Comet will team with rider Becky Holder in their first Olympics after a runner-up finish in this year's Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event. Holder, 39, of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, was a reserve for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
New York-bred Courageous Comet, by Comet Shine, placed third in the 1999 New York Stallion Times Square Stakes and earned $71,780 in three seasons of racing.
While most of the events will be conducted in Beijing, equestrian events will be conducted at Sha Tin racecourse in Hong Kong. Tryon will miss the opening ceremonies and meeting other athletes, but is looking forward to enthusiastic, horse-loving crowds at Sha Tin.
Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times
