Pennsylvania-bred Saratoga Jack, a dark bay 9-year-old gelding, is set to debut in his new career at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover on Oct. 12-15 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky., where he will be participating in the Dressage discipline.

By Tiberius out of Thinkoutsidethebox, Saratoga Jack was bred at Safe Haven Equine by Kate Goldenberg and Helen Boynton in Perkasie, Pa., where he was foaled and raised. Goldenberg is a friend of mine and she thought I should meet this nicely bred foal and invited me to her farm. At that time, I had no idea that Kate had already named the grandson of Storm Cat after my late husband, Jack, who had passed away a few months after the birth of the foal.

I took one look at him and said “I want him,” and with that, the colt was mine with just a hug between two good friends.

Learn more about the author, Jean Mahoney, and how she developed her love of horses and passion for the Thoroughbred.

When it came time for Saratoga Jack to go to the races, he was transferred as a 2-year-old to longtime friend and trainer Miguel Vera, who stables at Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Md. Under Vera’s watchful and masterful eye, Saratoga Jack amassed a very nice racing career with a tidy bankroll of $378,330 and a career record of four wins, eight seconds, and nine thirds from 47 starts, including a win in the 2016 Crowd Pleaser Stakes for Pensylvania-breds at 3 and four additional stakes placings.

As a racehorse, Jack was very competitive and eager to train. He loved his job — a real handful at times as Vera can attest to. Jack was a quick learner and not a mean horse and flourished under his trainer’s care.

Retiring sound, Jack wasn’t ready for green pastures 24/7.  Knowing this and Saratoga Jack’s personality was enough encouragement to pursue my dream for Jack, and that was for him to have a second career as a dressage horse.

With that in mind, I made contact with Louise Atkins, a professional dressage trainer in Glenmoore, Pa. Atkins, who works with off-track Thoroughbreds, took Saratoga Jack to her training center at Cobalt Stables, where he is undergoing training for the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover.

“What I find fascinating is he looks relaxed and soft and easy ... it actually feels like sitting on a time bomb,” said Atkins, adding, “He is a very good educator for my hands. He is so elegant and he is super-cadenced in his gaits. I think he has the potential to be truly fabulous.” 

With approximately 130 horses entered in the Dressage division, Saratoga Jack will have his work cut out for him, but that is to be expected. However, if he performs as well as he did on the racetrack, Saratoga Jack will represent his namesake like the champ that he is and will always be.

The Jockey Club supports many aftercare initiatives including the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the only accrediting body in aftercare, and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers. View all of the initiatives supported by The Jockey Club.