(Edited press release)
West Point Thoroughbreds announced yesterday that New York-bred multiple stakes winner Awesome Vision has been retired from racing and is entered in the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover to be held October 23-25 at the Kentucky Horse Park. The 6-year-old horse is in a retraining program and slated to compete in the eventing and show jumping disciplines under West Point’s racing manager Erin Birkenhauer.
The Saratoga Springs-based racing partnership group, in consultation with trainer Tom Albertrani, decided to retire the son of Awesome Again after a small knee chip was discovered following an eighth place finish in the Danger’s Hour Stakes on April 19 at Aqueduct. After such a successful career on the racetrack West Point management and his Partners felt he deserved to retire with dignity and the ability to move on to a second career.
West Point Thoroughbreds president and founder Terry Finley said, “This horse’s retirement is bittersweet. He gave us so much joy, but it’s not realistic to think that he would run forever. What does feel good is that this is the way all racing retirement chapters are supposed to be written — a horse going out with class and the opportunity to embark on a new career with another exciting chapter forthcoming.”
Added Finley, “He was a major force in the New York-bred ranks for years, a multiple stakes winner who brought his Partners to the winner’s circle eight times, and earner of $439,236.”
Awesome Vision began racing as a 3-year-old in 2012 and has a record of 8-2-4 from 28 career starts. His entire racing career was spent in New York, with 27 of his 28 starts were at New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks. He’s also a multiple stakes winner, having won the Compelling Word, Saratoga Sunrise, and Move It Now Stakes.
West Point Thoroughbreds plans to chronicle his training for the Thoroughbred Makeover on their website and social media channels. The Makeover takes place the weekend before the Breeders’ Cup and has been designated an official Breeders’ Cup Festival Event.
