In October, champion Fifty Proof, a giant son of Whiskey Wisdom blessed with speed and stamina, was retired from racing by Kinghaven Farms and partners and is now being re-trained in Pennsylvania as a riding horse. Two years ago, his champion stablemate Rahy’s Attorney, owned by Joe, Jean and Ellen MacLellan, Mitch Peters and Dean Read was retired and has become a prized stable pony.
Incredibly, both stars were trained by Nobleton, Ontario’s Ian Black, whose daughter Shannon and her family adopted Fifty Proof.
Rahy’s Attorney is best known for his win in the 2008 Woodbine Mile (GI), one of 14 wins for the son of Crown Attorney in his 41 race career. Consistent, honest and hard trying, Rahy’s Attorney was retired after suffering a minor injury in a brave, second-place finish in the Sword Dancer Handicap (GI) at Saratoga in New York.
He ended his career with earnings of $2,120,208, and was named the Canadian Turf Male Champion in 2008. He also counts the 2008 Connaught Cup, and 2009 Nijinsky and King Edward Handicap among his victories. He took his owners on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Japan for the Kyoto Mile Championship in which he was only beaten three lengths in a ninth-place finish.
Black knew that Rahy’s Attorney would make a good track pony, “he loves to go out to the track and look around”, and the gelding is currently in Keeneland, Kentucky polishing his trade. On a recent visit to her star horse, Ellen MacLellan even took the gentle gelding for a ride.
Fifty Proof began racing in 2009 and became a stakes star the following year with a second-place finish in the Northern Dancer Stakes (GI). He won the Grade III Eclipse Stakes in 2011 and was named Canada’s champion older male.
Fifty Proof retired with earnings of $782,175 from seven wins in 25 races.
In less than a month, Fifty Proof was being ridden around a small ring in Unionville, PA with trainer Lisa Jacquin, who re-trains horses and has developed many Olympic-class horses.
“I was actually surprised,” said Jacquin. “He’s been very quiet, he’s very sweet and has adapted to this lifestyle quickly.”
Fifty Proof is enjoying some down time until the spring of 2014 when Jacquin will train him as a full time riding horse, or perhaps as a show horse.
“My Dad asked me if I had any interest in taking him when he was retired,” said Shannon (Black) Frigerio, who lives in nearby Villa Nova. “Knowing what a wonderful disposition Fifty has and that he was one of my dad’s favorite horses, I jumped at the chance. If it turns out he can go to a few horse shows that’s a bonus – if not he’ll be fun to ride around the farm. I think he’ll be successful in whatever we do with him – he’s that kind of horse”
