Little Kentucky Farm

. . . that perfect person.

I’m a match maker of sorts when imagining the perfect person for my Thoroughbreds. Who am I looking for when it comes to Frankie? I imagine that special someone who will take my place and continue developing a truly talented horse. That person is ready to commit to working long hours in the saddle, grooming, hacking out on trails, taking lessons and building a bond with Frankie, whether he ever sets foot in a Dressage arena or gallops cross country courses.

It’s not an unreasonable expectation for someone to take one look at Frankie and immediately fall in love. It’s not unreasonable to find a person who is ready and willing to invest their sweat equity into a young and talented Thoroughbred and grow together for years to come. That’s the type of person we love to meet when they drive through the gates and are never in a rush to leave. I tell everyone who come to look at a horse, to go with your gut feelings and if you don’t find an attraction within the first 60 seconds, then they’re not the horse for you.

See HORSES FOR SALE page for more information on Frankie O’Prado.

2022 – Clean x-rays

October 2023 – Young Frankie O’Prado had an excellent health exam that included flexing and jogging. Clean vitals, teeth and vision, clear airways, solid flexing and smooth jogging. Weight and muscle development are right on target, with zero body soreness. Legs are clean and tight, with big hooves that have correct angles and unresponsive to hoof tester.

This handsome youngster is a clean slate. Go to the HORSES FOR SALE page for current information.

The Georgia farm currently has 2 stalls open for Consignment Sales and Training. First class daily management, training and marketing.

Inquire about the 10% discount offer on board. For details please go to Board & Training Services page for full details.

As a 3 year old Cape Kimberly (Bella) ran only 1 time before we brought her home. For some horses, the sights and sounds of the track can be overwhelming. Just because a horse is a Thoroughbred, doesn’t mean they’re meant to race.

Bella quickly found her place in life being a successful Eventer with her young owner/rider Bree Robinette of Georgia. With all their sweat equity, the rewards have been endless and we are always bursting with pride from all their achievements.

It’s the end of the 2022 season and together they’re both National and Regional champions. They’re such a strong and influential team, that they’ve been invited to train with Olympian David O’Connor in January 2023.

A glimpse by Z. Fry

He seemed to have appeared from out of nowhere, when I looked up from the racing form. An old man slowly walked down the shed row of horses, petting each horse on the neck and stroking their noses. His lips moved in silent conversation as he went to each of the stall doors.

 He was dressed from head to toe in clothing once fashionable, but now faded, worn and outdated. A wilted brimmed hat was cocked to the side of his head, his old dress shirt two sizes too big with the cuffs of his trousers that dragged in the dirt.

 For some reason though, it was his shoes that caught my attention. They were a deep shade of brown with a hint of chestnut, perfectly polished and buffed. A lovely hand tooled pattern on the tips of each shoe, scrolled in a delicate half shaped heart. They were wing-tipped shoes.

He stopped in front of a shy 3 year old’s stall and gazed at the youngster who stood back in the shadows. As the minutes passed, the old man began to quietly hum a tune and played with the change in his trouser pockets. It was enough to catch the youngster’s curiosity, as the colt carefully hung his head over the stall gate and stretch it’s nose towards the old man’s open hand.

This ‘glimpse’ was written by John Bourke, who is a Thoroughbred race trainer, breeder, owner and an all- around great horseman. How many times did he drive past this retired box and thought to himself what that phone must have meant to so many people. . . the riders, the trainers, the drifters and others who are now long gone. It is a melancholy glimpse that is too special not to share. Thank you, John, for writing this and thank you for Artful Way (Ray), Give Me Cash (Johnny), and Good Kid (Billy).

I was once an integral part of the backside.  I was virtually used 24/7….but look at me now.  Grass & weeds taking me over- inside & out, thanks to those dam cell phones.

I was even looked upon as a threat to the integrity of racing.  Management locked me up 1 hour before the first post to keep those devious backside folks from calling their bookmakers, thus lowering  the on track handle.

When I was unlocked after the last race, the desperados would be standing in line to make collect calls, pleading to friends or family to wire more money.

I was also witness to many a call concerning affairs of the heart.  Some would profess their love & others question the fidelity of their long distance partners.

Then there were the battling trainers trying to eek out a living, (Pre-simulcast days) giving a story to their owners that rivaled a Tennessee Williams script.  It was a common place for battlers to feed me Mexican Centavos in place of quarters. It was known as a con man’s discount.

I guess the lesson learned from all those calls is simple.  Self preservation takes precedence over all else.

Just waiting for Ma Bell & Thistledown management to lock my door for the final time and carry me off to the old pay phone graveyard.

End of an era.

Our newest farm member is a promising, well-bred youngster who never set a hoof on a racetrack. Transitioning a Thoroughbred from the track to training for the show world is relatively easy. Why is that? With young Thoroughbreds whose futures are designed to run, earn money and possibly make history, they’ve experienced things by the age of 2, that the average horse might never experience in their lifetime.

When some Thoroughbreds don’t make it to a racing career for some reason or another, in my opinion they fall behind with their training on the farm, traveling on rigs, starting gates, workouts and day and nighttime racing. When I begin working with a youngster with no track mileage, I approach things differently in order to “feel” themselves out and recognize what they’re lacking in experience and exposure.

Frankie O’Prado is what I call a “pasture find”, who had all the paperwork ready for the Jockey Club, but for some reason never made its way to the desk of the organization. He was broke at 3 and turned out in a Kentucky field until early Summer 2022.

I jumped at the chance to restart him simply because he is by Paddy O’Prado. You can’t miss when there’s a Thoroughbred with any Prado blood whether its Paddy O’Prado, El Prado or Fort Prado. Those stallions have a reputation of being well boned, excellent temperament and talent from the racecourse to the show ring.

It’s going to be fun and gratifying producing Frankie. He is so affectionate, and I’ve already fallen for his gentle personality.

Frankie is a 4 year old Thoroughbred gelding who never raced. If his name rings a bell, it should. His sire is the famous Paddy O’Prado. Prado blood is like gold, especially now since the sire has passed from an unexpected farm accident.

We are in love with Frankie and his gentle ways.

More and more I’m seeing Thoroughbreds (who typically wear English tack), sporting Western gear. Thoroughbreds can do anything from racing, jumping, Dressage and Western sports. That is what’s so special about Puddle Jumper, because he can be an all-around Thoroughbred.

The farm congratulates Corey Bridges on her purchase of Puddle Jumper. She got a VERY special 4 year old and we wish them many years of happiness.