About Us

It started in June 2008, John, my husband who is an avid horseplayer, lured me out to the track once again on a Thursday night (dollar dog night).  For a dollar each,  you can get into the track, eat a hotdog, get a drink (soda of course, beer is a little more), who in their right mind can resist such a tasty meal, plus the price was right.  That day something special happened,  I really don’t know what.  Maybe it was the warm air and the second hotdog that got me thinking that if I was going to come down to the track that maybe we should look into get invested in the racing game.  A good friend of ours, Steve I., was also at the track that day.  Steve and I started discussing horse investments.  He is a good one to discuss this topic with as he, his uncle, various friends, including John, had previously been involved in the horseracing game.  Steve told stories about his adventures and misadventures with various horses that he had owned.  Yes, there were some great moments in the winners circle, some funny moments and some very sad moments.  That day in the back of the racing program, we noticed that there was a notification that there was going to be a informational Horse Ownership seminar the following week.  John and I went to the seminar and sat in the back; it was packed.  Scott Rake of the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association was the presenter.  He passed out information on Horse Ownership, then spoke about how he once sat where we were, and now he owns horses.  He told us about the business, how to get started, gave us names of knowledgeable people to contact.  He mentioned that he just claimed a horse and he was nervously waiting for it to run today.  I thought that it was funny that he was nervously awaiting the race.  Little did I know that I too would be feeling this way shortly!  John sent off an e-mail to a contact person at Canterbury Downs asking if they knew of any racing partnerships that might be forming.  He replied back promptly, sending three names that might be involved in partnerships.  John sent off notes to these people and got one reply from David Miller.  David Miller is the president of Star of the North.  He was in the process of forming a partnership on a two year old, unraced, filly.  We set up a time to meet at Canterbury.  David met us at the visitor’s gate to the backside.  After introductions, David took us back to see two of his horses, Somerset Wish and Somerset Sam, they were lovely horses that he was currently running in another partnership.  We met several people along the way including an owner, a couple of trainers and a groom.  Then we met her.  She did not really want to have much to do with us, as she lay curled up in her stall.  She did not even want to be bothered to look up at us.  David entered the stall, and she popped up.  Wow, she was much bigger that I figured a two year old would be, as she towered over us.  This was Standing Rock.  Where do we sign J   She was ready to run her first race and as partnership owners we had to get a Minnesota State Racing License.  We filled out the information, got our fingerprints and picture taken.  We received our license, then we were set.  Today was the day she would be racing.  It had been a rainy, wet morning, but we were hoping for a cool, dry racing evening.  We went back to the barns to wish her well, and then proceeded to the track.  When you are an owner, going to the backside to see your horse is one of the benefits, also getting into the track for FREE!  She was racing on a Thursday evening (it was Dollar dog night!!! A good omen, right!)  A couple of our friends came out for the big race.  Then it was time.  Standing Rock appeared in the walkway of the paddock, accompanied by her groom.  I took pictures.  She looked beautiful as she entered the Paddock area.  We proceeded into the Paddock (another perk of being an owner) accompanied by all of our friends.  We met David Miller, Janet Weber (partner and breeder) and Brian Nodolf (another partner).   Vic Hanson, our trainer, was in the paddock saddling up Standing Rock.  Once saddled and numbered, she was paraded around the ring.  The track announcers were talking about all the horses odds of winning…blah blah blah.  She was so elegant, and a sure winner.  Anne Von Rosen, Standing Rock’s jockey, joined us in the Paddock and shook our hands.  She was wearing David’s blue Star of the North Silks.  “Riders Up” was called…Vic sent Anne flying up on Standing Rock’s back. “Good Luck Anne and Standing Rock” we all cheered.  Off they trotted to the track.  We all departed the Paddock area to the trackside to watch Standing Rock  reappear on the Track.  The bugler called them to the track.  She was number 2 in line.  She came down and round in front of us.  Wow, we thought, this adds a whole new dimension to coming to the track.  The cameraman kept track of her every move as she moved around the track to the gate.  Then it was time to enter the gate.  “Last in line, Standing Rock” we heard the announcer say.  The bell rang and it began.   We held our breath… Standing Rock broke out of the gate like her tail was on fire.  “And it is Standing Rock going to the lead”.  John and I both looked at each other astonished, that she was winning the first race of her career.  She is going to win, we were both thinking.  Unfortunately, we were wrong, and she finished back in the pack. We really did not care where she finished; she had done really well, and came out of the race unharmed.  This is really the goal, keep them safe.  We had a great time watching her run and sharing that experience with our friends.. I cannot believe that it has almost been two year since that first race. It has been a fun first and second year.  Standing Rock raced three times the first year and eight times the second year; each time was as exciting as the first.  We love the time we have spent in the barns with her, and all of her friends.  We really enjoy that our friends have come out to support us, and her, in this adventure we are undertaking.  We are looking forward to more fun in the upcoming season and hope that you will be there rooting with us. 

 

  

 

Beautiful Horses, Great Times and Good Friends