Retirement Plans For Peppers Pride
When Peppers Pride managed to secure her sixteenth consecutive victory, she made history. She joined an elite group of horses such as Cigar, Hallowed Dreams and Citation, who also achieved this milestone. And now, with her eighteenth victory behind her, Peppers Pride is considered to be one of the finest fillies that have ever graced the horse racing industry. Though seemingly unstoppable on the track, her racing career hangs in the balance as her owners are considering retirement for this magnificent horse racing phenomenon.
On Sunday, 9 November 2008, Peppers Pride entered the starting gates at Zia Park for the New Mexico Cup Fillies and Mares Stakes. She got off to a shaky start and was running near the back. But as the homestretch started coming up, Peppers Pride found a gap and turned on the power, overtaking her competitors with great ease and charged towards the finish line for another breathtaking victory. Peppers Pride is out of the mare Lady Pepper and is sired by the half brother of Better Than Honor, Desert God.
Peppers Pride is owned by Joseph Allen, who is also the half owner of Desert God with his brother Ron, and is trained by Joel Marr. Marr has been training horses for Allen for the last eight years and together they have had a very successful run with Peppers Pride. Jockey Carlos Madeira, who has been her permanent jockey since the start of her career, has played a vital role in this magical story. Allen expressed his joy at her sterling career, but said that he feels that it is time that the five year old retires to stud. It seems that her last race will be the New Mexico State Racing Commission Handicap that takes place at Sunland Park on the 14th of December 2008. Allen also commented that it has been their intention all along to retire her at the end of this year, so it is doubtful if she will compete next year. Nothing specific has been decided in regard to her breeding future, but he is leaning towards an out of state stallion for her.
In her horse racing career, Peppers Pride has earned $991,085 so far, and if she can conjure up another victory at the New Mexico State Commission Handicap, she will be able to retire with career earnings of over $1 million and a racing record both her and her connections can be proud of. Peppers Pride has outdone herself as a racehorse and there is no doubt that she will be just as successful as a breeding mare.
