Linda and Jack Walnes of Avon, N.Y., lead the Beginner/Novice and Novice Divisions as Career2 heads into the Grand Finale. Mr. Walnes is also vying for a championship in the Training Division. He rides The Country Gentleman, a six-year-old he has owned for two years, in both divisions. His wife is competing on True Valor, a five-year-old gelding in his first eventing season.
The Career2 program kicked off in June and includes eight horse trials on the New York event circuit. Career2 is funded by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), which represents the racehorse owners and trainers competing at the NYRA tracks.
“We are really thrilled by the enthusiastic response to Career2 within the eventing community,” said NYTHA President Rick Violette Jr. “With their agility, energy, versatility and competitive spirit, Thoroughbreds are ideally suited to this discipline, and Career2 highlights their success. The program will invigorate the market for second career Thoroughbreds in the sport horse world.”
More than 100 horses are participating in the Career2 program this year. Riders of registered Thoroughbreds accumulate points and earn prize money for winning and placing in sanctioned events. The champions in each division will receive $700 at the Grand Finale at Millbrook, with second place good for $300.
Career2 is “an absolutely great idea to get people more interested in the Thoroughbred, because the Thoroughbred is a tremendous athlete,” Mr. Walnes said. “These horses can do anything.”
Since 2000, nearly 15,000 Thoroughbreds have been registered with the U.S. Eventing Association.
Mr. Walnes started eventing over a decade ago on a Quarter Horse before switching to Warmbloods, but said, “I’ve learned a lot over the years. Warmbloods are not the way to go. I’d much rather ride a Thoroughbred. It’s so nice to have a horse that enjoys this type of job.”
Both Walnes horses came from A&C Stables, run by Aaron and Charity Donnan out of Piffard, N.Y. The Donnans work both ends of the Thoroughbred business, racing their horses as well as training and selling Thoroughbreds to eventers and other riders. Their most well-known horse is Courageous Comet, who was claimed for $9,000 at Finger Lakes in 2000. Courageous Comet won a couple of races for the Donnans, and went on to compete in the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2010 World Equestrian Games.
Neither of the Walnes’s Career2 horses made it to the starting gate. The Country Gentleman, a son of Desert Warrior registered as Gentry, was a $5,700 yearling purchase. The Donnans bought True Valor, a son of Full Mandate registered as Truely Valorous, for $2,500 as a yearling.
“Career2 is a great avenue for the Thoroughbred,” Ms. Donnan said. “The people who buy them and ride them, they will have a best friend. And you can participate at Beginner/Novice and move right through the levels.”
Topping the leader board in the Training Division is Carol Connors and Behrometer. The 10-year-old gelding, a $120,000 yearling, won just once from 35 starts. His sire is Behrens, who was second in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga in 1997 and in the GI Whitney H. in 1999. There is a three-way tie at the Preliminary level, and Kathryn Reed and Parker lead the Intermediate Division.
For the complete Career2 leaderboard, go to www.millbrookhorsetrials.com.