Jonathan Sheppard, one of this country's winningest trainers, announced his retirement

Details

January 4, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.--Jonathan Sheppard, arguably America's greatest trainer, announced on Jan. 4 that, at age 80, he is retiring as a trainer in America, although he still has a small string of horses in Ireland, one of which, French Light, will run in his name on Jan. 7.

Jonathan Sheppard Among his accomplishments are 15 Eclipse Awards, training a stallion that became this nation's Leading Sire, being the National Steeplechase Association's all-time leading trainer by wins, with 1,242 wins, and by purse earnings, with $24,902,442, winning champion trainer by wins 26 times and leading the sport by purses in 29 years, both records, winning a race at Saratoga for 47 straight years, and, as a breeder, breeding an Eclipse Award winner.

But one major accomplishment not so well known is the number of today's top trainers Sheppard "trained".

Sheppard won 15 Eclipse Awards, and, while two trainers, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lucas, have won more, no other trainer won multiple Eclipse Awards both on the flat and in steeplechasing, and Sheppard had winners on the dirt, on turf and over fences.

And, to make it even more amazing, in one year, 2009, he won an Eclipse Award both on the flat with Informed Decision as the Top Turf Female and with Mixed Up for steeplechasing.

Never before and perhaps never again has any trainer won both a flat and a steeplechase Eclipse in the same year.

Only one trainer, Sidney Watters Jr., has won even one Eclipse Award on the flat as well as over fences.

Read more ...

Ellie Glaccum wins the Photo Contest, Action, with Andrea Bates placing second and Pam Coeth third.

Details

January 4, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Ellie Glaccum won the Photo Contest, Action with a photo of Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds streaming over a fence in pursuit of a fox that she entitled "The Wave.

The picture was shot with a Canon Eos 7D II with a telephoto 70-200 mm lens.

Glaccum previously worked for the Cheshire Foxhounds, but she said she left last year.

"I’ve been working at EQB part time, which is fascinating, and doing odd jobs here and there," said Glaccum. "Actually came out as they were behind my house that day. I love the hounds. So much character ,and they love the huntsman. Cheshire has a great group."

Andea Bates and Pam Coeth placed second and third, and second and third place photos will be published in the next two days.

Kevin Babington continues to improve, inch by inch

Details

January 4, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

LOXAHATCHEE, Fla.--Kevin Babington is making slow but sure progress with daily exercises that leave him exhausted, but he is now also looking forward to participating in a new therapy involving stem cells at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Kevin Babington hopes to be able to ride again Babinton was paralyzed from the chest down in a fall at the Hampton Classic in 2019, and he has been working tirelessly, and often with great pain, ever since to regain some movement.

He bruised his spinal cord but did not sever it, giving him hope of someday being able to walk and perhaps even ride again.

He can now lift his right arm and almost touch his mouth, presumably meaning that he is close to being able to fed himself.

He can move several fingers and toes and can now move his left thumb.

Kevin's wife Dianna said a month ago that he has been getting some slight sensation a little bit lower in his abdomen and that also continues to improve a bit.

Read more ...

Another Successful Year for Retired Racehorse Adoptions at Turning For Home

Details

January 2, 2021

By Staff Writers

BENSALEM, Pa.--Over 3,100 Parx horses have been assisted over the last 11 years by Turning For Home, a racehorse retirement program, and Danielle Montgomery and Dani Gibson wrote a synopsis in the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association newsletter..

Despite a three month COVID -19 shutdown and the associated slashing of Program Income and donations, The Partner Farms of Turning for Home never missed a beat in their care for Parx horses.

Turning for home Row 1: (left to right) Way Over Budget, Old Rivers, Trapps Star, Grandma Gertie, Known But To God, Orquidea, Spectacular Move
Row 2: She Is Gorgeous, Alex Again, No Hiding Place, Bubblegum Tree , Refinery, Rossmoor Way, Backyard Boogie, Allgussiedup
Row 3: Nurse Betty, Fashion Shoot, Graymond, To The Victor, Rainbow Valley, Style Points, Warrior A.P.

We could never thank them enough.

The number of horses retired was surprisingly the same as in prior years, 287 directly plus numerous Parx and PA-Bred OTTBS rehomed after their owners could not care for them.

Read more ...

Athletic outerwear for your Animals at Equivest

Details

December 3, 2020

By Staff Writers

HONEYBROOK, Pa.--The creators at Design Equine had become frustrated with the selection of current cold weather protection for horses and livestock.

The livestock garment, by request, became a large dog coat.

Mostly all selections on the market are imported and we felt there was a way to create American manufactured equine apparel with new design features.

We saw horses wearing “blankets”, with many straps to secure.

Why not offer athletic wear for your horse, providing a safer fit and a higher level of comfort.

Equivest was created.

The EQ100 offers 1000 denier outer layer.

The EQ40 is lighter weight 400 denier which can be quilted depending on color. Insulation layer in both garments is the higher weight 3M Thinsulate.

Design Equine also provides this design for warm weather fly / insect protection incorporating a longer hind end.

We selected Deniers as outer shells, with an insulation layer of 3M Company Thinsulate, to provide for more warmth at a lighter weight.

Inside denier liners are ripstop.

Center closure is neoprene, offering weather protecting fabric, for coverage of chest and abdominal areas.

Patent pending tail flaps offer more hind end coverage.

They lift and separate to keep garment cleaner at just the right moment.

Seams on garment are waterproofed with a fabric sealer for extra level of protection on non- quilted outer layer shells.

Winter garments are packaged in a reusable Denier carry bag.

This can be used for grooming supplies, etc. and eliminates the need to throw plastic packaging in landfill.

We are currently producing garments sized for Foals to Draft Horses.

In addition, a large size for your Labrador or shepherd and newborn calves / small livestock.

We can provide custom color and size selections with a five horse minimum order.

Our product line is sewn in Honey Brook, Pa.

Quilting of our fabrics for stable garments is completed in Kansas City, Mo.

For more information, call 610-247-0829 or contact: Design Equine at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Madefromlucky has both racing ability and pedigree

Details

November 17, 2020

By Staff Writers

CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md.--Classically-bred MADEFROMLUCKY offers a combination of racing ability and pedigree in an impressive package.

One of the richest sons of G1 Preakness winner and two-time champion Lookin At Lucky,  behind 2018 G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and champion Accelerate and 2019 G1 Kentucky Derby winner Country House , MADEFROMLUCKY is from a family of top sires, the most prominent his dam’s full-brother, three-time leading sire TAPIT, one of the most influential and sought-after stallions in the world today.

His second dam, stakes winner TAP YOUR HEELS, is a half-sister to champion sprinter and top sire RUBIANO.

Also found in the family are G1 Belmont Stakes winner and champion Summer Bird and Glitterman, both G1 sires.

MADEFROMLUCKY won the G2 West Virginia Derby and G2 Peter Pan Stakes at 3, and stakes placings included a second to American Pharoah in his stakes debut.

His final two starts were stakes wins, one in the 11⁄2-mile, G3 Greenwood Cup Stakes by more than 12 lengths.

He retired sound as a millionaire with 16 wins or placings in 24 starts.

His first crop of foals are 2 year olds in 2021.

Madefromlucky stands for $5,000 live foal at the Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md.

For more information, please call 410-885-2855 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Pat on The Back, won or placed in 18 black type stakes, to stand at Godstone Farm

Details

November 18, 2020

By Staff Writers

LITTLESTOWN, Pa.--Grade 2 winner and millionaire Pat On the Back has been retired and will enter stud next year at Godstone Farm, near Littlestown, Pa.

A 6-year-old son of Congrats , Pat On the back raced from 2 to 6 and won or placed in 18 black-type stakes throughout New York for owners Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables.

He compiled a 9-4-6 record out of 30 starts and banked $1,144,545.

Pat On the Back was precocious at 2, getting his first win in his second start and capturing his first black-type stakes in his third start.

His best performance came in last year's one-mile, G2 Kelso Handicap at Belmont Park that he won by half a length over multiple graded stakes winner Prince Lucky in a final time of 1:33.97.

His other victories came in seven black-type stakes including consecutive wins in the 2019 Affirmed Success Stakes and Commentator Stakes.

"He kept giving his best all the time," said Lerner. "I don't believe I've had another horse run as good as he did for as long as he did."

A "Share the Upside" program with a twist will be available for breeders who support Pat On the Back's first years at stud.

Based on approval of mares to be bred, afer two live Foal seasons paid of $1,500 each you have earned a lifetime breeding right for Pat on The Back.

If the stallion is sold, a percentage of the sale will go back to breeding right holders.

No annual fee.

Contact Richard Brooks to discuss..

"He is a good-looking horse out of a family of sires that has already settled in on the farm," said Brooks. "I have also been in contact with a good group of breeders who breed to race and can get Pat On the Back off to a fast start."

Pat On the Back is out of the Awesome Again daughter Accomplished, making him a half brother to stakes winner and stakes producer Sarah Accomplished (Performing Magic).

The stallion's second dam, I'm in Celebration, is a multiple stakes producer and half sister to multiple Brazilian group 1 winner Little Baby Bear (Broad Brush), Flamingo Stakes (G3) winner First American (Quiet American), and Indiana Derby winner Dubai Dust (Broad Brush).

Both First American and Dubai Dust became successful sires in Brazil.

First American has sired 50 black-type winners, including 29 graded/group stakes winners and five champions.

Dubai Dust sired 28 black-type winners, including 14 group winners and two champions.

For more information, call Richard Brooks. 828-317-7000 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Pin Oak Lane Farm to stand top sophomore sire Wicked Strong in 2021

Details

November 18, 2020

By Staff Writers

NEW FREEDOM, Pa.--Millionaire Wicked Strong is moving to Dr. William Solomon’s Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pa., for the 2021 season.

wicked strong The 9-year-old syndicated stallion, who previously stood at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., will stand for $3,500, payable when the foal stands and nurses, with multiple mare discounts of $3,000 for two mares and $2,500 for three or more mares.

“He’s by far the leading second-crop sire in the Mid-Atlantic region with earnings of over $2 million,” said Solomon of Wicked Strong, who ranks third among the region’s active sires on the general list in 2020. “And he comes with 154 2-year-olds and yearlings, so I think his chances of succeeding are good for that reason. He also has10 stakes horses in his first two crops to race. All these things make him one of the most attractive sires in the Mid-Atlantic.”

His most recent stakes winning juvenile is Brooklyn Strong, who won the $150,000 Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 24.

Brooklyn Strong also fits among Wicked Strong's stakes-placed runners, as he was third in Belmont’s Bertram F. Bongard Stakes Oct. 2 in his second start.

A top-10 freshman sire nationally in 2019 by progeny earnings, Wicked Strong ranked second by number of winners with 26, one less than American Pharoah, Constitution and Tapiture.

Among his first crop runners, now 3, are Evil Lyn, winner of Pimlico’s Hilltop Stakes earlier this month, and Wicked Runner, a stakes winner at 2 and 3 in Puerto Rico.

Of his 10 black-type horses, seven earned black-type at 2.

One of the top runners of his generation, Wicked Strong won the $1 million, G1 Wood Memorial Stakes in stakes-record time and captured Saratoga’s G2 Jim Dandy Stakes over G1 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist.

Graded stakes-placed at 2 when third behind Honor Code in the G2 Remsen, he was second by a nose to his stablemate V. E. Day the next summer in the G1 Travers Stakes.

He turned in strong showings in the 2014 classics, finishing fourth after a tough trip in the G1 Kentucky Derby, won by California Chrome, and getting up to dead heat with California Chrome for fourth in the G1 Belmont Stakes while finishing less than two lengths behind Tonalist.

Wicked Strong competed in 14 consecutive stakes at 3 and 4, 10 of them G1.

During his 4-year-old season, he had four stakes placings, including a second to Tonalist in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup and a third behind Liam’s Map in the G1 Woodward Stakes, and concluded his 19-start career with a fourth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile won by Liam’s Map.

He is the richest son of top sire Hard Spun to stand at stud, with a record of 3-4-3 for earnings of $1,994,460.

Wicked Strong has a pedigree with strong classic lines.

His winning dam Moyne Abbey is by Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner Charismatic, who in turn is by Preakness winner Summer Squall.

His family is filled with graded stakes winners including two-time G1-winning millionaire Student Council; his dam is a half-sister to graded winners and G1-placed Gulch Approval and Rusty Slipper as well as stakes winner and graded-placed Approval Rating.

For additional information, please contact Pin Oak Lane Farm, P.O. Box 129, New Freedom, PA 17349  or call 717.235.4954.

Hiltop Farm has an exciting new stallion, Frisantos

Details

December 24, 2019

By Staff Writers

Frisantos is an eye-catching stallion that brings a fresh pedigree, modern type and top potential for sport.

Frisantos earned 9’s for character and work ethic at his 14-day test.

He has completed his stallion testing via the Sport Test option and his canter and rideability were well-rewarded highlights.

Under Michael Bragdell, he was the named Alternate for the USEF Young Horse National Championships and consistently earned scores in the 70’s at First Level in 2019.

Frisantos' sire is the highly popular Franziskus, who is winning top ribbons at prestigious CDIs such as Aachen and Wiesebaden with Ingrid Klimke. 

Franziskus descends from an established line of Grand Prix horses.

Grandsire Fidertanz is currently ranked seventh on the WBFSH Dressage Sire rankings, and his offspring are highly praised by riders.

Frisanto’s dam, the States Premium mare Esprina, adds a valuable and versatile pedigree that provides a needed fresh outcross.

Her oldest offspring are competing well in dressage ,and she is already the granddam to three approved stallions.

Highlighting her versatility, Esprina is also approved into the Hanoverian Jumper Breeding Program.

Esprina’s sire Espri was the 1995 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year and has sired Olympic competitors in both show jumping and dressage.

The first Frisantos’ foals show his charm and expression, and we’re excited to welcome his first foals through Hilltop Farm in the spring of 2020.

His fertility has been excellent ,and our enthusiasm for this young stallion is high.

Contact Hilltop Farm, Inc. at 410-658-9898 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to breed to this special stallion.

Classic placed Irish War Cry, a dynamic runner

Details

November 17, 2020

By Staff Writers

CHESAPEAKE CITY, Md--One of the most dynamic runners of his generation, classic-placed IRISH WAR CRY is the first son of two-time Horse of the Year and leading sire Curlin to stand in the region, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The gorgeous chestnut proved his grit and determination repeatedly during a career of four stakes wins and earnings of $1,257,060 while racing from 2 to 4.

IRISH WAR CRY was undefeated at 2, winning at 6 and 7 furlongs, captured the G2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park and G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct to rank as one of the favorites for the G1 Kentucky Derby, and led the majority of the 11⁄2 miles of the G1 Belmont Stakes as the favorite, battling gamely to the wire to finish second.

He dominated the historic G3 Pimlico Special at 4, getting the 13⁄16 mi. in 1:55.51 over a sloppy track.

IRISH WAR CRY is out of a winning Polish Numbers mare from a family of European classic winners and is a half-brother to G3 winner IRISH STRAIT, Irish Politics and to the dam of 2019 stakes winners Irish Mias and Regally Irish.

In his first year at stud in 2019 he was bred to 83 mares.

Irish War Cry stands for $6,500 at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md.

For more information, please call 410-885-2855 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Lord Shanakill – Sire Power

Details

January 8, 2019

By Staff Writers

NEW FREEDOM, Pa.--Lord Shanakill is the sire of 13 stakes horses, including most recently champion Youtalktome in Greece, and nine graded stakes winners.

Lord Shanakill

He is not only a G1 and multiple graded stakes winner of over $900,000, but he is a G1 and multiple graded winning producing sire as well.

Lord Shanakill is half brother to G1 winner, Together Forever (Ire), and he is from a family of champions, including Augustin Stable's Forever Together, trained by Jonathan Sheppard to win the 2008 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Stakes.

In his first few crops, Lord Shanakill, along with Youtalktome, has produced the G1 winner of the E750,000 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, My Dream Boat (Ire), who defeated two of the best racehorses in the world, Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, Found (Ire), and the number one rated, A Shin Hikari (Jpn).

In 2017, Lord Shanakill’s son, Marvel Hero, lowered a 12-year course record in Hong Kong with an impressive four and a half length win of the HK$2,500,000 Class 1 Happy Valley Vase handicap.

Lord Shanakill is also the sire of several graded stakes performers in Europe and North America including Time Shanakill, G2 winner Themis (Ire),and graded stakes placed Dark Kingdom (Ire), Pythius (Ire), Great Dancer (Ire), Mister Brightside (Ire) and Old Fox (Ire).

Lord Shanakill, a precocious sprint turf specialist in England and France, had tremendous speed and won in distances from 6 furlongs to a mile.

His sire, Speightstown,an emerging sire of sires, has been successful on both dirt and turf surfaces.

Lord Shanakill will stand for 2021 for $2,500 live foal with multiple mare discounts of $2,000 for the breeding of two mares, and $1,500 for three or more mares.

For further information, call 717-235-4954 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Royally bred Rimrod is a great bargain for Pa. breeders

Details

December 1, 2018

By Staff Writers

WEST CHESTER, Pa.--RIMROD brings the best American and European bloodlines to the breeders in Pennsylvania.

RimrodBy perennial leading sire DANZIG, RIMROD is out of a true blue hen mare, ANNIE EDGE (IRE), who has produced six stakes winners, including champion SELKIRK, multiple graded stakes winner SEEBE and earners of more than $1.5 million.

On the track, RIMROD was a multiple stakes winner of over $100,000.

He met and defeated European Sprint Champion and leading sire, OASIS DREAM and many of Europe’s finest runners.

At stud, RIMROD has sired the stakes winners LENAPE RIM ($617,366), VIANELLO ($263,255), Neo's Grand Finale ($347,932), Checkbouncein Billy ($421,869 to 7 in 2020) and 19 $100,000-plus earners.

He has sired 62 percent winners from starters, and has an average earnings per runner of $76,831, which is 48 times his stud fee.

All in all, RIMROD is a fantastic bargain for breeders in Pennsylvania.

Owned by George Strawbridge, Jr., Rimrod is a registered Pa. stallion and stands at Castle Rock Farm in West Chester, Pa. for $1,500 LFSN.

For additional information, call Peter Giangiulio's cell phone, 610-329-2832 or fax 610-793-0438."

Beautifully bred eventing stallion, Keltic Lion sires winners

Details

December 1, 2018

By Staff Writers

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Keltic Lion, whose barn name is Charley, is a bay, 2005 ISH, 16.3h, bay stallion by Lux-Z out of Karigal Lion, by Erigal Flight who is offered at stud by world renowned eventing star Bruce Davidson.

Keltic LionIf you are looking for a stallion that has a marvelous disposition, athleticism and good-looks and passes those traits to his offspring, then look no further!

By leading jumper sire Lux-Z, the winner of 1,000,000+ Euro who was a competitor at the Sidney Olympics and the World Equestrian Games, Keltic Lion is out of Karigal Lion, who is a sister of Eagle Lion, who won Badminton '95 and completed numerous other Four-Start Events without jumping penalties.

One of Keltic Lion's getCharley's offspring can excel as jumpers, hunters and eventers

These pictures tell it all!

Charley himself was an up-and-coming event horse until he lost an eye in an accident when he was 7.

There is collected cooled semen, and Charley's stud fee is $1,000.00 LFG, plus collection and shipping, if needed.

Another of Keltic Lion's getCharley is owned by Bruce O. Davidson, Sr., and stands at Chesterland Farm, 1560 West Doe Run Road, Unionvlle, Pa.

For additional information call Bruce Davidson at 484-431-8262 or stallion manager, Janis M. Smith at 610-357-1763, or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Making it Work for Mare Owners: Hilltop Farm Re-Imagines Cooled Semen Contract Options

Details

November 19, 2020

By Staff Writers

COLORA, Md.--With a wide variety of breeders each seeking different bloodlines, breeding goals, and budgets, the need for evolving contract options to better accommodate mare owners is apparent.

Sternlicht HilltopIn recent years, Hilltop Farm has transitioned from the previously standard 2-year live foal guarantee contract, to 1-year and per dose contracts for both cooled semen and frozen semen breeders.

While change can be challenging, this change was made with the benefit of both mare owners and stallion owners at the forefront.

The 1-Year contracts are pregnancy guarantee contracts and complete when the mare is confirmed 60-days in foal.

Mares that fail to conceive or reach the 60-day pregnancy check receive a discount equal to 50 percent of the breeding fee paid that can be applied to a new 1-year contract in the following breeding season.

The discount can be applied to any new 1-year contract, meaning breeders have the flexibility to change stallions and mares as we understand breeding plans change from year to year, as does our stallion line-up.

This option remains our recommended route for mares with unknown fertility or mares known to be a bit harder to settle in foal.

While it is a bit more expensive than the per dose breeding option, it provides breeders with the security of multiple breeding attempts within the season and the discount option on a future breeding.

The per dose breeding option isn’t a new concept, though is a fairly recent development for cooled semen breedings.

GK Calucci Much like frozen semen by the dose, cooled semen per dose breedings allow breeders to receive one dose of cooled semen with no guarantee.

One area that it does vary from per dose frozen semen is that this contract is intended for the insemination of one mare, designated at time of booking the contract.

While it does provide less security than the 1-year contract, priced at approximately 50 percent of the 1-year contract rate, this option can be a huge cost saving for breeders providing the mare settles in foal.

Should the mare fail to conceive, the breeder would start over with a new contract in order to request semen for an additional cycle.

This option is great for breeders with mares known to conceive easily, breeders only planning on trying one cycle, and end of season breedings that wouldn’t have time to fit additional cooled semen breedings into the stallion’s cooled semen availability window.

Given the lack of guarantee with this breeding, at Hilltop Farm we’ve limited this option to stallions with known conception rates and semen quality that allows for overnight shipping as we do want to ensure the best success for mare owners.

We’ve found breeders to embrace both contract options very well over the past few seasons.

The contracts offer pros and cons and each mare owner’s situation is unique.

Qredit HilltopWe recognize that what may be a pro for one mare owner, may also be a con for another.

For this reason, we do our best to familiarize ourself with each client to help best highlight the advantage of each contract to their specific situation.

As always, we encourage breeders to call or email with any questions they may have on the stallions and their availability prior to booking.

For additonal information, contact Natalie DiBerardinis,Hilltop Farm, Inc., Managing Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or

https://link.edgepilot.com/s/fc7c24fb/55xtusrjGESbvyifSi_4YQ?u=http://www.hilltopfarminc.com/

Call  410-658-1836 (direct)  or 410-658-9898 (main), or Fax: 410-658-9228

Sheppard's career includes 14 Eclipse Awards and 25 Trainer titles in six different decades

Details

November 16, 2020

By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLESTON, S.C.--Jonathan Sheppard won both the Leading Trainer, Races Won and Money Won titles for 2020 to run his skein of Leading Trainer titles to 25, with at least one title coming in each of the past six decades.

Jonathan Sheppard The Eclipse Award that he won last year with Winston C took his victories there to 14, with two of them coming for flat race horses.

Sheppard is only the second man to win an Eclipse Award with both a flat horse and a steeplechase horse, Sidney Watters Jr. having also accomplished that feat.

While Sheppard has already accumulated an historic number of wins as Leading Trainer and in Eclipse Awards, he may still add to that number, as he says he has no intention of retiring, and his barn  is stacked not only with proven major winners like Winston C and Iranistan, but also a large number of young winners this year who look ready to move up to graded stakes company.

"It was a blessed year," said Sheppard. "It's amazing how sometimes things just seem to fall into place, so you'd better enjoy it while you can."

Sheppard said that, for this year, he was most proud of Iranistan's two wins at Saratoga, while overall he was most proud of his record of 47 straight years with a win at Saratoga and of his success with Storm Cat.

Read more ...