February 2021 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN February 2021 Page 25 Calendar of Events Submit events by the 10th of the month preceding publication to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net or P.O. Box 8412, Lancaster, PA 17604-8412 NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, readers are advised to confirm with the organizer that listed events will take place. FEBRUARY 5 Horse and Tack Auction. RSD Horse Auctions, Kear- neyville, WV. (304) 876-8326 or rsdhorseauctions.com. 6 USEA USEF Horse Trials. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . 6 Winter Buckle Series. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635- 5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. 6 Cavaletti Clinic. Karmic Run Stable, Mt. Airy, MD. (443) 838-6448 or karmicrun.com . 7 Cross Country School. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sportingdays farm.com . 7 Ranch Roping Practice. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635- 5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. 7 Coursework Clinic. CoExist Stables, Mt. Airy, MD. Theframesporthorses.com. 12 Apple Days Cross Coun- try. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sporting daysfarm.com. 12-14 Lilo Fore Clinic. Turning Point Farm, Downing- town, PA. (484) 883-4003 or tpftantris@gmail.com. 13 Winter Wrangler Series. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635- 5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. 13 Kelley Williams Winter Clinic Series. Covered Bridge Farm, Woodbine, MD. (301) 774-1446 or abitbetterfarm. com. 13 Cross Derby on All Weather Footing. Loch Moy Stable, Adamstown, MD. (301) 514-0111 or themarylandhorse trials.com. 13-14 February Local Show. Swan Lake Stables, Littlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlake stables.com. 19 Horse Auction. Wolfe Agricultural Auctions at The Eyler Stables, Thurmont, MD. (301) 748-2924 or wolfeauctions. com 19 Martin Douzant Jump Chute Clinic. Covered Bridge Farm, Woodbine, MD. Theframe sporthorses.com. 19-21 February National Show. Swan Lake Stables, Lit- tlestown, PA. (717) 359-5357 or swanlakestables.com. 20 Ranch Sorting Practice. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635- 5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. 21 Jumper Show. The Stables at Fox Crossing, Co- chranville, PA. (443) 866-5375 or Foxcrossingstables.com. 21 Jack Frost Jackpot Barrels. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalley ranch-arena.com. 27 Team Penning. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. 27 Michael Always Winter Horsemanship Clinic. Karmic Run Stable, Mt. Airy, MD. (443) 838-6448 or karmicrun. com. 27 Kelley Williams Winter Clinic Series. Covered Bridge Farm, Woodbine, MD. (301) 774- 1446 or abitbetterfarm.com. 28 Barrel & Pole Tune Up Day. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horsevalley ranch-arena.com . MARCH 5 Horse and Tack Auction. RSD Horse Auctions, Kear- neyville, WV. (304) 876-8326 or rsdhorseauctions.com . 6 Winter Buckle Series Snow Make Up. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635-5251 or horse valleyranch-arena.com . 6 Cavaletti Clinic. Karmic Run Stable, Mt. Airy, MD. (443) 838-6448 or karmicrun.com . 6-7 USEA USEF Horse Tri- als. Sporting Days Farm, Aiken, SC. (610) 613-2010 or sporting daysfarm.com . 6-7 Cross Derby onAll Weather Footing. Loch Moy Stable, Adamstown, MD. (301) 514-0111 or themarylandhorsetrials.com. 7 Ranch Roping Practice. Horse Valley Ranch and Arena, East Waterford, PA. (717) 635- 5251 or horsevalleyranch-arena. com. By Tod Marks, National Steeplechase Association Hall of Fame trainer Jon- athan Sheppard, the 26-time leading National Steeplechase Association conditioner who campaigned 15 Eclipse-award winners over hurdles and on the flat, announced his retirement in early January. Speaking by phone from his Florida home, Sheppard said on Monday that the time had come to hang up his tack. “I’m 80 years old, not quite as sharp as I was, and traveling has become difficult and unenjoy- able.” In addition, the legendary horseman suffers from Lyme dis- ease, which has taken its toll as well. Though Sheppard said he is feeling “pretty good” these days, the illness is “still lurking.” Sheppard will continue to shuttle back and forth between Florida and his Ashwell Stable in West Grove, Pa., until “we close the door, which will be sooner rather than later.” His Ashwell homebreds will be gradually dispersed, and it has yet to be determined who will train the horses -- including Iran- istan, Winston C, French Light, Baltimore Bucko, and Zoom Zoom Zoe -- Sheppard manages for owners Ed Swyer, Irv Naylor, Rod Moorhead, and others. A number of his trainees are racing in Ireland this winter. There’s no disputing that Sheppard is an unequalled giant of thoroughbred racing having achieved staggering success both over jumps and on the flat in a career that spans some 60 years. His list of accomplishments is jaw-dropping. Besides being a trainer of champions, the native of Ashwell, Hertfordshire, En- gland is the winningest condition- er in US jump racing history and one of only two trainers to earn championships with flat and jump horses. Considerer this short list of milestones: ● Won at least one race at Saratoga for 47 consecutive years, from 1969 to 2015. ● Captured the Breeders’ Cup Grand National four times, Hall of Fame Trainer Jonathan Sheppard Retires Colonial Cup 11 times, and the New York Turf Writers Cup 12 times. ● Amassed a record of 20,997 starters, who collectively posted 3,426 wins, 3,099 sec- onds, and 2,975 thirds. His total purse earnings: $88,679,925. ● Trained 15 Eclipse-Award champions: Athenian Idol (1973); Cafe Prince (1977-78): Martie’s Anger (1979); Flatterer (1983- 86); Jimmy Lorenzo (1988); Highland Bud (1989); Forever Together (2008); Informed De- cision (2009); Mixed Up (2009); Divine Fortune (2013); and Win- ston C (2019). ● Among his top flat horses were Forever Together, Informed Decision, and With Anticipation. He also trained Storm Cat, one of the most influential sires of all time. Sheppard cited Flatterer and Storm Cat as two of his personal favorites. Last year, Sheppard de- throned Jack Fisher, whose pow- erhouse stable had taken the NSA training title for nine straight years. Sheppard recorded 20 wins (in addition to finishing in the money in 48 of 79 starts). The shadow Sheppard casts over the sport is immeasurable, and he recently set out to conquer a new world by sending out a string of his top runners, includ- ing French Light and Winston C., for a winter European campaign. His first runner, Baltimore Bucko, finished third in January. Sheppard, known for his hands-on, old-school horseman- ship, watched video of Baltimore Bucko’s race last week, and was very pleased with his gutsy finish. Come the Spring NSA sea- son, don’t expect to see Shep- pard at the races, predominantly because traveling has become such a chore. Keri Brion, Sheppard’s as- sistant who is currently in Ireland tending to the team, reacted to her boss’s announcement: “The last 11 years working for Jonathan has been an experi- ence that I will forever be grate- ful for. I have learned his way (Continued on page 27)