Selvig Returns to TB Makeover With Hot Shot Kid

The Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America that we know today differs from the original version of the event Dr. Jennifer Selvig participated in 11 years ago. Selvig is returning to the Thoroughbred Makeover in 2024 to compete for a chance to win prize money and demonstrate the versatility of her partner and successful former racehorse, Hot Shot Kid.

The event runs Oct. 9-12 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.

Selvig grew up in Webster, Minn., and has been riding horses since before she could walk. After showing interest in jumping at the age of 10, her mother enrolled her in English riding lessons. She began eventing with her first Thoroughbred, which she acquired off the track when she was 14.

“(Eventing has) always been a part of me,” Selvig said. “I don’t remember a time when I wasn’t obsessed with it.”

In eventing, a single horse and rider must complete three phases of competition: dressage, cross country, and show jumping. The pair with the lowest combined score wins.

Fusing her interest in horses and biology, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior in 2003 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2007 from the University of Minnesota.

Following graduation, she joined Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital in Prior Lake, Minn., as a veterinarian. In this role, she was given the opportunity to work as a racetrack practitioner at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., for a few summers.

“It was such a good experience as a vet and as a performance veterinarian.”

During that time, Selvig teamed up with friends and started a nonprofit that focused on rehabbing and rehoming off-the-track Thoroughbreds. After a few years of success, the decision was made to become an affiliate of Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) to gain exposure and have access to more resources. The partnership produced positive results for several years.

Although CANTER Minnesota isn’t as active in recent years due to various circumstances, Selvig is still involved as a member of the National Board of Directors for CANTER USA.

In January 2023, Selvig became an owner of Cleary Lake Veterinary Hospital.

Reflecting on her experience as a competitive rider and her diverse knowledge as a veterinarian, Selvig said, “I’m uniquely positioned to be able to look at these off-the-track horses, specifically, and relate what was going on in their racing careers to what we have going on in their performance careers.”

Selvig and her husband, Ben, own and operate Stargazer Farm, a 22-acre boarding and training facility, in Elko New Market, Minn. It’s home to her off-the-track Thoroughbreds, Chief Magistrate and Doodle Hopper, and a variety of other animals.

In 2013, Selvig was selected as one of 26 trainers to participate in the Retired Racehorse Project’s inaugural Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The event showcased Thoroughbreds with 90 days of training performing demonstrations in various disciplines. Selvig acquired and retrained Hopscotch Ali, a 2005 mare by Minardi out of Trolley’s Triumph (by Minneapple), for the event.

Since then, the format of the Thoroughbred Makeover has changed and is recognized as a national retraining event, with horses and riders competing for prize money in 10 disciplines: barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, polo, ranch work, show hunter, show jumper, and freestyle (a free-form discipline to showcase skills of the trainer's choice).

“I’ve been kind of looking to get back into it ever since, but I haven’t really had an opportunity to get another one that fits the bill.”

That was until 2022 when she caught wind of a special horse that was nearing retirement.

Nicole Boentgen, who boards two off-the-track Quarter Horses at Stargazer Farm, is the Animal Health Specialist for the Minnesota Racing Commission overseeing the collection of blood and urine samples from racehorses at Canterbury Park and Running Aces harness track.

“(Nicole) knows all the horses that come through (the test barn). She was like, ‘I bet this horse is going to be retiring soon. He’s super cool, everybody loves him. You should ask (trainer Mac Robertson) about him.’ ”

It was Hot Shot Kid, a 2014 Minnesota-bred gelding by Majestic Warrior out of the Officer mare Our Sweet Mary B. He was bred and owned by Warren Bush, who died in June 2022. Hot Shot Kid continued to race under the ownership of Linda Bush, Warren’s wife.

During his eight-year racing career, Hot Shot Kid racked up 10 stakes wins, five of which were in a single season, and six stakes placings at Canterbury Park. He was voted champion 3-year-old of the meet in 2017 and was the unanimous choice for horse of the meet in 2019. Although Hot Shot Kid primarily raced at Canterbury Park, he also had wins at Oaklawn Park and Keeneland.

Winning the final start of his career on Sept. 4, 2023, at Canterbury Park, Hot Shot Kid became the all-time leading Minnesota-bred earner with $708,816, surpassing the previous record of $700,839 set by multiple stakes winner Mr. Jagermeister.

Hot Shot Kid retired with a 17-10-3 record in 54 starts and earned $708,816.

“(Hot Shot Kid) was something special," Bush said. "I knew that my husband wanted him to have a good second home and a career, so that was important to me.”

Robertson reached out to Selvig a week later and let her know she could come and pick him up. Upon arriving at Stargazer Farm, Hot Shot Kid received a six-week vacation.

The 16.1-hand chestnut was inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame on July 12, 2024.

Although his accomplishments on the track were exciting to Selvig, Hot Shot Kid’s longevity appealed to her more, saying “I love warhorses, that’s kind of my thing. Most of my successful horses have been warhorses. I love these horses that have raced so much because they’re sound.”

Selvig and Hot Shot Kid will compete in the eventing and dressage disciplines at the Thoroughbred Makeover. Adhering to the rulebook, Selvig began bringing him into work Dec. 1, 2023. With the aid of regular lessons, Hit Shot Kid has excelled through every stage of training with the professionalism he exuded on the track.

“He’s the easiest restart I’ve ever had on a Thoroughbred, hands down,” Selvig said.

The pair furthered their education by participating in a clinic series this summer with 2008 Beijing Olympic Eventing qualifier Becky Holder.

Hot Shot Kid has three horse trials under his belt, all at Otter Creek Farm in Wheeler, Wis. After competing at the Beginner Novice level in May, he moved up to Novice in August, finishing sixth of 14. His most recent outing was in September.

“I think he’s ready (for the Thoroughbred Makeover). He’s brave; I think he’s going to do fine.”

Bush would love nothing more than to watch her homebred superstar show off all that he has learned in the last 10 months, but, regrettably, she will not be able to attend the Thoroughbred Makeover. The Iowa native sends her best wishes to Hot Shot Kid and Selvig, and will be eagerly awaiting the results.

“I feel extremely privileged to have this horse. I’m so grateful to all of his connections for trusting me,” Selvig said.

Other notable horses with regional success competing at the Thoroughbred Makeover include My Boy Tate, the 2021 champion New York-bred male sprinter, and multiple stakes winners Boldor (Virginia-bred), Winston’s Chance (New York-bred), and Royal Urn (New Jersey-bred). 

Preliminary competition at The Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium begins Oct. 9 and concludes Oct. 10. Click here to view the complete list of the entries. The Finale Championships are Oct. 12. For more information, visit Retired Racehorse Project’s website.