Millionaire Gourmet Dinner Retires to New Vocations
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Gourmet Dinner after winning the 2012 Majestic Light Stakes. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Edited press release
New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program announced today that graded stakes winner Gourmet Dinner has arrived at their Marysville, Ohio facility to start preparing for a second career.
Gourmet Dinner comes to the program in collaboration with NYTHA’s TAKE THE LEAD Program, which partners with established aftercare programs to provide rehabilitation and retraining placements for the Thoroughbreds retiring from competition on the New York Racing Association circuit. The gelding will be given some well-deserved rest prior to receiving transitional training while at New Vocations. The end goal will be to find him a suitable second career and qualified home.
“We have sent over 130 horses to TAA accredited aftercare facilities for second careers since our inception, “ said Richard Schosberg, NYTHA board member and aftercare committee chair. “It was an honor when Billy Terrill asked us to include Gourmet Dinner in the program and to have him sent to New Vocations. He's a very cool horse and has accomplished so much on the track. We are extremely happy that he is with New Vocations as the care and love they give these retirees is truly a blessing. He will make someone a fantastic riding horse. “
Bred by Ocala Stud and William Terrill and raced by Terrill’s Sugar Bear Racing, Gourmet Dinner won the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes in 2010. The gelding retires with a total of 34 starts and over $1-million in earnings.
In April, Terrill lost Gourmet Dinner in a $50,000 claiming race, before claiming him back for $25,0000 three months late.
"As a member of the Boards of both the NYTHA and the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, I had the chance to see firsthand just how valuable our TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program is, “ said Terrill. “I believe in these organizations, and I really love Gourmet Dinner. He's a special horse. We claimed him back so we could make sure he had a good home when he left the racetrack. I know that New Vocations will take great care of him."
Starting with a single farm in Dayton, Ohio, New Vocations has grown to six facilities located in Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Serving over 40 racetracks, New Vocations works directly with owners and trainers in need of an aftercare program for horses leaving the track.