Farm exec proposes 'alumni fund' for Triple Crown runners

Just last month, Vyjack suffered a suspensory injury that led to retirement. His connections — the same owner throughout a career dating back to 2012 — paid to ship Vyjack back to his home, Kentucky’s Machmer Hall Farm, where the gelding can begin working toward a new career.

It’s an ideal transition, unlike that of another Machmer Hall-bred horse who once ran in the Kentucky Derby. Carrie Brogden bought back Vinceremos for $1,000 after his 39th start in December, in claiming company at Parx Racing. He’s in rough shape.

And that’s why Brodgen suggested we call Sergio de Sousa, managing partner of Hidden Brook Farm. His idea: The three tracks that host Triple Crown races — Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park — could create a Triple Crown “alumni fund” to purchase horses.

“If one of those horses gets down to a low-level claiming race, there should be a little more respect for them,” de Sousa said. “It wouldn’t be too many, because you’re mostly talking about the geldings.”

De Sousa doesn’t think about retirement so much as “retraining” opportunities with well-known racehorses. His de Sousa Stables is currently working with Cozmic One, a son of Zenyatta, for this year’s Retired Racehorse Project.

To get more dropping former stars off the track, de Sousa suggested 10 cents per day per horse stabled at the Triple Crown tracks could build the fund.

“People like to shame owners and breeders, saying they don’t look after their horses when they retire,” de Sousa said. “There should be more than that. To a point, there is. Owners and breeders, we’re the biggest gamblers in this business by far. We have to put out the money.

“I really believe the racetracks and casinos are the ones that benefit the most, and they really have no skin in the game. If a horse gets hurt, they’ll get another one in.”

And de Sousa makes a point to say he doesn’t represent industry organizations with specialized interests. That’s an unfiltered thought geared toward “projecting a positive image for our spot.”

De Sousa considers the Triple Crown alumni fund only a start. He’d like to see something similar in place for Breeders’ Cup runners, then all graded stakes starters, and so on down the American racing ladder.

The acquisition of Cozmic One, who is still owned in part by Jerry and Ann Moss, has put a spotlight on the upcoming Retired Racehorse Project, set for Oct. 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“He’s doing great,” De Sousa said. “Mrs. Moss came to visit him a couple weeks ago, and she even got to ride him. I said, ‘You can check that off the bucket list.’ She said that was never a part of it. I didn’t know anything about his reputation. We just take chances on most of these Thoroughbreds. They’re amazing — you can train them for a lot of things pretty quick.

“He’s a nice horse, but I just want to bring more awareness. We need to close that gap between the racing fans and the horse fans.”