Running Free

A very nice horse joined Tranquility Farm's retirees over the summer.Running Free had a tremendous racing career with 41 starts, and earnings of $533,424. He could be found throughout his long career competing with the best in California. Running Free both won and placed in the Quicken Tree Stakes and the Kahled Stakes,and he ran a close second in the Cal Cup Mile. He was a gritty competitor that could mix it up with the big boys and he held his own with horses like Lava Man, Geronimo, Epic Power,Springhouse and Stormin Away.

Running Free winning the Quicken Tree Stakes at Hollywood Park, photo courtesy of Kristin Mulhall.

During his career Running Free made several comebacks after long lay-offs, and the last of these found him far from the glamour of the California stakes circuit and running in the claiming ranks at Emerald Downs. His last races were run there in the spring of 2009 where he came second twice but did not win a race. In a last gallant effort he "chased and held" to come second in a 5,000 claimer, when a fractured ankle finally ended his long career.

Now before you quickly navigate away from this blog or run from the room, I must tell you that Running Free is not another eleventh-hour rescue story! He had the extrodinary luck to belong to a trainer with a heart. Soon after his injury we received a call to inquire about retiring him at Tranquility Farm, and arrangements were quickly made to send us Running Free. We are very grateful to Neil Knapp and Joan Holmes for sponsoring his rehabilitation, and for allowing us to give this great campaigner the chance to find a second career or just take life easy and smell the roses at Tranquility Farm.