Honoring our Cal Cup Stars

Saturday is Cal Cup day at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park, and time to remember and appreciate the stars of past years who have made this such a special day in California racing. Tranquility Farm was the retirement home of the very first Cal Cup Sprint winner, Valiant Pete, and throughout the years many more horses who have reached the pinacle of California racing have joined us. With the exception of Lennyfromalibu, whose retiremet is sponsored by his owner, all of our retired Cal Cup stars are entirely dependant upon Tranquility Farm and our supporters for their retirement. CALIFORNIA'S HORSES NEED TRANQUILITY FARM AND TRANQUILITY FARM NEEDS YOU! Please help us continue to provide these California racing champions with the long and happy life they so deserve!
Lennyfromalibu, Winner, Cal Cup Mile.

Hemet Thought, Second, Cal Cup Mile.
Areyoutalkintome, Winner Cal Cup Sprint.
Full Moon Madness, Winner, Cal Cup Sprint
Patriotaki, Placed Cal Cup Mile.

Running Free, Second, Cal Cup Mile.

Saving Mananan Mclir

Today is Oak Tree Derby Day, and we honor the career of our retiree Mananan Mclir, who placed in the Gr. 2 Oak Tree Derby in 2006. It is a perfect moment to reflect upon the fate of racehorses who are literally abandoned at the racetrack every day. Mananan Mclir started 47 times, and his record was 9-8-4. He was already a stakes winner in England before embarking upon his American career that earned him more than half a million dollars. Among his achievements were winning the Gr.2 American Derby, and placing in the Gr. 2 Oak Tree and Hollywood Derbys. But it seems there was no way Mananan Mclir could do enough to earn the loyalty of any of his former owners, and in the end he was traded down the claiming ranks until he broke down at Hollywood Park on July 4th of 2008. Cast aside and "unwanted", Mananan Mclir became a ward of charity.

Mananan Mclir at Tranquility Farm.

To prevent the exploitation and abandonment of horses at the racetrack is the challenge of our time. But until this is achieved the only thing that horses like Mananan Mclir have to depend upon is charity. The kindness of strangers. California's horses need Tranquility Farm, and Tranquility Farm needs you. We are caring for more than one hundred former racehorses, and the great majority of them have shared the fate of Mananan Mclir. No matter how difficult, they have done everything that was asked of them, because that is the nature of a Thoroughbred. What we have yet to determine is how much longer racing will allow the abandonment of injured horses to be considered nothing more than just the unfortunate nature of a human being?

Our Morvich Handicap winner Geronimo

Rescue takes many forms, and sometimes even the best and brightest in the racing world find themselves in need of a friend. So it was that Geronimo (Chi)came to Tranquility Farm after being vanned off in his forty-fourth start in a claiming race at Del Mar in July of 2006. Geronimo had a record of 11 wins, 10 second place finishes and 6 times third with earnings of $464,150. Among his many accomplishments are running in three consecutive Gr.3 Morvich Handicaps, which will be run tomorrow at Oak Tree. Geronimo placed third in the 2003 Morvich Hcp, forth in 2004, and he won it by a head in 2005.


Geronimo and his pals Stormin Away and I Love Silver are living the good life today at Tranquility Farm thanks entirely to the help of our supporters, which include the Oak Tree Foundation. We thank them so much for their faithful support of these former stars.

Update: Pregnant Mare Rescue

There has been a very good response to the plight of the 20 Thoroughbreds that were sold to a Chino, California feedlost from the Euclid Auction last Saturday night. Many rescues and private individuals have stepped forward, but there are four broodmares and one nice four-year-old-bay colt by Compelling Sound that still need homes. Please see below:



PLEASE forward this posting to as many people as possible who may be able to provide a home for one of these horses. Thank you.
CONTACT: CAROLINE BETTS, Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue at 661-305-9021

Lochanara (1986 mare?, possibly in foal to Chachacharlie) - sold for $100 at auction
Unnamed 06 bay colt (Compelling Sound - Whisper Wildley) - sold for $185 at auction
Bay mare, 7yo, pedigree unknown - sold for $175 at auction
Chestnut mare, 10yo, pedigree unknown -sold for $75 at auction
Dark bay mare, 10yo, pedigree unknown -
These mares are believed to be in foal to the stallion ChachaCharlie. The paperwork for the unidentified mares is being researched.