On Thursday, May 23, it was announced that Newell, SD-area horse trainer, Dale Simanton and the “Gate to Great” training program at the Horse Creek Thoroughbred ranch would be a part of the National Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) Thoroughbred Makeover Project for 2013.
A former jockey and racehorse trainer, Dale and his team at Gate to
Great will chronicle the training of a Thoroughbred that has formerly raced for
a second career throughout a summer-long program intended to showcase the
versatility and usability of Thoroughbred racehorses once their racing career
has ended. The Makeover features a
total of twenty-six trainers from throughout the United States, who will select
and train twenty-six Thoroughbred ex-racehorses throughout the summer in
preparation for a public appearance at the RRTP Thoroughbred Makeover and
National Symposium on October 5 and 6 at Pimlico Racecourse.
RRTP, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing demand for
Thoroughbreds off the track, received 142 applications from 29 states and
Canada. The applicants were professionals, amateurs, and juniors and specialized
in ten different equestrian disciplines.
“We were overwhelmed not only by the number of applicants, but also by
the high quality, the diversity, and the passion of these trainers,” said RRTP
President Steuart Pittman. “These are the people who work hard every single day
educating these magnificent animals to ensure that their futures are secure.”
A lifelong cowboy and ranch horse trainer in addition to his work on
the racetrack, Dale will be teaching his off-track Thoroughbred the
fundamentals of ranch and cow work during the summer of 2013. “I have always believed that the Thoroughbred
is the most versatile breed on the planet and I am honored to be a part of this
project where we will be able to show the world exactly what they can do,” said
Dale of the Makeover Project. “This is a great opportunity to show the world
exactly what these horses are capable of and I couldn’t be more excited to get
started.”
In the coming weeks, Dale and Gate to Great will be hand-selecting a
suitable horse from a recently retired group of racehorses that reside on their
ranch near Newell. Updates on the horse’s
progress will be made available via the Gate to Great website (www.gatetogreat.com) as well as their
Facebook page, accessible from the website. More information on the Retired Racehorse Training Project can be found on their website at http://www.retiredracehorsetraining.org/
For more information, interviews or photos, please contact:
Heather Benson
Gate to Great Marketing Specialist
Ph: 605-660-6599
Email: hjdant@hotmail.com
Website: www.gatetogreat.com
