“The Kid” Gets a New Home at After the Races

FRIENDS, GRASS, & GIRLS

An extraordinary horse’s extravagant retirement

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED UNLESS NOTED

After the Races NY, Inc., a local non-profit Thoroughbred retirement program located on Swedish Hill Farm, owned by Anna Hollander, is now housing a very famous horse named Extravagant Kid.

Bred in Florida by Vicino Racing Stables to mare Pretty Extravagant and multiple graded stakes winner Kiss Me Kid, Extravagant Kid won his first two stakes races in 2017. When David Ross (of DARRS,Inc) saw Extravagant Kid in January 2018, he told his Racing Manager of 15 years, James Bredin, that he wanted the horse despite his odds that day being 20/1. He claimed Extravagant Kid for $75,000. “It didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me at the time but obviously, it worked out great,” said Bredin. The gelding, trained by Brendan Walsh, went on to earn $1,704,683, in 56 starts; with 15 wins, 18 runner-up finishes, and seven thirds.

AN OUTSTANDING CAREER

By Aug. 31, 2018, Extravagant Kid won a half-length victory at the Lucky Coin Stakes in Saratoga. He also racked up races at the prestigious Breeders Cup, the Ascot in England, and was the winner of 2021 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. On February 2, 2022, Extravagant Kid ran a disappointing race, finishing sixth at Florida’s Gulfstream Park. His team immediately investigated and found that there were some mild problems; minor changes to his knees and the beginnings of a bone spur developing. “We could’ve tried to jam another race out of him but we didn’t want to do that,” said Bredin.

Instead, 9-year-old Extravagant Kid (who’d already run for twice as many years as most) was moved to a farm in Ocala, FL until his team could find the right place for him to retire. “This is not a horse you just throw out into a paddock; he needs a job to do,” said Bredin. “Mr. Ross definitely makes an effort to rehome these horses whatever their level of performance. It always petrifies me that they’ll end up somewhere awful, so we really try extra hard to provide decent homes for them when they retire.”

A RARE FIND

Luckily, Anna Hollander had room for Extravagant Kid in After the Races NY, a non-profit run from the boutique 11-acre Swedish Hill Farm. Anna grew up on a 150-acre horse farm in Sweden and worked at the Saratoga Race Course for 25 years riding, training, and exercising the horses. Since 2019, when After the Races was founded, she has cared for 17 horses through the program, including Market Impact, an absolutely stunning horse who needed a little extra TLC. “Most non-profits are bigger than I am. They care for 30 or 40 horses at the same time and horses can get shuffled around or pushed into the background,” said Anna. James knew that at Anna’s farm, that would never happen to Extravagant Kid. “I was honored that he wanted ‘The Kid’ to come here. He’s a very good horse and the whole team are very good horsemen. They care about their horses and care about what happens to them after they’re done racing,” said Anna.

Extravagant Kid wins the 2018 Lucky Coin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Photo by Susie Raisher, courtesy of NYRA. LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

Because she’s had so much experience with horses, Anna knows that thoroughbreds need to adjust slowly to life on her peaceful farm. When Extravagant Kid arrived in April, she noticed that he was an extremely calm, classy, and intelligent horse. Like all her horses, he’s given plenty of time in the barn to eat, rest, and receive care. Anna observes him closely, watching for signs that he’s soaking up and accepting his new environment. To ease any apprehension he might be feeling, she turns him out into a small paddock by himself to run around and eat all the grass his heart desires. When he’s ready, he’ll be joined by a friend, then the rest of the herd. He’ll then train for his second career. “He may become a trail horse or a show horse, I won’t know until I start riding him,” she said.

SOMETHING EXTRA

In addition to Anna’s personal attention, Extravagant Kid receives attention from several girls who volunteer at After the Races, including 15-year-old Amelie Burk, as well as farm visitors, and students participating in Ballston Spa’s 4H program. “That’s a new addition this year. These horses actually love when children come and visit. The children love interacting with the horses and always have lots of questions,” said Anna. In addition to a one-time donation from the horses’ owners, costs (including hay, feed, blacksmith and veterinary care) are paid for by sponsors and through fundraising efforts. Swedish Hill Farm hosts weekly yoga classes, an annual Kentucky Derby fundraising event and an annual After the Races fundraiser during the summer season at Bailey’s Café, 37 Phila St., Saratoga Springs. For details and more information, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and visit aftertheracesny.com. SS