BrockTalk_Nov_EditorWelcome 10/21/13 11:46 AM Page 6
the Brock talk
Brock Sheridan
Editor-in-Chief Florida Equine Publications
JOHN D. FILER PHOTO
A High Price For a High School O
LOUISE REINAGEL PHOTO
Belleview High FFA Equine Program students left to right: Sara Zufelt (Holding weanling), Jennifer Barwick, Carlie Peavy, Justin McClure, Stacey Hughes
ne of the criticisms often heard of the thoroughbred industry is that we are just not bringing enough young people into the sport. Whether those critics are speaking of our sport not having enough infantine fans, green gamblers, burgeoning breeders or just out of school owners, it seems nearly everybody would like to see more youth in our industry. One group that is currently infusing youngsters into the Florida thoroughbred breeding and sales industry is the Belleview High School Future Farmers of America Equine Program headed by agriculture teacher Amy Davis of Ocala, Fla. The club that has about 155 members, of which 35-40 are in the equine program, each year breeds their Indian Ocean mare Fathom to a local stallion, then prepares the resulting progeny for the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Fall Mixed Sale to be sold as a weanling. If there is a profit, then the proceeds go back to the club to be used to maintain barns and
6 THE FLORIDA HORSE • NOVEMBER 2013
other facilities used by the club. Fathom is a halfsister to multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Ron the Greek, who just recently won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (Grade 1) at Belmont Park. There was enough interest in the weanling catalogued Oct. 16 at OBS as hip number 311, that he shattered expectations and sold for $16,000 to Amalio Ruiz-Lozano. That figure eclipsed the record of $8,600 for a weanling sold by the club some years back, before Davis was with the program. Regardless, Davis and the students were elated with the price. “I was hoping for a price of between five and ten thousand [dollars],” Davis said. “When he hit $10,000 and then kept going, I was so excited that I was speechless.” To maximize the effort, several Marion County business leaders contribute to the program. The mare was donated by FTBOA member Jack T. Hammer of Miami Beach with the assistance of former FTBOA Board Member and leading consignor Francis Vanlangendonck of Morriston. Each year the students work at the Journeyman Stud stallion show in exchange for a breeding to one of their many stallions. This year, the students’ weanling is by Illinois Derby (G2) and Gotham Stakes (G3) winner Cowtown Cat. Seminole Feeds regularly donates feed to the FFA while Brook Ledge Horse Transportation assists by transporting the mare for breeding and the weanling to the sale. Tiffany Atteberry, DVM of Ocala and Rick Erwin, DVM of Belleview provide veterinary assistance. Because of their donations and the students efforts, the thoroughbred industry in Florida continues to feel the positive influence of the youth of the Belleview FFA and other similar programs at high schools in the area. Cheers to the co-ed consignors. ■