TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1099087
T hey are a hodgepodge group ranging from retrained racehorses to unflappable Quarter Horses to kindly sorts of unknown heritage. Some are flashy, some are not. Most love attention, a few do not. Together, though, they make up the team of outrider ponies at Keeneland Racecourse who stand at the ready no matter what comes their way. Pony horses—who are usually full-size horses despite the moniker—are no strangers to American racetracks. They are routinely seen shuttling their Thoroughbred companions to and from the track and are just as much part of the post parade as the runners themselves. Outrider ponies, however, are in their own category. They are the horses who lead the entire post parade, will be posted near the starting gate, and will chase down a loose horse at a moment's notice, whether it is in a race or during early morning training hours. During Keeneland's spring and fall meets, its out- riders also serve as ambassadors to the sport. The outriders—who are easy to spot in their white breeches and high boots—and their team of horses rotate through the various duties their job requires. Between races, though, usually at least two ponies can be found in the tunnel between the paddock and the track. Moreover, it's a good bet they will be surrounded by patrons eager to pat a horse or take an equine-themed selfie.