While the world is still trying to figure out how to best cope with COVID, there was a return to normalcy in the equine industry in 2021 with record purses and a record high Bloodstock market. It looks like there will be COVID headwinds and stricter track attendance guidelines as we start the new year , but hopefully we will be able to celebrate the stables successes together in 2022 and get back to what we love most about Final Furlong, all being together through the highs and lows of what our sport brings to us.
Looking back over the past decade plus we could not have imagined a more successful year. On the heels of a very successful 2020 campaign 2021 brought us our BEST YEAR as a partnership. We doubled our previous best year earnings tallying $625,000 in purses and won at an alarming 29% rate with 63% of our races finishing in the top 3! Pushing our Historical Stable Earnings north of $2,600,000 !
As a stable the 8 final furlong horses that started for us in 2021 averaged over $17,000 per start and Final Furlong accomplished its best individual finish with Venti Valentine just finishing a narrow second in the Grade 2 Demosielle, our first graded stakes placement in the history of the stable.
Our first three homebreds, the aforementioned Venti Valentine, Prince Orb and Freud Sense all broke their maidens this year, a fantastic start for our New York based breeding program. As many of you know just getting a horse to the races is an accomplishment in and of itself so we are very proud of the team behind each of these horses.
Success didn’t stop on the track for team Final Furlong in 2021 as our results in the auction ring were just as impressive as we sold $810,000 of equine talent through the auction ring. The fruits of our racing, breeding and pin hooping decisions were certainly realized in 2021.
So you might imagine when we were interviewed just a few days ago a proper answer to “What was your best moment and what are you thankful for in the year that was 2021” that one of the above would have been an answer. But that’s not what It was, all we could think about was what we refer to as the FAMILY. All of you, our partners and fans as well as the relatives we both have that have always shown an abundance of support and love for our endeavors on and off the track. When Jeff (Vince’s Dad) was going in for heart surgery we saw so much love and prayers for him to make it through ok, and he is now back to 100% ! Or when Dan (finally) got engaged - seeing the outpouring of well wishes to him and Tracy. Seeing some of you at our Stable Party, or just seeing some of you at a quiet breakfast in the hotel at Saratoga, and being able to gather together for the races is what we are most thankful for as the Stable’s success starts with all of its partners.
We started Final Furlong over 12 years ago to form a syndicate that was accessible, transparent and successful along with one that makes every partner feel like they have a real ownership of their horse. Nothing makes us hamper when we hear people talk about “Their Horse” and the love and special bond they feel with them.
We had some bittersweet moments as well as arguably New York’s Favorite Filly - Espresso Shot - was retired to her next career as a broodmare - while selling Espresso at Fasig Tipton’s “Night of the Stars” was exciting and successful, watching her walk out of the ring hammered down to a new owner brought tears to our eyes. We lost one of our weanlings at birth to start the year, which weighed heavy on our hearts but look forward to what comes from our two in foal broodmares early ‘22.
We also had to say goodbye to a good friend and bloodstock advisor Mike Ricio who left us far too soon - We know Mike rooted home a lot of our fillies this past year and will be guiding and critiquing us for years to come! - Mike you’ll always be a member of the Family!
As we look forward to 2022, we have the strongest roster of racing prospects to date and a filly on the Kentucky Oaks Trail. There is the eternal hope of horses training toward their spring debuts and the ongoing planning and scouting of new prospects, and through it all the constant will be You - our partners and fans along for the ride each and every time ! Thank you for all your support and we want to wish you the utmost of Health, Happiness and Prosperity this new year and truly look forward to the next time we are all together!
