‘Post Time’ Horse Highlight: Virgil
August 14, 2018,by Jessica Otten, for Post Time with Mike and Mike
Elkton, MD — In this month’s New Vocations Horse Highlight, Post Time with Mike and Mike features Virgil, a classy horse who is well known through the Midwest and donated by Tyler and Cassie George.
Shelley Johnson photo
Virgil, who campaigned primarily in the Midwest, won 18 of 95 races in his career and earned over $200,000.
As a racehorse, Virgil, the beautiful black gelding stepped onto the race track 95 times, made his way to the winner’s circle 18 times, and rolled in over $200,000 in earnings.
To previous owner Cassie George, Virgil was much more than just a racehorse to her, he was a pet. “Virgil is definitely a girl’s horse; he loved me unconditionally but wasn’t a fan of my husband or the vet,” Cassie chuckled.
Virgil spent most of his time racing in Indiana, traveling over to Ohio here and there and made a few trips out east. Cassie’s favorite memory while racing Virgil is when he won the Ohio Ladies Pace final during Jug week at the Delaware County Fair.
“When he won the Ladies Pace final, he sat last the whole mile and I still don’t even know how he won, but he always finished with all he had, and that day he didn’t disappoint, outside post and all. Even though the purse was small, watching that replay over and over again makes me smile every time. He made a lot of people happy that day, and I think he knew it,” explained Cassie.
It was a very tough decision to make when it came time to place Virgil with New Vocations because Cassie loved having him in the barn. He was that one horse she looked forward to seeing every morning when she got there. But she knew that to retire him was for the best. “He fractured his knee about two years ago. We rested him and tried him again, but he was never the same ‘Virgil.’ He just wasn’t being competitive anymore. One training day he just didn’t seem himself in between training trips, so I completely stripped him, gave him a bubble bath and told Tyler not to worry about going back with him again. I just didn’t want to see him struggle,” stated Cassie. “I know this is a business and about making money, but to me, it isn’t everything, I want my horses to be taken care of.”
Virgil is the kind of horse that always needs to have a job. The New Vocations program is perfect for him, as they are in search of a new home for him to give him a second career. Cassie said, “He loves having a job. He needed to have a purpose; he wasn’t quite content with being a pasture pet like my other two retires.”
“Virgil was a quick learner and loves being a riding horse. He has a great personality and seems to have a permanent smile on his face,” stated Winnie Nemeth, Standardbred program director at New Vocations.
Virgil will be posted very soon for adoption. Be sure to visit the New Vocations website and check out all of the amazing athletes they have for adoption.