Lexington, KY – After spending the past six years in the breeding shed at Hickory Lane Farm in Findlay, OH, Racing Hill has returned to the racetrack. On Thursday night (Dec. 16) at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway, the soon-to-turn-10-year-old pacer finished second in a qualifying race, race-timed in 1:54.3 while beaten two lengths.

Racing Hill, here winning the 2016 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old colts and geldings, returned to the track six years after retiring to the breeding shed Thursday at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway. Mark Hall/USTA Photo.

The winner of more than $1.7 million on the racetrack, Racing Hill counts among his biggest victories the Breeders Crown (a career-best 1:48 effort), Adios, Hempt Memorial, Messenger and Tattersalls Pace in 2016 as a 3-year-old. While trained by Tony Alagna during his two-year racing career in 2015-16, Racing Hill is now in the barn of trainer Virgil Morgan Jr., who is based at his own Winner Circle Training Center near Scioto Downs in Ohio.

“They talked about it last year and I’m in the business of training horses, and they asked if I’d train him and I said I’d be more than happy to try,” explained Morgan of the phone call he received from The Racing Hill Syndicate’s Tom Hill, the breeder and sole owner of Racing Hill during his prior racing career. “He’s kind of the unknown of what we’re doing as there aren’t too many horses that have been to stud, had the success he had, and go back into training. But he’s sound, he looks great and his attitude is great.”

With Brett Miller driving in Thursday’s qualifier, Racing Hill left fast from post eight, leading through fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.1 before getting overtaken late in the stretch by the pocket-sitting Shakeitoffscarlet and driver Jeremy Smith.

“He’s been a little full of himself training right now and hopefully qualifying will let him keep his composure,” said Morgan, who put Racing Hill back into training around Aug. 1. “I just don’t want him to do too much too early, let’s put it that way.

“He was ready to qualify. It could be three times, it could be five times. He is going to have to go right into the Open obviously so I need him to be more than ready. But we’ll take our time and navigate that way.”

While standing stud at Hickory Lane Farm, Racing Hill–the richest and second-fastest son of Roll With Joe–bred more than 300 mares, with total progeny earnings of more than $7.5 million. His fastest offsprings are Taurasi and Walknafter Midnite, who each took a mark of 1:48.3 earlier this year. His richest offspring is the $260,375-winning Odds On Shaggy, who ironically is also in Morgan’s barn.

“Yes, it’s interesting as I have some Racing Hills in the barn and he’s right across from them,” said Morgan.

Morgan said when Racing Hill is ready to return to the pari-mutuel wars it will likely be at Miami Valley.

“We’ll give him more than enough preparation and he’ll let us know when he’s ready to race,” he said. “As I said, he’s made too much money so he has to go right into the Open, and as of right now, geographically Miami Valley would be the place.

“He was a very, very nice horse before and hopefully he’ll be the same horse after his extended rest.”