First hosted in 2017, the Real Rider Cup is back this week to support aftercare with 28 riders signed up to take part in the first part of the show hosted in Lexington June 28, with the second leg of the event hosted in Maryland during the Mars Maryland 5 Star event at Fair Hill on Oct. 18.
The Real Rider Cup initially was created as a single show, but it made sense in recent years to branch out to two locations because so many riders showed interest in participating and the event having to cap entries at 30 riders at each location. The event's founder, Anita Motion, never imagined it growing the way it has and admits it has expanded so much that she's had to turn over the administrative side to the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) to manage.
"The Real Rider Cup started in a very small way and has grown exponentially over the years," Motion said. "So much so that I've now handed over the administrative side to RRP, who do such amazing work. They are meticulously organized and more than capable of carrying the vision forward with dedication and excellence."
While the full Fair Hill rider roster hasn't yet been released, an all-star cast of riders will enter the ring on Saturday in Lexington, with each part of various industry teams that have signed up for the event. Accomplished active jockey Sophie Doyle (Team Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation) and multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Rodolphe Brisset (Team September Farm) are among the competitors scheduled to participate in Lexington, with many riders on retired racehorses that fans may recognize.
Brisset will be on 2018 Breeders' Cup runner and multiple stakes winner The Black Album, 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner Dynamic One will be ridden by Madison Thompson, and Madison Scott has the mount on 2019 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) runner-up United, a career earner of more than $1.8 million, to name just a few of the horses taking part. In all, the Lexington leg of the show has plenty of new and returning talent raising money for aftercare.
One of the first-time riders on Saturday is Team 1/ST Racing's Alison O'Dwyer, who has always wanted to compete in the event but didn't have a chance in the past.
"I have always thought the Real Rider Cup looked like such a fun event," she said. "I love the combination of the show jumping and the racing silks. It seems to have the most collaboration between racing and the sport horse world. My ultimate goal and vision is to get racing connections competing for successful second careers, and this competition is a great step in that direction. I left Kentucky before the event was established here and, while living in Maryland, I didn't really have the horse or connections to partake. Now that I'm back in Kentucky, I'm excited to cross off this bucket-list item."
It's clear from top to bottom that aftercare is the central theme for the event. Anyone wanting to ride in the event must ride an off-track Thoroughbred at the show and they also must raise a minimum of $1,000. That money is donated to Real Rider Cup beneficiaries Beyond The Wire, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, and the Retired Racehorse Project, which is assisting with running the event. In its eight years, the Real Rider Cup has raised more than $600,000 for these organizations.
The off-track Thoroughbred requirement has special meaning to O'Dwyer, whose husband, Jerry, is a racehorse trainer. Alison has spent most of her life riding OTTBs and is active in finding retired racehorses second careers. The couple is deeply entrenched in aftercare as well as racing, and O'Dwyer will be reunited with one of her off-track Thoroughbred graduates in Big Ralph for this event.
"Jerry trained Big Ralph for his entire career," she explained. "He was then retired sound after not showing much talent on the track. I took him to retrain and compete at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, and we were second in Eventing in a very large division in 2018. He was sold after to Emily Whitman. A few years later, she reached out to me saying that she would be attending the University of Kentucky for college and asked for boarding recommendations. I referred her to (Team 1/ST Racing teammate) Jenn O'Neil and they have been there ever since. It was Jenn's idea to reunite the two of us for Real Rider Cup and Emily was very accommodating."
"We are excited to have Terence Collier back as emcee in Kentucky and a super-group of competitors," Motion said. "The donations are coming in really strongly and many of the riders have reached their goal of $1,000 already. I'm excited to say that this year, the Maryland event will be held at the Mars Maryland 5 Star on Oct. 18 directly after cross country and will be live streamed for the first time."
This weekend's Real Rider Cup at New Vocations at Mereworth Farm is free to attend and will feature food trucks, cash bar, and live music, making for a fun backdrop as spectators enjoy watching the riders. The gates for the event will open at 6 p.m. ET with the first rider taking the course at 7 p.m.
Learn more about the Real Rider Cup and read about the competitors scheduled to participate June 28 in Lexington. If you are interested in supporting the Real Rider Cup, make a donation here.
