If you’re looking for a show jumper, start with the Turning for Home Racehorse Retirement Program. For the third consecutive year, Turning for Home has taken home the trophy for the TAKE2 Jet Run Award in the Thoroughbred Jumper division. This year, it is Pennsylvania-bred Wise Son who earns the honors for his home track.

Turning for Home was launched in May of 2008. Funded by the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the program has provided safe retirement to over 2,750 racehorses from Parx Racing.

The Jet Run Award was created in 2017 to highlight the role of aftercare organizations in the successful second careers of retired racehorses. It is open to all TAKE2 Thoroughbred League members who are graduates of an aftercare program accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, affiliated with a recognized horsemen’s organization, and/or approved for a grant from Thoroughbred Charities of America. Turning for Home was ably represented by 2017 and 2018 Jet Run winner Breda, who raced without particular distinction as Irish Sarah, but has excelled in the show ring.

Wise Son had a more auspicious racing career. Bred by Dr. D.W. Frazier and sold for $55,000 at the 2013 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds, the chestnut gelding made 15 starts for owner Equus Farm II and the beloved late trainer Floyd Snyder, breaking his maiden by an eye-catching 11 ½ lengths at Parx in October of 2014, and adding a decisive allowance win the following April. Retired in April of 2016 with earnings of $83,230, he was lucky enough to join the Turning for Home herd.

“With his striking markings and easy going nature, Wise Son was an easily adoptable gelding for our successful Partner Farm, Black Oak farm. Over the last 5 years, Kelly Lupton and her family have helped over 250 TFH horses find safe second careers, including Irish Sarah who was the first to represent TFH for this award,” said Turning for Home Program Administrator Danielle Montgomery.

“Wise Son ran all his races at Parx, and we are proud to have been able to guide him to a safe farm when his connections decided he had had enough of racing. Horses like Wise Son might have been easily sold to a third party after racing, but his donation helped the Partner Farm earn adoption fees which in turn helps them care for the many horses they see through surgeries and intensive rehabilitation. Turning for Home never turns an eligible horse away, and when you adopt from one of our approved Partner Farms, you are also helping the next retiree move to a safe stall and get ready for their next chapter.”

Carol Sienkiewicz connected with Wise Son as soon as she met him.

“His intelligence, adaptability and athleticism have come through from his excellent pedigree,” she said. “Wise Son is by Wiseman’s Ferry, the same sire as Wise Dan, who was the Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013, won six Eclipse Awards and was the Breeders’ Cup Mile champion twice.”

She added, “Turning for Home provides the gift of a quality future for the horses. It is the critical link that brings together talented equine athletes with caring horse people devoted to the American Thoroughbred.”