Garden of the Month

By Susan Kayne

For Capital Region Independent Media

In a world where the thundering hooves of racehorses echo with power and prestige, the plight of unwanted mares in the Thoroughbred industry remains obscured. It’s a narrative that transcends the realm of finances, delving deep into the realm of morality and responsibility.

The heart-wrenching journey of Katouni, a 13-year-old mare, serves as a stark reminder that the choice to save or send a horse to slaughter is not merely financial, but a reflection of our values.

Katouni was born in Kentucky on May 15, 2010. Her sire, Point Given, amassed almost $4 million in earnings, including victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, ultimately earning the titles of champion 3-year-old colt and Horse of the Year. In 2010, the year Katouni was born, Point Given rightfully took his place in the Racing Hall of Fame.

Her dam, Kithira, was born in Great Britain and imported to the United States by her breeder and owner, Juddmonte Farm, who also bred and owned her dam, thus making Katouni a third-generation home-bred of Juddmonte.

Established in 1977 by Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Juddmonte is one of the leading breeders of Thoroughbred racehorses in the world. Juddmonte owns approximately 200 broodmares across its farms in the U.K., Ireland and the U.S., with approximately 150 foals born each year and 250 horses in training worldwide. The properties encompass some 1,500 acres.

Culled from the Juddmonte herd as a two-year-old, Katouni was sold to Zamin Meajohn of Trinidad through Keeneland for a mere $5,000, a fraction of that of her siblings, who fetched six figures at auction.  

From a yearling to a racehorse, Katouni’s path was shaped by various hands. She began her racing journey with renowned trainer Graham Motion and later with Jessica Campitelli. Racing six times at six different tracks, Katouni never won a race.

Post-racing, Meajohn sent Katouni into production. Stabled at Crestwood Farm, from 2017 to 2022, she brought six precious fillies into the world, each a testament to her legacy. These fillies, registered under RMJ Stables, LLC, include her 2022 filly, who is catalogued to sell at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale alongside over 4,200 juvenile Thoroughbreds.

Katouni lived a life of servitude, birthing six fillies consecutively for her owner. She did all that was asked of her. Her powerful past connections, from breeders to owners, wield immense influence within the industry. However, when her value as a broodmare waned, she found herself on the precipice of a gruesome fate. The revelation that powerful names could not shield her from the slaughter pipeline’s jaws casts a somber light on the industry’s responsibility toward the lives it brings into the world.

When Unbridled discovered Katouni, she had been weighed, tagged and sorted for slaughter. On July 1, 2023, the compassionate community that supports Unbridled rallied the funds and saved her from shipping to slaughter. 

Crestwood Farm, a service provider rather than an owner, emerged as an unexpected ally, stepping up to contribute to Katouni’s rescue. This gesture underscores the profound bond that can exist between humans and horses, transcending financial motives.

In an industry that sees multi-million-dollar transactions during sales like Keeneland’s September Yearling Sale, where Katouni’s last-born filly will be auctioned off on Sept. 18, the numbers are staggering. This auction represents the potential of over 121,000 years of equine care, amounting to $30,255,000 annually. However, the question arises: what becomes of these horses when their racing careers falter or injuries strike? The dazzling spotlight of the racing world often dims, leaving these sentient beings vulnerable and exposed to uncertain fates.

Katouni is not the first mare of Prince Khalid’s legacy to be cast into the shadows of the slaughter pipeline.

Unbridled is a safe haven for the forgotten and discarded. The Sanctuary has rescued countless Thoroughbreds, including many dozens who once stood on the grand stages of Keeneland’s Sales Pavilion. The likes of Appomattox, Creative Design, Possession, Secret Forest and so many more. They are a testament to the lack of safety nets for these once-celebrated “athletes.” The irony is striking; once prized for their potential to bring financial gain, when they become in need of compassionate care, the responsibility often goes unfulfilled.

A new ethical perspective is needed, one that extends beyond the racecourse or breeding shed to not only honor their contributions, but also underline the moral duty we have toward sentient equine beings who have given their all in service to our demands and wishes.

Katouni’s journey is an urgent plea for compassion and change. Unbridled Sanctuary advocates tirelessly to rewrite the narrative for these majestic creatures, to create a future where retirement paddocks bear their names, and where their dignity is cherished beyond their prime. The story of Katouni and her fellow Thoroughbreds serves as a stark reminder that our choices, be they financial or moral, shape the destiny of these equine lives.

Katouni’s story is a mosaic of power, neglect and the steadfast compassion that drives the mission of Unbridled; to protect horses from exploitation and slaughter.

Susan Kayne operates the horse rescue organization Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, on the border of Albany County and Greenville.