Red Rabbit Racing

On a hot August 8th, 2025 the Rabbits traveled down to Ellis Park Race Track in Henderson Ky, to see

NOT FALLING BACK RUN IN THE FEATURE RACE!

Our 4 year old gelding, owned in Partnership with Tim Keeley Racing, had drawn the horrid outside post in a field of 12 at a mile and 1/16th on their fast, rock hard  turf course.  Atop our boy was the best jockey France has ever produced, Florent Geroux.   The field had scratched down to 9 by Post Time, but that still left us on the outside.

Trainer Chris Block says our boy likes to run either on the lead or close to it - so that meant Florent would have to gun us out of the gate Tout Suite and over towards the rail before the first turn.  A Very Tall Order.

Prior to the race we finally were able to meet partner Tim Keeley who had traveled with golf buddy Andrew to see the action.   Charley Rabbit (Rick) is also partnered with Tim on a filly named GoldenAgeActress that reeled off a monster win at Churchill earlier this summer.

On our side, Founder Rabbit (Aunty Peg), Money Rabbit (Jean) and The Princess herself were there.  Also Founder Rabbit had brought her skating sensation grandaughter Sophie and her life long friend Paula.  A good group hungry for the Winner's Circle.

In the Paddock, we met up with Trainer Block's longtime assistant Martine who had brought the horse down from Hawthorne.   We took a picture with Florent and walked out to the Apron to watch the race.

ON TO THE RACE!

So having the oustide post, we were the last to load.   No sooner had our boy got in the gate, the damn starter launched the field.

We left the gate a step slow and that was costly.  We got up toward the lead, but heading into the 1st turn we were 3 wide. Coming out of the 1st turn we were second - a head off the leader and tracked him that way all down the backstretch and thru the 2nd turn.

I couldn't see the race fractions - cuz it was so bright and their goofy Jumbotron is so small.  If I had seen them, I'd have had a Stroke.  As they're coming down the lane the leader and us both falter and drop back into the pack.  4 horses swept by us and we finished a beaten 5th - 8 lengths off the lead.  NFB ran well and never gave up - but we were hoping we would be In The Money.

It wasn't till I go back to the Hotel and looked at the Official Result that I gasped for breath.  The Winner had broke the Track Record set back in the prior Century - 1998!  And he didn't just shave just a couple hundrdeths off the record - he obliterated it, carving a full 3/4 of a second off the prior record!

THE NEW RECORD WAS ONLY POSSIBLE DUE TO THE PACE WE SET!

Remember this is a mile and 1/16th race.   We ran the quarter in 22 and 1.  The half was at 45 and 4!   How our boy could even stand down the stretch having run that fast in that heat is a feat in itself.  On the follow-up call with Trainer Block he stated that Ellis' Turf Course is...  "Ridiculous, that's just way too fast.  It's not Reality!"  Unbelievable!

After the race The Princess and I retired to the Hotel and all the others went to the Backside to visit our hero - who was going to head back to Hawthorne in just an hour or so.

Following that we all went to dinner in Evansville, IN where Tim Keeley generously picked up the Tab.  Thank you Very Much Partner Rabbit.  It was great to meet him and we look forward to a long association with our new partner and now friend.

But the last word goes to our Not Falling Back who showed he can run with a bunch that sets Track Records.   Oh, if we had an inside post and a better break....

THAT RECORD SET COULD'VE BEEN OURS!

STAY TUNED - WE GOT A RUNNER HERE!