Longtime TRF Retiree Native Ivory Dies

Native Ivory, a 30-year-old gelding who spent the last 14 years in retirement at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances Farm at the Blackburn Correctional Facility, was put down at the farm Oct. 8 due to complications of colic. 

“Its a little quiet in the barn this morning.” said farm manager Linda Dyer. “All the men are very sad. They all helped with him yesterday to try and save him, but no one wanted to see him suffer either. Some of the newer guys, though not yet horsemen, came to understand why we had to put him to sleep. Ivory loved people. He was a tough guy, very smart and very trusting. He was perfect for this program.” 

Native Ivory overcame much adversity to make 117 starts, finishing 44 times in the top three. Successive illness and injuries–founder, flipping over on a walking machine, and losing his tail in a starting gate accident–never kept him away for too long. A year after he lost his tail, an injury that most assumed would keep him from racing, he was back on the racetrack. Native Ivory was also reportedly a favorite among his paddock mates in the alpha-horse field. His best friend was Winter Storm and they were always next to each other. Winter Storm who had one of the longest tails in the herd stood side by side with Nate, swinging his tail to be sure that Nate was cool and the flies didn’t get to him. 

Native Ivory’s caretakers will honor his memory at Blackburn’s 15th Anniversary Celebration and Open House Oct. 23.