"Strictly Thoroughbreds"

2010 AwardS

Current Man

Video of Inaugrual High Achievement Award at
Tampa Bay Downs

Current Man (Rapid Fire) by Cathy Bailey
This is the story of Current Man, show name, Rapid Fire.  He is a 16 hand, Bay, 16yr old gelding. He was born and bred at Darby Down Farms in Lexington, Kentucky.  His sire, Little Current won the Belmont Stakes and his dam is by Roberto, who won the English Triple Crown. 1996-1998 Current Man was owned by David Romanik and trained by Ron Spate. He was successful, mostly on the turf. At 5 years old he bowed his tendon at Calder Race track in FL.
This is the story of how Current Man made it into my life. As an experienced hunter/jumper rider, I took a summer job during college in upstate New York exercising race horses at Clermont Farm in Tivoli, NY. I invited a close friend, Greg Fox to see the facility and watch the horses train. An athlete himself, he was fascinated by the world of race training.  This intrigued this non-horseman so much that he eventually became a veterinarian and trainer. He credited me as his inspiration, and told me that “someday” he would find a dynamite show horse for me. A horse off the track possibly injured but ready for a second career.
Ten years later 1998, he called to tell me he had my horse! He had a bowed tendon but it was able to be rehabilitated. I went to Calder Race Course to see him and I was smitten. He got a ride to Miami that day, and our journey together began.
It almost didn’t happen. I already had two horses at my house with a bowed tendon. My husband was opposed. My friend gave me $500 for the first moth board. I hand walked, hosed and wrapped, etc., before and after work. A couple of friends, especially Bonnie Ferguson, helped and about five months later, I got on his back for the first time! We took it very slow and he healed beautifully.
We moved to a barn more suitable for training was taken very seriously. I mostly rode him before him before work early in the morning then, in the ring, woods and the groves.
After bringing him home and he could be tuned out all of the time, we did so much together.  We rode all over the neighborhood, to all the nearby barns, like Miami Dade Equestrian Center, Coconut Palm Equestrian Center, 24 Carrots Farm, Jacaranda Farm, and Redland Equestrian Center, to ride and eventually jump with others. We also did a lot of trail riding, which is good for a horses mind and body, and fosters a stronger trust and bond between horse and rider.
We worked hard with several trainers over the years, beginning with Frederic Bomeau, Pepe Marina of Southwinds farm helped a great deal early on. We trailered to Wellington to work with Carl Bassette a number of times. In addition I would like to thank, Julie Greman, Stephanie Angus, Anthonio Martinez for their dedication and expertise. Thanks and appreciation to them and many others.
And we showed! Rapid loves to jump, flat work, not so much but we made it more interesting by performing basic dressage work. He stepped up to the plate.  Jumping however, he catches fire! It is one of the things that makes him a joy to ride.
Don’t ask me how but he knows the differences between hunter, jumper and Equitation classes.  Is it my demeanor? Maybe the difference of the bit? He is a different horse.  He has done most of his wining in the jumper ring but he also done well in the hunter ring, Equitation ring, barrel racing and hunter paces.We want to try three day eventing, not an option in Miami, but Central Florida will finally offer us an opportunity.
Over the years, Rapid Fire has won 33 Grand Champion, 19 Reserve Championships, and 11 year end awards. He has placed 1st in about 97 classes, and 2nd in 69 and 3rd in 47, and 47 times 4th-6th places. You see, he usually Wins!! Since moving near Ocala, FL last year we continue to train and show at places like Canterbury Park, The Florida Horse Park, the HITS and Williston Horseman’s Association Arena. My new trainer, Patrcia Towle of Tatra Farm, Williston, FL and Clinton Corners, NY, is excellent!
We continue having fun together for many years. Rapid Fire is a VERY GREAT HORSE, my dear beloved partner and friend.