Over the course of my thirty-some years as a trainer, I have rubbed shoulders with a few thoroughbred breeders and by and far they enjoy watching their babies and their careers as they blossom or don’t blossom. Oftentimes these breeders will take one back after an injury to assure it does not end up in the wrong pipeline.

After I purchased Mac I decided to seek out his connections and let them know where he had landed. The first stop was to connect with his breeder, her name is listed in the information on Mac’s Equibase profile. A simple Facebook search put me in touch with Christine Hansen, Mac’s breeder. She was pleasantly surprised to hear from me and was thrilled to know who had him. This is a direct quote from our first exchange. “I knew he quit running, and I was worried about him… ” Christine has graciously provided me all the info and photos of Mac (during his seven-month stay with her) that I could wish for.

Let’s talk about Christine; Mac’s breeder. Christine operates Montessori Farm, a Thoroughbred farm located in Versailles, Kentucky, just a stone’s throw from Lexington. Montessori Farm always has focused primarily on mare & foal care but also has handled racetrack lay-ups, weanling and yearling care, sales preparation, and sales consignments at Keeneland and Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, and a retirement program for older mares. In recent years, Christine has scaled her operation back to offering mare care and occasional lay-up boarding only to very few, established clients.”

Mac was at Montessori Farm for the first 7 months of his life and Christine was kind enough to send the photos below. All photo credit goes to Christine Hansen

Mac ( in the middle) With 2 Other Weanling Just Before The Sale

When I asked about the foals the year Mac was born, this is what she said “I think I had five foals that year, and I am sad that I lost track of 3 of them. One filly that I really liked and hoped would come back to me later, even if I would have to claim her back, was sold at the OBS two-year-old sale and ended up in Korea. Two colts never made it to the races, and I do not know where they are – it can be very hard to follow them when there are no published works or races. Then there is a little filly who now is a superstar …. cheapest one of the bunch, of course, by far, which is just how this business can go! She won three allowance races and ran second in a graded stakes at Churchill Downs. She just left my farm last week, after enjoying a short vacation from the racetrack. I have become friends with her current owners after seeking them out at her races, and they sent her to me for a short lay-up, she is at Oaklawn right now.  We really think the best is yet to come for her!”

Christine gave me some info about his early life.” I do remember without a doubt that he was a “good baby” Yes, he could be a little jerk, like every weanling colt, but he never was any real trouble! Mac was raised in a group of 8 or 10 mares and foals, and then was sales prepped together with two others. He was an uncomplicated baby to deal with, and I very specifically remember him being complimented by one of the show people handling him at the sale, about how well he handled the sale atmosphere.”

How lucky is Mac to have had Christine as his first connection in his short three-year racing career. Having dealt with horses for the majority of my life it is very clear Mac had good socialization and handling as a baby. I am greatly looking forward to meeting Christine at the Thoroughbred Makeover in October. This is what she said in our last exchange after I thanked her for her part in Mac’s young life. “Thank YOU, for giving him a good home, and a safe future”. Rest assured Christine, Mac’s future is bright.