Uphold Upsets in the Unreachable Star Stakes

Posted on March 2, 2021 by onthepointstable

Just three short weeks after having been claimed by a new trainer and owner, Uphold, at odds of 33-1 found his way to the winners circle for the Inaugural Running of the Unreachable Star Stakes at Indiana Grand. I know many friends and family probably thought I would be crying the blues, but to me, his win in this stakes race confirmed what I had always believed about Uphold. I always knew he was a stakes horse. His win represented the silver lining to me. It was if he was telling me that he was happy in his new barn and poised for the next chapter of his journey. His win in this stakes was auspicious because it fell on my Grandfather’s birthday. While my grandfather was present in spirit only that night, I’d like to think he whispered in Uphold’s ear to give him that extra push! The win that night was so well timed because just three short days later, two of my fillies, half sibling’s to Uphold, were set to be sold at the Indiana auction. Not only did Uphold start a new journey, but the fillies each went to great owner/trainers. My yearling filly out of Blueskiesnrainbows, Everything’s Rosy, went to Bob Gorham and my weanling filly out of Wicked Strong went to Brandi Steele. Please enjoy the article below by Tammy Knox and the pictures from Indiana Grand and remember to always keep looking for that silver lining!

It’s a colt for Defining Hope!

Posted on February 19, 2019 by onthepointstable

As they say, like mother like daughter. Defining Hope delivered her first foal, a Cupid colt on Monday, February 11 at about 5:50 pm at Margaux Farm in Midway, Kentucky. As luck would have it, she delivered within 90 minutes of her dam, On The Point, who foaled in Indiana. It was like a scene from Father of the Bride II where Steve Martin’s wife, played by Diane Keaton, goes into labor at the same time as her daughter, played by Kimberly Williams.

But, both Mom and baby are doing well. They tell me that Hope is a fantastic and patient first time mother. You can tell she loves her little one. She is great with the staff and lets them enter the stall and handle her baby without any fussing. Of course, in true Diva like manner, you must acknowledge Hope as well. However, she is willing to share the limelight with her little man ( or not so little at 127 lbs).

Defining Hope is relishing her second career with all of the wonder it holds for her and her new foal. Hope took one look at me and immediately wanted her usual peppermints with a sort of panic. Ok, where did that patient mother tude go? Oh, you want to be pampered? #youdeserveit! The little man, on the other hand, will just have to wait another day for his peppermints!

Enjoy the photos below!

A tender first moment between Mother and son

We’re up and nursing!

5 days old!

Hey Mom, are they talking about me?

Wintering in Tampa

Posted on February 19, 2019 by onthepointstable

Gabe ( Uphold) is wintering in Tampa this year. I had the chance to see him at the end of the year just before the New Year’s holiday. He looked happy, well adjusted, and definitely more muscled. He seemed to have taken a liking to Tampa’s track and weather, all of it,except the black birds! Hey Bud, it’s either pigeons at Churchill or blackbirds at Tampa. Take your pick!

He’s made his first start on turf and continues to learn a lot every time he hits the track. I’m so proud of how he is progressing. Now that Gabe has a half sister born 2-11-19, and a nephew ( Defining Hope’s colt) born the same day, he really needs to kick into gear and show these youngsters how it’s done!

Uphold- Training Update

Posted on December 1, 2016 by onthepointstable

Uphold is doing well and has finished his arena training and has now progressed onto the track. He is standing in the gate and jogs 5 furlongs daily on the track. He recovered recently from a hoof abscess, and was off training for almost a week, but it didn’t seem to have slowed him down any. Dermot describes Uphold as a very straight forward intelligent, compliant horse. I get the impression that Uphold is a breath of fresh air after training Defining Hope! 🙂

Uphold – 15 months old

Posted on September 7, 2016 by onthepointstable

Uphold ( Gabe) weighs 928 lbs and has finally lost his baby fur! He is a totally different horse now and so well behaved. He seems to really like his grooms. Dermot describes Uphold as an indepedent horse who is curious and not afraid of anything. He said he is an easy horse to handle. While we were visiting,Uphold’s groom unlatched his bridle and opened the stall door and Gabe walked in like he was a dog walking into his crate. I was taken a back and had never seen such a thing! He didn’t have to be led in. See picture below of Uphold and his groom at Margaux Farm.

April 2016- Uphold To Margaux Farm

Posted on September 7, 2016 by onthepointstable

Uphold shipped to Margaux and arrived in good shape and weighing 752 lbs. Seeing that Uphold needing some additional handling and socializing, Margaux focused on getting him use to relying on his handlers and less on his equine peers. Despite being a May 1st foal, he was equal in size to the other yearlings, but his fuzzy baby fur quickly gave him away.He is adjusting well. His half sibling sister, Defining Hope, is also at the farm and getting close to shipping to the track.