Great Endeavors

The first time the brown colt was race would be in the Sturm Sprint Maiden race, six furlongs the turf. The racing trainer at Smoky Ridge figured it would be best to try him out racing on the grass as during morning workouts, Venture seemed to take to the turf. Maybe it was because of his mother's steeplechasing career that he loved it so much - and maybe that would be what caused him to win by an outstanding 5 lengths, in 1:08:6.
Confident with this win, his next race was bumped up to nine furlongs - quite a different, but the way he raced he was thought to do well. As the brown colt and another raced neck and neck for the wire, he did the unexpected and dropped back, all the way to 6th place. Disheartened but eager to try him in another nine furlongs a few weeks later, the colt was entered in the Dominion Futurity stakes. As the gates flew open, Venture settled into and easy 8th place, almost bouncing after his opponents. Despite the turf track sopping wet and heavy with rain, the colt led the field home at an incredible ten lengths.

He ran on to win a few more races, and in all fairness lose a few. Now it was on to his three-year-old career. His first race would be the ten furlong Dancer Stakes, over a state in Maryland this time. As they turned for home, the horse beside Venture swerved over and bumped him, slamming him into another horse. He fell back to 5th place, but he soon kicked on the speed again and was the first under the wire by eight lengths. He ran a similar race again a few weeks later, winning by three lengths this time.

Thrilled with his easy successes and passion for running, Smoky Ridge was curious to see how the colt would do in steeplechasing. They added a few hurdles to his morning workout, which Venture didn't take a second look at before hurling himself over them.
And so with practice, Venture would run in the Calico Chase, again in Maryland. He started badly, trailing last and trying to find his feet. Once he had settled, the first jump loomed closer. He jumped ungracefully over it, sending bits of the brush flying. Similar events followed over the next few. When the final turn came, Venture said in second to last, farther back than normal. No problem for him, he sped ahead and nearly won it. He earned second by a neck and a time of 3:16:9.

It was decided that 15 furlongs was too much too soon for Venture, so he was loaded up and trailered over to Kentucky, where he would run a few 14.5F races. The first to arrive was the Thompson Chase, where the brown colt managed to scrape a win by a neck. Victory at last, and now it was time for the Pegasus Chase. He broke well - a little too well. He surged to the front, several placings ahead of where he should have been. His stamina took a small hit, but that didn't stop him from winning the chase by nine furlongs. Absolutely ecstatic, several weeks later he was being loaded into the gates to run in the Regal Chase. The track was an image of the race he had ran during his 2 year old career. Rain ran off the roof of the gates, dripping down on the horses as they lunged from the gates at the cue of the bell. He struggled to find his footing, finding it after a few seconds. The rain never seemed to stop him before, and it didn't now. He sailed over the jumps, and placed second by only 2 1/2 lengths.

In the fall of the year, Venture's last race would be Wychmore Chase, and he would be back in Maryland to have another try at the 15 furlong race. He sprung promisingly from the gates, taking an early sixth place. In the first turn, he bumped into the grey horse beside him, sending him off balance for the first jump. His confidence seemed to droop for the next few hurdles. At last, the final turn was there. The jockey held him back past when the others whipped their horses and sent them rocketing to the wire. Moments later, the whip flashed by Venture's eye, and he responded by hurtling forward and leaving behind the field by over 10 lengths.

The announcer sent his praise echoing across the track, muffled by the roar of the crowd. Venture would go home a champion, and would be met by many carrots and kisses.
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I'm so proud of Venture, he's such a good boy! And dearie did he get a long story, but it was worth it for such a fantastic season.

Original bio and stats - [link]



3 YEAR OLD RACING CAREER

Dancer Stakes (10F)
Won by 8 lengths in a time of 1:58:1
Fair skies, firm track.
Virtus Cup (10F)
Won by 3 lengths in a time of 2:00:2
Fair skies, good track.
Calico Chase (15F)
Lost (2nd) by a neck in a time of 3:16:9
Cloudy skies, good track.
Thompson Chase (14.5F)
Won by a neck in a time of 3:07:5
Clear skies, firm track.
Pegasus Chase (14.5F)
Won by 9 lengths in a time of 3:04:6
Cloudy skies, good track.
Regal Chase (14.5F)
Lost (2nd) by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 3:05:2
Rain, heavy track.
Wychmore Chase (15F)
Won by 10 lengths in a time of 3:15:6
Cloudy skies, good track.

Won a total of 5 out of 7 starts.

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And this also means that Venture is now officially up for stud!


Horse, artwork, Smoky Ridge (c) ~BeauArrow
Background and reference by ~rachellafranchistock