I am so excited to have been able to photograph the amazingly handsome Bully City Bonus right before he took off to head to the Retired Racehorse Project in Lexington,KY at the Kentucky Horse Park with his owner Amanda.

Not all love stories start like a fairytale, sometimes the best love stories come out of a tragedy. Amanda shared that she purchased her first OTTB 3 years ago from a rescue. “He was  very skinny, weak, and depressed. I rescued him and he held my heart. Unfortunately, 2 years into our adventure he was diagnosed with a spinal compression. Because of his retirement, I found Bull.”

Follow their journey on Amanda’s Instagram.

“Several mares were sent to a farm to be bred. Unfortunately, the farm they were sent to did not take good care of them. As soon as their owners found out they were not being fed, they picked them up. Bull’s mom, Holy Molly, and the other mares showed no signs of babies. Then one day, Bull appeared. It was a miracle, hence his name Bonus. Tammie and David, along with his trainers, have held a very special place in their hearts for him. He only ran 5 races, so to protect him, they retired him early. “

I am so incredibly excited that Amanda gets to take Bull City Bonus to the Retired Racehorse Project and represent retired racehorses from around the world, and share his special story. I can honestly say that he was one of the most well behaved horses I have photographed all year, even on a windy day with a piece of metal flapping on the barn, he didn’t even flinch! His spirit and temperament is a true testament to the amazing character of retired racehorses.

“I drove all the way to Oklahoma and immediately brought him home. He was RRP eligible, so we applied and gave it shot. We were accepted. Only 1 of 37 accepted from Texas. Now, we will get to strut our stuff in the Rolex Arena in Lexington,KY.”