Hello everyone. Rick Capone here with the 159th installment of our Old Friends’ Throwback Thursday Memories. This week we remember two-time graded stakes winner, and loveable Old Friends retiree, River Squall. Bred by F.A. Genter Stable, Inc., River Squall, who was by Summer Squall--Bangkok, by Riverman, was foaled on April 15, 1994 in Kentucky. He began racing as a 2-year old in 1996 under the care of trainer Peter Vestal and owner Thomas M. Carey, who would be his connections for his entire racing career. His first two starts came in maiden special weight races at Saratoga, where he finished fifth on Aug. 12, and fourth on Aug. 26. In his next start, he began a three-race win streak that stretched over two years. In the first start, he scored his first win, which came in another maiden special weight race, this time at Turfway Park on Sept. 15. Next up, he won an allowance race at Keeneland on Oct. 25, which was his last start of the year. He finished the year with two wins, and $52,597 in earnings in seven starts. In 1997, as a 3-year old, he opened the year with three starts at Oaklawn Park. In his first start, he won an allowance race on Feb. 21, which was the last win in his three-race win streak. He followed that with a third in the Rebel Stakes (G3) on March 22, and then a seventh in the Arkansas Derby (G2) on April 12. From Oaklawn Park he went to Churchill Downs for his next two starts. There he won an allowance race on May 18, and followed that with a fourth in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (Listed) on May 31. Then, in his next start, he finished fifth in the Arlington Classic Stakes (G2) at Arlington Park on June 28. His next two starts came at Saratoga. In his first start there he finished second in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2) on Aug. 4. Then, in his next start he won the Saranac Stakes (G3) on Aug. 27 for his first graded-stakes victory. He followed that with another win, this time at Hawthorne in the Hawthorne Derby (G3) on Oct. 12. It was his second graded-stakes win, and also was the last win of his career. Following that race, River Squall was done for the year. He closed out 1997 with four wins, one second, one third, and $286,408 in earnings in nine starts. He returned to the track as a 4-year old in 1998 and began the year with two races at Churchill Downs where he finished second in an allowance race on May 23, and then seventh in the Firecracker Breeders' Cup Handicap (G3) on June 28. He followed that with three starts at Saratoga. In the first one he finished ninth in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (G2) on July 31, and followed that with two allowance races in which he finished second in both of them on Aug. 2, and Sept. 7. His next start came at Keeneland where he finished fourth in an allowance race on Oct. 22. From there he went to Churchill Downs and finished eighth in another allowance race on Nov. 4. That race would be his last start of the year. He finished it with three seconds, and $37,300 in earnings in seven starts. That race at Churchill also turned out to be the last start of his career as he was retired. He finished his three-year racing career with six wins, four seconds, one third, and $375,305 in earnings in 20 starts. Following his racing career, River Squall entered stud in 1999 at Huisache Farm in Hempstead, Texas. Then, in 2000, he stood at Cedar Creek Farm in Brenham, Texas for the rest of his breeding career. River Squall had a decent stud career between 1999 and 2018. According to pedigreequery, he sired his first foal out of the dam Little Valentine named Bold Squall in 2021. According to equibase.com, Bold Squall had one win, five seconds, five thirds, and earned $21,839 in 47 starts. His first nine starts were maiden claiming races, while the rest of them were claiming races. As to River Squall’s top foals, once again according to pedigreequery.com, they were: Charles Edwin – foaled in 2003, the gelding had 11 wins in 66 starts and earned $210,153; Pretty Squall – foaled in 2004, the mare had five wins in 22 starts and earned $164,220; Rapid Squall – foaled in 2005, the gelding had four wins in 12 starts and earned $98,138, and Special Praise – foaled in 2011, the gelding had seven wins in 68 starts and earned $163,730. Then at age 24, River Squall was pensioned, and along with his buddy A P Valentine, who both had resided at veterinarian William Day's Cedar Creek Farm, were donated to Old Friends. They arrived at the farm on Feb. 13, 2018. “Dr. Day is one of the preeminent reproduction experts for stallions in the country, and A P Valentine unfortunately had some reproductive problems,” said Michael at the time. “Dr. Day was getting older and the horses were getting older, so he called and asked if we could take them, and we have, and it’s worked really well.” River Squall was another horse I didn’t get to see a lot personally, which I regret. However, according to all who did know him, they found him to a sweet horse to visit. The sweet dark bay stallion enjoyed four years of peaceful retirement at Old Friends. However, on April 15, 2022, River Squall died from a ruptured colon. He was 28. In a blog posting on April 18, 2022, Beth wrote about River Squall after he died: “River Squall wasn’t famous, but he was a seriously good racehorse, winner of the 1997 Saranac Stakes (G3) and Hawthorne Derby (G3). And for the barn staff and tour guides, he was a much-loved presence in his stall or his turnout area that he could use at will through the back door of his stall. He had this arrangement because a condition that inhibited his ability to sweat made it part of his wellbeing to always have access to shelter and cool whenever he wanted it. “… He did spend plenty of time in his outside run, but that tended to be in early mornings and in the evening. However! If you visited Old Friends in Kentucky at any time from 2018 on, I can almost guarantee you met River Squall and remember him. He was the dark bay stallion who never let a tour go through the barn without banging, making a ruckus for attention and carrots, and always demanding even more. River Squall was sort of tough, but he loved attention and admiration. “One person who will always remember River with special love is former staff member John Bradley. River was fond of John, who often wet him down when he was hot – being wet was River’s favorite thing ever – and played tongue-pulling games with him. Some horses really get into tongue-pulling. John recalled how whenever he’d walk by River’s stall, the stallion would stick out his tongue at him. Though River started out his retirement a toughie, he decided he liked us and mellowed into one of the most loved characters on the farm. That barn just doesn’t seem the same without our River Squall.” As you can imagine, River Squall is still missed by everyone at Old Friends very much. (fb)

What's better than Triple Crown race winner memorabilia during Triple Crown season? Nothing! This week's Old Friends eBay auction includes this Kentucky Derby photo and shot glass of Triple Crown winner Silver Charm, signed Kentucky Derby photos of Secretariat and War Emblem and photos of Silver Charm during his racing days! Find all of this week's items here 👉🏻https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_dkr=1&iconV2Request=true&_blrs=recall_filtering&_ssn=oldfriendsretiredthoroughbreds&store_cat=72888737013&store_name=oldfriendsfarmgiftshop&_oac=1 (fb)