Gate To Great Horses

The horses that enter the Great Geldings program will spend anywhere from a few months to a year or more transitioning from track life to ranch life. Many hours of rehab and training go into each horse and we strive to develop them for their best suited career as indicated by their aptitudes.

Once the horses go through the Gate To Great program, they are ready for their new career. If you are interested in a particular horse, contact us for details on the individual's progress.

This page is updated as horses enter or complete the training program. Bookmark us and check back often! See our Facebook page: "Gate to Great/Horse Creek Thoroughbreds" for stories, photos, & videos.

About our current offerings:

A majority of our Thoroughbred geldings come to us from one of the top breeding/racing programs in the nation, Solera Farm of Williston, Fl. Under the watchful eye of owners Dr. Krista Seltzer, D.V.M. and Edward Seltzer, these horses represent generations of black-type producing mare lines they have developed. Most of their horses are foaled in Kentucky and are pointed to the early books of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Others are broken and trained at the Florida facility under the eye of trainer Curtis Garrison before being sent trackside with some of the best conditioners in the racing business. All are retired with plenty "left in the tank" as second careers are in mind and come to us with full histories, which we make available to our buyers. They are registered but papers are not available. As the second owners, we do our best to determine each gelding's strengths and weakness in an effort to find the right home. We are honored to be entrusted with these royally-bred horses!

Filigree

16 hands, bay gelding

2018 By Medaglia d'Oro out of Verdana Bold (by Rahy), Ky-bred

14 starts, 2 wins, $57,850

From a family we know very well, Filigree is a horse we followed from his early days to the sales, racing, and now into his second career at GTG. We have enjoyed success with several of his siblings, and Filigree has not disappointed. This is one cool gelding that could carry on to a variety of disciplines, based on the apptitude he has exhibited when introduced to ranch work. A good-minded individual with grand confirmation, Filigree will give your riding buddies horse-envy. Dorothy campaigned his sibling "Rambo" to a national title in Western Dressage and Filigree has every bit the ability to claim his own performance championship credentials. Priced at $15,000.

Bluebirds Over

16 hands, bay gelding

2020 By English Channel out of Giant Review (by Giant's Causeway), Ky-bred

9 starts, 2 wins, Gr. 3 Stakes-winner, $114,781.

This classy, big-moving gelding comes with a loaded pedigree. Sired by Champion English Channel, winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf and $5.3 Million, Bluebirds Over added graded black-type to his dam, herself a half-sister to multiple graded-stakes winner Sparkling Review. This female family has produced sire, Another Review (GSW), Smashing Review (SW), Dance Colony (GSW), Prince of Jericho (SW), and others. Bluebirds Over won his first race by 8 lengths at Gulfstream Park, then captured the Grey Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. Now a year off, he will begin retraining for his second career spring/summer of 2026. Watch for updates here and on our Facebook page, "Gate to Great/Horse Creek Thoroughbreds," as we add photos & videos. Call Dale for details at (605) 569-2249 (c).

Bit Growth ("Rico")

15.2 hands, chestnut gelding

2012 By Tale of the Cat out of Miss Fremont (by Rahy), Pa-bred

19 starts, 3 wins, $40,051

Here's a real survivor and hard-knocking guy. From Tampa Bay to Mountaineer to Puerto Rico. From the family of millionare Dixie Union, Broodmare of the Year, Fall Aspen, and Horse of the Year, Dubai Millennium! Rico has put in some long days of fall cattle work and has been added to the regular string. Call for details.

The horses below have been sold, but their photos or videos remain as examples of what our Gate to Great - "Great Geldings" learn while in our program.

Take Command ("T.C.")

15.3 hd. Gray Gelding

2016 by Field Commission X Espanola Way (by Cozzene)

10 starts, 3 wins, Winner of The Carry Back Stakes at the Tropical Meet, FL, Earnings: +$129K. Last raced 12/13/2020.

SOLD

The rugged bay (below) "KING" came to us from the leading racing stable of Graham Motion. King spent several years with us, becoming the "go-to" ranch horse our fans followed from start to finish. A global traveler, King raced in many countries for a ruler of an Arab nation- hence the stable name - and one he royally lived up to!