An 11-year-old chestnut gelding named Lapochka has left an indelible mark on the North American Thoroughbred circuit. After eight years and 84 starts, he officially hung up his horseshoes on Sunday, Nov. 17. Despite not having a Hollywood ending, his story is one of perseverance and charm.

Lapochka - A Horse That Transcended the Racing Track

Impressive Racing Career

Lapochka, the son of English Channel-Russian Sweetpie, entered the walking ring with jockey Daisuke Fukumoto and his biggest supporter Kalvin Lissone. He put in an impressive rally, chasing the frontrunner for a hard-earned second. His record of 20-14-13 and $552,452 (U.S.) in purse earnings is a testament to his racing prowess. Over the years, he became a fan favourite, with people always rooting for him.During his career, he clinched his 20th career triumph in textbook fashion with another eye-catching rally in a claiming dash on Aug. 31 at Woodbine. Woodbine race caller Robert Geller, who has been in the booth for 73 of his 84 lifetime starts, marvelled at his indomitable spirit. His strength, power and will to win were palpable, especially in a close finish.

The Connection with His Trainer

Trainer Vito Armata worked with Lapochka since the fall of 2020 after claiming him for Eight Star for $19,000. Over the years, they developed a deep connection that went beyond the typical coach-athlete dynamic. Instead, it was more like that of 'good friends.'“As he said, ‘He’s the kind of horse that makes you get up and go in the morning. If you’re having a bad day or a bad morning, you go see him and he makes it a good morning.’” Armata fondly recalled.

The Eight Star Racing Stable

Eight Star Racing Stables was formed in 2018 by partners Joe Mazarese, Lorenzo Scala, Mike Dattori and Marco Fronte. Each member has two children, and Lapochka became the heartbeat of their stable.“We had initially claimed Lapochka early on in his career [2018)], lost him two races later to a claim, and were lucky to have gotten him back in our stable two years later and have had him since,” said Fronte. “He is a true professional and has brought the stable many great memories.”The stable's co-owner Joe Mazarese was often seen feeding Lapochka carrots, showing the care and affection they had for him.

The Retirement Journey

As Lapochka's career wound down and Woodbine put an age limit on horses competing at the track, it was crucial to find the perfect home for him. After a meeting with the partners of Eight Star Racing Stables, they decided to retire the horse and send him to LongRun.Established in 1999, LongRun is one of the most respected horse retirement and adoption organizations in North America. With a 100-acre property home to over 50 retired Thoroughbreds, it was the ideal landing spot for Lapochka.“After a couple phone calls, there was no question that LongRun was the perfect place for him. We wanted to ensure he lives out the next chapter of his life in a place where he would be cared for and looked after the same way we did for the last four years,” said Fronte.At LongRun, Lapochka found a loving home with farm manager Lauren Millet and the devoted staff. “LongRun is thrilled to be chosen to retire and find a forever home for such a fan favourite horse. Hopefully, he can shed light on what we can do here – not only rehabilitation, but finding forever homes for sound horses also,” said Millet.