equine stars
Robinson retires at Del Mar
Here’s to You
Robinson
By Alden Corrigan
Richard Spooner and his equestrian partner Robinson 93rd Grand Prix on Robinson. “That horse was around
were never meant to be together. When Richard was in for 90 of my first 100 Grand Prix wins, of which he won
Germany at Marcus and Meredith Micheals-Beerbaum’s 40, and that’s more than any horse in U.S. history.” The
show stable, he was there to look at a horse named Cosino, first Grand Prix win with Robinson at The Oaks, as it
but as they were showing him all the horses in the barn, turns out, was an unexpected one as he was very green
he spotted Robinson and was instantaneously drawn to and didn’t have a lot of experience at that point. But
him. “I went in the stall clearly that win in 1996
and started hanging out set the stage for an
with him a little bit, and unparalleled 11 year
petting him, and I said, partnership between
well what about this the horse and rider.
horse? They told me he Robinson earned his
wasn’t for sale, and that devoted fan club with
he certainly wouldn’t be his natural jumping
a good horse for Amer- style, getting up in the
ica anyway, as he wasn’t air and holding that
the most rideable horse, position like he was
he was very strong, and defying gravity. Spec-
he would definitely drag tators often remarked
you down to the jumps.” about the enthusiastic
Richard spent the rest expression on Robin-
of that evening asking son’s face, as he was
the Beerbaum’s about over the top of the
him, and finally talk- jump enjoying every
ing them into letting minute of it. Richard
him ride Robinson the explains what it was
next day even though like to be part of the
he wasn’t for sale. “I Robinson experience
rode him just on the flat, “Everybody from
and over a couple little the spectators to me
jumps, and I kind of could tell that he was
talked them into finding enjoying himself.”
out a price.” Richard Comparing Robin-
tried Robinson a second son to Michael Jordan,
time, and thought he Richard went on to say
was fantastic, but didn’t “He sticks his tongue
have any buyers at the out, he always had a
time, for either Cosino or full grasp of everything
Robinson. A man on a mission, he returned home armed in the arena, and he had a real work horse mentality. He
with videos; he not only got a syndicate together to buy would just go out there day in and day out, class after class.”
Robinson, but then talked Robinson’s owners Ludger Referring to Robinson as his best friend, Richard clearly
Beerbaum and the Hanoverian Society into selling him. has a special place in his heart for this horse. “It was not just
Over the years, Richard and Robinson built a career that his performance that was so exceptional, but that he under-
few would emulate. Richard won both his 3rd and his stood the sport, he understood the goal, and it was as though
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