Jody Petty, continued...


for Garters. Originally im- ported in 2012, Guts for Garters won off the bat with the late H. Brooks Durkee in the irons in the Novice Timber at the Mr. Stew- art’s Cheshire Foxhounds Point-to-Point that March. Petty took over the ride in 2013, fi nishing second in the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point Open Tim- ber before placing third in their fi rst Hunt Cup. “Petty really came full cir-


cle,” Guts for Garters’ train- er Neilson said. “He was a logical choice for this horse as he was always a beautiful timber rider and like I said, he took care of my horses.” T e following year, Guts for Garters won the Hunt Cup in a photo fi nish over Imperial Way for owner Stewart Strawbridge. “T at was a very special win for my family,” Neilson said. “Jody was very infl uential in producing T e Bruce, who my brother Stewart won the Hunt Cup with in 2007. It was really special to then have Jody win on my brother’s horse.” Guts for Garters and Petty fi nished second to


Raven’s Choice in the 2015 Hunt Cup and sec- ond again in 2016, nearly catching the winner Senior Senator at the wire. To recap, the pair rode in the Maryland Hunt Cup, the country’s most grueling timber race, four times in a row, fi nishing fi rst once, second twice and third once. Impressive to say the least. “T is is huge to me,” Petty said. “T ere are horses that certainly have won the Hunt Cup more times than him but it is incredible to


Jody Petty and Guts for Garters nearly beat Senior Senator in the 2016 Maryland Hunt Cup giving them a Hunt Cup record of one win, two seconds and one third in four consecutive Hunt Cups.


place four years in a row with third being the worse placement.”


Coming to a Close


Guts for Garters fell early on this season at the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point and ac- cording to Neilson, will recover fully. “He was going to be out for this year’s Hunt Cup, however, and Jody had always said Guts for Garters was going to be his last horse,” she said. “It is nice that he was able to go out on his own terms. He is such a great guy to have in my life for sure and has had an incredible career.” “I really was riding for the fun of it these last few years and wanted to keep going for Guts for Garters,” Petty explained.


“T e plan was always to retire this year after the Hunt Cup. I just ended up doing that a bit earlier instead.” Petty added, “I am very proud of my career and the horses I’ve had a chance to ride. Rac- ing for friends such as Sanna [Neilson] and Eddie Graham is very special for me.” Although Petty has said he is done rid- ing races, he will not be disappearing from the racing world. After spending the last few summers down in New Orleans at the Fairgrounds, Petty has applied for a more permanent position there and plans to move this month. When you ask Petty to look back and talk about what stands out the most to him dur- ing his racing career, it isn’t any specifi c horse or prestigious race that comes to mind. It is the trainers that taught him along the way and more importantly, his family. “I’m one of 10 kids and my mom was my big- gest fan,” he said. “She passed away before my Hunt Cup win but my family put up with a lot and I am very thankful for ev- erything they have done and all the support they have given me.”


Jody Petty rode his fi nal race on April 16 at the Fair Hill Point-to- Point.


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