I wrote the following story for Steve Parrott´s wonderful " Famous Racehorses " homepage (see link in the Links-section). I feel, however, that Lomitas´ Story does deserve to be spreat as far as possible, so I have included it here as well:
LOMITAS - HIS STORY
Chestnut horse, born 1988, by Niniski out off La Colorada (by Surumu)
“ When Allah willed to create the horse, he said to the South Wind, 'I will that a creature should proceed from thee. Condense thyself.'
And the wind condensed itself. Then came the angel Gabriel saying,
'I have called thee horse.
I have attached good fortune to the hair that falls between thine eyes. Thou shall be the lord of all other animals, and men shall follow thee wheresoever thou goest.
Good for pursuit as for flight, thou shall fly without wings and upon thy back shall riches repose and through thy means shall wealth come.'"
Walther J. Jacobs was a man with a vision.
He single-handedly transformed the small coffee distillery his uncle had founded into Germanys foremost coffee producing company, a company that is flourishing to this day ; his name is a quality brand now and universally known.
Walther Jacobs had a vision in his private life as well. His own pedigree being full of “ horse-people “ he in the 1960´s bought a stud in north Germany where heavy horses had been raised before. Experts dismissed his chances of breeding fast thoroughbred horses there as the soil was thought to be too sandy and poor. Mr. Jacobs would prove the opposite. A basis for his overwhelming success would be a shrewd acquisition of some broodmares at the sales in Newmarket: he picked the lots out himself , and between them one was the Park Hill-Stakes winner Aggravate (by Aggressor II), one other was the Crepello- mare Love In, herself a winner of some races in France. Buying English mares at that time was different to what “ established “ breeders in Germany did, but the horses Jacobs were to breed from them were different too: Aggravate brought him the Champion Acatenango, but Love In would make her presence felt from the female line as well: through her daughters she founded a line that is flourishing to this day, a line that would give Walther Jacobs mares like La Colorada, Lerma, Liranga, La Dorada, La Virginia, La Calera and many more. Liranga would breed him the Champion miler Lirung as well as German Derby winner Lagunas, and through La Dorada, herself champion filly in Germany, he by mating her with his phenomenal sire Surumu got a filly called La Colorada. She was Champion in Germany too, going on to be placed in the German 1000 Guineas as a 3 YO , and after being mated with the stout Nijinsky horse Niniski she in 1988 gave birth to a little chestnut colt that was to be named Lomitas .
Separated by time and space another man also had a vision very similar to Mr Jacobs´ vision: Edward Plunket (E.P.) Taylor was a wealthy Canadian Business magnate and he too wanted to prove a point: it would be possible to raise horses, thoroughbred horses, successful thoroughbred horses – in the Canadian climate. He set up a breeding farm called Winfields Farm and with the aid of his little mare Natalma who broke a knee before she could prove herself on the racetrack, started to breed fast horses. In May 1961 a little bay foal was born on his Stud , and that foal was put up for sale at his private yearling sale a year later. There was no interest in the little colt who was small and, being born at the 27th of may, very backwards, and his breeding did not make him special either. So nobody was willing to pay out the 25,000 $ stated on the price tag around the little horses neck. But E.P. Taylor was unperturbed – he named the horse Northern Dancer and send it to be trained under his own name. Northern Dancer went on to be Canada’s Top-2-Year – Old , wining 5 from 7 starts.
At three, he won the Kentucky Derby.
In the breeding shed, he surpassed all his achievements on the racetrack and he surpassed any other horse that has lived or is still alive, as he proved a revelation, a phenomenon, a star unsurpassed and never been seen before in the history of breeding horses. His sons and daughters stirred up racing in Europe and America, they were Champions in their sphere wherever they competed, his daughters turning into valuable broodmares, his sons becoming high-priced top-class stallions , founding sire-line after sire-line.
Northern Dancer´s son Nijinsky II founded a line in England, and it was to Nijinsky´s son Niniski that Walther J. Jacobs went in the search for his own Champion. Two men and two visions would combine to the ultimate pleasure of many turf-fanatics , breeders and fans alike.
In between the riches that Walther Jacobs bred it might be difficult to pick the best, but this little chestnut foal might well have been the crowning of Walther J. Jacobs breeding life. Lomitas would not win a Derby, and Walther Jacobs had to go different ways to let this horse fulfil his potential, but when the rewards came they came rich and glorious. Lomitas proved to be of different class in his native Germany , he was rated 3rd best 3-year-old in Europe in 1991 behind Generous and Suave Dancer, even though fate prevented him from competing directly against them. Fate let him experiences things more akin to a Dick Francis racing thriller too, but luckily Walther Jacobs lived long enough to see his horses life being safe again. Its hard to say now whether he actually was Mr. Jacobs favourite horse, but it’s a safe bet that he does come close for that honour, and his influence on the whole Fährhof Stud is not simply restricted to his sons and daughters, Lomitas brought humans together , too, to the ultimate benefit of all involved. His story is the story of a horse of immense talent, and of men who formed him into a champion racehorse through patience and knowledge, understanding and love.
Lomitas was born in 1988 and his looks and conformation immediately raised some hopes. He was not big, but wonderfully put together and not to fault. His first year was spent in the spacious paddocks of his home stud, with no major inference interrupting his development. In the 80ies Fährhof was a true owner-breeders stud, with the majority of horses being kept for racing , and only the odd one getting sold. There was never a question of Lomitas being sold, and after growing to become a 2-Year-old he was duly put in to training with young and ambitious Bremen-bound trainer Andreas Wöhler. Andreas was handed a huge chance here – due to the untimely death of his father he was forced to take over a big training establishment much earlier than he would have wanted. Andreas was only in his second year as a public trainer when Lomitas arrived in his yard in the end of 1989, not just yet 2 years old . Lomitas was to put Andreas on the map at once.
Lomitas arrived in the yard, well, not unnoticed , but it would rather be in hindsight that he arrival would get the “ special touch “. He was nice, quite strong for his age, but at that time just another horse in yet another crop bred by a stud that could not do wrong at that time. Fährhof in the 80ies went from strength to strength, they just saw their homebred horse Acatenango completing the transformation from a small 2 YO hope into an European heavyweight, with stable mate Lirung from the same crop capturing a rare Group 1 – victory over a straight Mile in the Prix Jaques Le Marois in Deauville in France for German interests , so it was probably beyond wildest dreams that another Champion from the same source would arrive so soon, again putting the distinctive black-and-yellow racing silks in the very front row.
Lomitas was put into the hands of lass Martina Grünewald, a woman who would have some years later her own claim to fame for being the breeder of Sheik Mohammed´s Godolphin Stables English 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Kazzia. An Englishman was selected to be Lomitas´ work rider, a man who in his wildest dreams would not have dared to hope for the heights that Lomitas would bring him to. Simon Stokes at that time too, just saw another nice horse in the chestnut.
Some 15 years after all our events have taken place we met Simon to talk about Lomitas . Sitting on his neat terrace we have some afternoon tea before us when Simon started to recall Lomitas story for me , and the sheer joy and overwhelming excitement was clearly visible to that day, when Simon recalled the day the whole yard noticed what jewel was given in their hands. Simons eyes are still gleaming with awe and pure excitement as he started telling us about the crucial workout that set the ball rolling for Lomitas.
Having read the biographies of many great racehorses I noticed that with each and every one of them there was this crucial, extra special day when the horse in question would unveil its potential, the day when the horse , at home and only visible to them close to him , would give a glimpse to his immense talent, the day when the people surround him would start dreaming of what could lie ahead.
It was a nice mid-summers day in 1990 when Lomitas was set for his first serious grass gallop. Andreas put him in a little lot with two other runners, one of whom already with racecourse experience. Simon was asked to just let Lomitas canter with the other two horses, to get him ready for some race in a few weeks time. Simon steered Lomitas to the racetrack and set what he thought was a sensible gallop. It felt good, yes, - 15 years later Simon would jump to his feet to demonstrate yet again the power he felt underneath him as Lomitas just cantered away, just let a previous winner trailing behind; Lomitas, the unimposing chestnut – turning into hot property after an “ ordinary “ canter ……
Andreas and Simon rightly reckoned that Lomitas was ready for his own first race, and he was entered up for a juvenile event in Hanover some days later. It was then that the first hint of a serious problem would start to unearth; a problem that would lead to headlines and would draw the bridge to yet another man who would become a main figure in the Lomitas Story .
Lomitas would not enter the horsebox, as simple as that. Andreas and Simon are experienced horsemen, but they could not find the key to persuade an unwilling 2 year-old colt to enter a narrow lorry. Lomitas would not enter the horsebox, so Lomitas did not run.
Its safe to say that nobody really bothered at that time about this little hiccup. Lomitas was entered up again for a little maiden race, he was “ trained “ the normal “ way (patience and a long rope, with the assistance of some hand-clapping and shouting) to enter his transport, was driven to racetrack and - won. Lomitas was quick to establish himself as a leading 2-YO in Germany in 1990, he had two starts and won ´em both, writing his name firmly on the list of winter favourites for the German Derby of 1991. In his last race , a Listed Race in Düsseldorf, a race he won despite rather depressing workout at home, Lomitas´, having learned to enter the horsebox showed first signs that he still all but liked small and narrow places , and it was in Düsseldorf that Lomitas for the first time was reluctant to enter the starting stalls.
Lomitas developed nicely over winter and presented himself in wonderful shape at the beginning of his 3-YO-season, having filled out his frame, having grown stronger and bigger. Says Simon: “ He was awful in winter, really. In summer he was a lamb, anybody was able to ride him then, but in winter he was a handful, really difficult, kicking and bucking, it was like a rodeo, really. Was not easy to stay in the saddle, believe me! He was not mean, mind you, and jumped straight into the air, really fly-kicking, like a circus horse. He would have been a fantastic hurdler of them performances “ Simon added with a broad smile.
An ambitious campaign was planned for him with the German Derby – obviously – being the main target for Lomitas´ three-year-old campaign. Having practised to enter the starting stalls at home nobody did see any problems arising as Lomitas was driven to Krefeld for his first race of the season. The Busch Memorial is a traditional Derby Trial run in April, a first test for the classic generation over 8 ½ furlongs, and stable jockey Terrence “ Terry “ Hellier took the ride. It took the handlers 20 minutes, 20 awful long minutes that felt like hours for the connections to finally persuade Lomitas to enter the stalls. Officials were pressed to withdraw the horse, but a he was the red-hot favourite so he was given chance after chance. The trouble at the start proofed all worth it as Lomitas , once installed, left the box much quicker than he was prepared to enter it and strode away from a nice field to win the race very easily.
Lomitas was forced to undergo further starting stall training at home, and was excessively asked to enter his little fake stalls on the training premises. It was all back to basics and traditional methods with the PPP method being the common way (patience,patience,patience) .
Classic glory loomed for the first time as the German 2000 Guineas was firmly on the agenda now, and Lomitas was driven to Cologne with high hopes. The racetrack was packed with people who only came to the see the new star in racing, and the race was highly anticipated. What followed was nothing short of a disaster. This time 20 minutes were not enough to press Lomitas into the stalls, in fact no time in the world would have been enough as the horse had made his mind up: he would not enter the stalls, and it was beyond mankind to persuade him to do so. Onlookers can still recall vividly how Lomitas resisted stronger and stronger pressure with stronger and stronger resilience, he was not to change is mind , rearing and backing miles away from the starting stalls and finally, in his last desperate attempt to escape the situation Lomitas simply threw himself to the ground. This were scenes never to be seen before on a racetrack prior to a Classic and the race lost its attraction and really , nobody bothered who won it anyway.
This was serious. And it was urgent. With the major Derby trials and the Derby itself only weeks away it became clear that this problem would not just vanish. The horse for whatever reason did not want to cooperate anymore, and men would have to go down a different path in search for a solution.
At this point a certain Monty Roberts enters the story. Monty Roberts, an American horseman and pinhooker starting to get recognition in England as well for his groundbreaking method of talking “ whispering “ to horses to aid a violent-free breaking-in process called “ Join up “, was recommended. He had just given a highly publicised show to the Queen of England who in turn was deeply impressed by Monty’s different approach to communicate with even the most unruly horses. Nobody had ever heard of him in Germany, and whispering to horses was certainly different to what horsemen had been doing to horses so far, but Monty got results and had a very good reputation. There was nothing to lose. It would be back to the drawing board for horse and handler, and Lomitas and Simon had to got back to A and learn to communicate the Monty–way.
Simon can recall his first lesson very clearly. It was a dark and rainy day, typical of a German summer, when Lomitas did get his first Join-up lesson. Monty took him to a covered hall, and closed the doors. Man and horse stayed in for four hours.
The now well known Join-up process to deal with horses, mainly yearling in the breaking-in-process when taught to carry saddle and rider, is Monty Roberts brainchild. He discovered while watching wild mustangs that horses use excessive body language to talk to each other . Monty was convinced that copying the horses movements as closely as possible would give the horses comfort during what clearly is a stressful time, starting to work so close with humans for the first time in a young horses life. After years of practising and refining his methods and through trial & error he got his join-up method, and after writing a book and producing a video set out to spread his wisdom among the ignorant. Monty Roberts became a Star, and “Join up” is used on Fährhof Stud to the day.
Monty thought it wise to start Lomitas at the bottom. He quickly regarded the horse as very smart and intelligent , and wanted to get to the bottom of Lomitas´ fears. He invented a special head collar for Lomitas to express his (Monty’s ) wishes more clearly, and had the now-common round-pen built as well. Monty gained Lomitas´ trust and the horse started to cooperate. Both man and horse were to be tested on the racetrack very soon.
As the Derby drew closer Lomitas was sent to the last possible trial, a less significant , albeit Listed Race on his local track Bremen. Lomitas problems had caught the public eye through many articles in the local press and the racetrack was packed with people who all wanted to witness the new wonder-horse so frightened of small spaces. We all watched in awe how a calm and reassuring Monty Roberts, being flown in by the Walther Jacobs especially for the race to leave nothing to chance , took Lomitas head collar (Lomitas was wearing his “ own “ collar on top of his bridle) and slowly walked towards the starting stalls. He led Lomitas round for some minutes and 10000 race goers were holding their breath: Would Lomitas behave? Would he just walk in and jump out like every “ normal “ racehorse? He would! 10000 race goers caught the moment and cheered a horse up who had just – purely and simply – entered the starting stall. Lomitas stood still, probably wondering what the fuss was all about. It was a very special moment, but not as special as the race unfolded, as Lomitas took the lead in the middle of the straight and drew clear, magnificently and in command, a horse doing what he was bred to do, a horse superior to his opponents, a star. He was cheered home all the way to the winners enclosure.
Simon , after getting lessons in joining-up as well, was appointed as Lomitas guardian, and continued the special training. It was all new to him, like going back to school, and a totally new approach of dealing with horses for him as well. The bond between man and horse grew very strong and race fans would get used to the small figure next to Lomitas at the starts (in fact Lomitas would never enter a starting stall unattended or without Simon again) .
THE DERBY – there was only going to be one winner! It was a hot and sunny day on the Hamburg – Horner Moor, and the public only wanted to back one horse, and one horse alone – the beautiful chestnut who had convinced all doubters two weeks before. Lomitas was calm and content as he walked in the paddock and cantered down to the start, ridden by young English jockey Terry Hellier, accompanied by Monty and Simon, as well as a nervous Andreas Wöhler, the trainer. Connections had opted for Lomitas to start from the very outside starting stall, so Lomitas would be led in last and would not have to spend too much time in his – well accepted but still unfamiliar narrow – surrounding. Some fans saw it as a bad omen as no horse ever has won the Derby from that box. Lomitas behaved impeccably, as if there never was a problem, but a small but significant hiccup occurred yet again – this time when Lomitas wanted to jump OUT of the box. Barley visible for the normal onlookers Lomitas door opened slightly prior to all the other boxes, and to save the day Andreas Wöhler in his nervousness jumped forward to close it again, in a vain attempt to help. He rather hampered the horse as a result as his forward move coincided with the horses jump out . The Derby was underway, though.
History knows many races that are more famous for its losers than for its winners, races that unfolded so unfortunate for the favourite horse that the public will forever remember the loser rather than the winner, just think about Nijinsky, Park Top, Mtoto or Ardross in Paris, or Dancing Brave at Epsom. Here was their German counterpart:
The race developed nicely for Lomitas and the jockey was able to settle him. He started to make a move on the outside once they rounded the final bend, but the danger was already there, looming right before him in the shape of yet another chestnut colt, ridden by a very young and not yet famous Frankie Dettori . The horses name was Temporal. Temporal came into the straight full of running, and even though Lomitas tried in vain to close the gap and go past, he was never able to do so. Feeling the jockeys whip for the first time in his life, Lomitas did not stay straight, and when he changed gear it was too late, he came second. A Derby is a Derby, and there is only one Derby in a horses life, so connections were very disappointed, and understandably so. Lomitas came to Hamburg in the form of his life, ready to be crowned the King, so the pill was hard to swallow. Walther Jacobs had to react and Hellier was jocked off.
But there were positives to gain from the Derby experience as well: Lomitas had shown that he handled the starting stalls on a regular basis, reacting cool and relaxed. He showed that he handled masses and the hurly-burly of a busy and crowed racing day, and he showed that , after all, he was a superior racehorse. He would get another chance to prove his abilities, and when he did show us his racing qualities it was the manner in which he did so, the relaxed easiness in which he gained his victories as well as his thoughtful and intelligent behaviour that left his many fans in a state of ecstasy whenever Lomitas set a foot on a racetrack.
Lomitas was superior in the 1991 German racing season. He would cleansweep the remaining Group 1 races in Germany, simply running away with them. The race in Düsseldorf was easy, and then he came to Baden-Baden. The Großer Preis von Baden Baden is Germanys most prestigious Group race for three-year-olds and older horses, since then even raised to be part of the World Racing Series. A quality field assembled before the start, again in hot und humid weather, but this time Lomitas would not simply win, he would destroy the field, running away from them, being so superior that the commentator was lost for words, calling just “Lomitas, Lomitas, Lomitas “ again and again, and the crowd went wild. Here was a star, a golden colt with wings not hooves, and the huge smile on his jockeys face after the 10-length romp said it all: Horses simply do not come better than this.
Lomitas then won the Großer Preis von Europa in Cologne, and there was a lot of talk whether he should be sent to Paris for a crack in the Prix d ´l Arc de Triomphe. Hindsight is a wonderful tool, and looking back after the subsequent events unfolded Lomitas never got another chance, but nobody was to know that at that time. His wise owner did not want to rush a young horse, assuming there would be another edition to tackle Europe’s most famous weight-for-age event, but the cruel fate that prevented Lomitas from participating in 1992 could not have been foreseen by the shrewdest and most pessimistic of judges .
Lomitas was officially rated 3rd best 3-year-old in Europe, and as Suave Dancer cemented his position of being best with a runaway victory in the Arc, leaving a tired Epsom Derby Hero Generous trailing in in his wake and settling for second best in the European rating. Lomitas was voted Horse of the Year in Germany that year, a formality really.
Lomitas wintered well, and run two very good races in 1992, though got beat once. He came back to Hamburg to erase his second place in the Derby out off the heads of the Hamburg crowd, and I remember that moment very well. Lomitas appeared to be made out of Gold, his coat gleaming and shining in the summer sun, and I can recall his way to the saddling boxes very clearly as I followed his every move with my binoculars, smitten by his beauty and elegance and his wonderful behaviour. He won by four length that day , and we loved every second of it. We did not see the dark cloud that was to come nearer with every day, putting Lomitas racing career and ultimately his life in balance.
Dick Francis writes crime novels set in a horsey background. As he was a famous jockey himself, non of the skulduggery and criminal energy might have been strange to him, but even he is yet to envisage what happened to Lomitas. So many years later Simons eyes still cloud over when talking about the subject of the bribe letter and the threat to Lomitas life, his whole body language mirroring the fear and pressure all them close to the horse must have felt at the time.
Some time after Hamburg a letter reached Walther Jacobs, claiming a huge amount of money and threatening to kill the horse if the claim was not met. It was an unheralded act, unparalleled in Germanys racing history, and while it was met with caution people involved where clearly uncertain how serious this threat was to take and how careful one had to be. People surely would not kill an innocent horse ? But action was taken, as Lomitas got a night watchman to protect his stable box regularly, and the police was informed as well. But the looming threat of poison or drugs , small portions given to him at any given time, affecting the horses health and ability to walk, could not be prevented.
Lomitas´ training regime went ahead as usual and was seemingly uninterrupted, and he was prepared for another crack in the Düsseldorf Group 1 the “ Preis der Berliner Bank “, a race he had won easily as a three-year-old. Lomitas appeared calm and tranquil in the paddock, but it was only in hindsight that we were to know why. But his coat failed to sparkle that day, and the golden gleam was missing, and I had an uneasy feeling yet persuading myself he would be ok. The race would prove the opposite.
Lomitas was never travelling. He followed the field and had quite a good position when the horses entered the straight, a case of “ close enough if good enough “. Lomitas was not good enough on the day, in fact he could not be good enough . He trailed in beaten oh so many lengths and something was clearly horribly wrong.
An anonymous letter followed the very next day, basically stating that this was the proof that “we can get to the horse at any time, and the run in Düsseldorf was just "a warning". Worse would follow if the claim would not be met. A post–race examination by the vets showed unusually high blood-counts in the horses liver and kidney, proof that some poisonous substance has indeed been given to the horse. Lomitas life clearly was in danger. The police started an investigation.
Very shortly after the Düsseldorf- disaster Simon received a confidential phone call from Mr. Jacobs: Would he be willing to help ? Would he be willing to get the horse out of the country? Lomitas clearly was not safe where he was, with danger all around him, and the claim was taken very seriously now. Lomitas had been poisoned and Walther Jacobs was not prepared to just wait and see, he understood that he had to react. Simon never hesitated. The bond between him and the horse was so strong that Simon could not react any other way anyway, he really had not choice.
A private plane was hired and Lomitas – police escorted – was brought to the airport in the early hours of the given day. He would be gone – and be safe – before anybody would notice, and because the whole departure was treated with the utmost secrecy (not even the trainer was informed) no chance was given to any wrongdoer who might come out of the yard itself to do further damage to the horse.
Many years later Simon recalled the unfolding events for us for the very first time since the whole episode took place. He kept a diary at that time and looked through its pages with us, and as the memories started to flow back to him one could still feel the tension and pressure, the mix of relief and excitement , danger and – yes – pride. And Simon had every reason to be proud. He stood by the horse, with the horse, and by the owner in a most difficult and strenuous time, and this utmost loyalty was eventually fully rewarded.
Lomitas and Simon boarded the plane in Bremen, and as if the horse sensed the situation he fully cooperated, never flinched and entered the plane with no hesitation , no sign of his old fears, and Simon recalls with a warm smile a rather light and funny situation that occurred during what were clearly some stressful moments. “ The plane was rather small and quite low, as everything had to be arranged so quickly, and when Lomitas entered it he had to lower his head so as not to bang it on the ceiling. You should have seen the expression on his face – he started testing the heights by lifting his head inch by inch until his ears stood level to the ceiling, and his eyes popped out in odd surprise. Lomi seemed to be thinking hard about the whole situation but then decided it would be ok. He started munching some hay and never moved on inch during the whole flight. “
The flight took them to England. In the hectic days that preceded this flight and the escape out of the country contact was made , through Monty Roberts , to Lester Piggotts yard, and it was to his premises that Lomitas and Simon went for rescue. Lomitas would be given a new name so nobody was to know his real identity , he would be just another chestnut racehorse with his English work rider. It sounded simple but was a risk, yet the plan worked.
Simons diary for that time tells his normal routine during what turned out to be a 6-week-spell. He carefully recorded every move he and Lomitas would make, the horses feeding, the medication Lomitas received to treat his poisoned liver and kidney (as well as the little car Simon rented and his own food) . People close to Lomitas came to visit him but the secret was kept, Simon and Lomitas went out with the lots like a “ normal “ racehorse, and started to resume a normal routine of morning canters and aqua trainer lessons, the latter only for Lomitas though. . Lomitas would work on special surface as his feet started to be affected by the normal bodily process of outgrowing the poison in his system, and it is he horses hooves that will be the last to be affected, but unfortunately they were to be affected for the longest time. Lomitas thrived on the caring and loving treatment, and came back into himself. Simons diary notes a extra-special workout in the middle of September 92, the day Lomitas gave indication that he started to put all the trouble behind him, he worked like a proper racehorse that day and underlined his well being by kicking and bucking and trying to get rid of Simon! Everybody could see the progress the horse was making and it would be only a matter of time before facts would be leaking out, connections were keen not to reveal their true identity still, and it became clear that Lomitas had to move on. He was bred to be a racehorse and his development and improvement showed that after all the threats and troubles Lomitas still wanted to be one, but coming back to Germany was out of question and England was too near by and not deemed to be safe, so Lomitas and Simon would move again, would board yet another plane that was to bring them both further away from criminal intent , further away from the danger: they would fly to America.
Monty Roberts part in this move cannot be underestimated. He too had grown very close to and fond of the horse, and did his very best to help and provide the Lomitas a safe surrounding again. He arranged the horse to be put in proper training over in the States, and chose Ron McAnally, a Top- Racehorse-Trainer based in St. Anita, California. Lomitas would have a job again, he would be a racehorse once more, as connections were keen to gain reward for the stolen time.
For Simon it was time to say bye-bye now to Lomitas, though. Having guided the horse through highs and lows, taking the very first steps with the unschooled 2-year-old, teaching Lomitas to be a racehorse, gaining experience and further education when Lomitas tested his connections , stretching their patience to the limit, Simon was always at his side. Lomitas taught Simon a new art of horse communication, and it was through Lomitas that Simon saw places he would not have dreamt of, met strangers who became friends in the process. When Lomitas´ life was in danger Simon was there, his guardian in every minute, and he stayed at Lomitas side until the horse was safe again. Lomitas was safe now, and Simon had to leave him behind to come home.
Lomitas´ story does not end here. He was trained and did run in America, he raced four times, winning one small race, but ultimately paid the price for the drugs and poison in his body system, as his feet could not be cured properly and caused him trouble and pain. He showed considerable form in defeat though, and gave proof of his immense character , will and heart, but he could not prove his greatness once again, the mean and cowardly bribe act finally got the better of Lomitas. He was still ill, he needed a rest, so his life as racehorse came to end, but he was not disgraced.
So after a short spell to cure his immune system at Monty Roberts “Flags Up“ Farm (where Simon got the chance to visit him) it was time for Lomitas to come home too. It’s the dream of every breeder to breed a horse good enough to come back to his home soil as a stallion, being able to pass on his superior genes to further generations. Lomitas was the Champion Walther Jacobs had hoped for, and Lomitas did come back with his head held high.
Lomitas started to cover his very first season at his home stud Fährhof in 1994, closing a circle. He was born and raised here, took his first ungainly steps with tiny hooves when he was born on the farm back in 1988, fully 6 years before. In between were times of hope, triumph, disaster and tragedy, but also love and glory, victories and defeats. Lomitas, being the product of two superior racehorses himself, would have all the qualities breeders are seeking to reproduce, and breeders were keen to use him from the outset. Lomitas wasted no time in proving just how good he was in his second career as well: his very first crop included Champion racehorses Silvano, Belenus and Sumitas, Arlington Million winner, Derby winner, and German 2000 Guineas winner in between them, and he has never looked back since.
Walther Jacobs saw Lomitas coming home, fit & well and safe, finally. Mr. Jacobs died in 1999 therefore missing much of the success of Lomitas offspring but I have no doubts that he will be looking on them, smiling, wherever he is now. So successful was Lomitas that he eventually became to hot for Germany, and when the Sheiks of Dubai acquired an interest in Lomitas we knew that it would be only a matter of time until Lomitas would be gone again and gone for good, to England again, off to one of the most prestigious Studs on offer, Darley´s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.
That’s were he is now, in his seventeenth year and still going strong. There are many people in Germany who would love to see him back on the Fährhof Stud, none more so than Simon, now being Racing Manager for the whole Stud, as well as being responsible for preparing the young homebred horses for their racing careers, naturally the Monty-Roberts “ Join Up “ way, his loyalty being rewarded with an equal amount of trust and loyalty.
So its to Lomitas´ sons and daughters to do the talking, and only the future will tell us if Lomitas will come home once more, and permanently so. But if he would, guess who would be the first to greet him ...
Written with the assistance of Simon Stokes and John James Clark – dedicated to Lomitas!
What seemed just like a distant dream when I wrote the story you hopefully just read became reality in july 2006: Lomitas is home!! Even though Lomitas did sire some nice horses in England, he never really hit it, and english breeders were reluctant to use him, probably because they never saw him race. Lomitas is 18 now, and will be nineteen when he resumes his german breeding career in 2007, but he is still able to stirr up his follower´s: presented at the annuall Stallion Presentation Lomitas got Standing Ovations, and the old team of Simon Stokes and Andreas Wähler were there to greet him home.
Lomitas will live out his years in Fährhof now, just as Walther J. Jacobs would have wanted him to. The circle of life is now fully closed!
Lomitas as a yearling, in Fährhof Stud:
( Photo: Klaus-J. Tuchel )
Image: Lomitas as a yearling
Sire in Fährhof Stud:
(Photo: Kathrin Dutschmann)
Image: A sire
Image:
Simon Stokes leitet die Trainingszentrale auf dem Gestüt Fährhof, Sottrum
Der Hengst Lomitas hat eine besondere Geschichte. Nachdem er die Rennen, bei denen er zwei- und dreijährig an den Start ging, gewonnen hatte, wollte er bei seinem ersten Start 1991 nicht mehr die Startbox betreten. Damit hätte seine Rennbahn-Karriere abrupt beendet sein können – wenn da nicht Monty Roberts und sein Trainingsreiter Simon Stokes gewesen wären...
Gemeinsam nahmen der „Pferdeflüsterer“ aus Amerika und der damalige Assistent des Bremer Rennpferde-Trainers Andreas Wöhler dem zierlichen Fuchshengst des Sottrumer Gestüts Fährhof die Angst. Bereits zwei Monate später gewann er sein nächstes Rennen und wurde im selben Jahr zum Galopper des Jahres gekürt. Simon Stokes erinnert sich gerne an seine Arbeit mit Lomitas: „Das ist wirklich ein ganz besonderes Pferd.“
Seit 1994 arbeitet Stokes nun schon für den Fährhof. Seit 1998 leitet er die Trainingszentrale, die neu erbaut wurde. „Dass ich soweit gekommen bin, habe ich auch Lomitas zu verdanken. Durch ihn habe ich eine Menge gelernt.“ Vor allem, wie man mit Pferden umgeht. Lehrmeister Monty Roberts öffnete dem gebürtigen Engländer die Augen – und sorgte dafür, dass ihm die Arbeit mit den edlen Vierbeinern noch mehr Freude bereitet.
Denn: Bis das Problem mit Lomitas auftauchte, bediente sich Stokes herkömmlicher Trainingsmethoden. „Darüber möchte ich heute eigentlich gar nicht mehr nachdenken“, gibt er zu. Seine Begeisterung für Pferde entstand schon in jungen Jahren. 1960 im englischen Totness (Devon) geboren, verbrachte Stokes seine Kindheit und Jugend seit dem neunten Lebensjahr auf dem Rücken der Pferde. Angefangen auf einem Ponyhof, war für ihn schnell klar, dass er später einer Arbeit nachgehen wollte, bei der Stallduft zum Alltag gehört. Mit 13 Jahren begann seine Laufbahn als Jockey. „Damals hat mein Vater schon versucht, mich davon zu überzeugen, einen vernünftigen Job zu ergreifen“, blickt er zurück. Vergebens: 1977 wurde Stokes im Stall von Hugh O’Neill in Dorking als Jockey eingestellt. Ein Jahr später startete er bei seinem ersten Hindernisrennen und wurde prompt Dritter.
Nach dreijähriger Tätigkeit in England entschied sich der damals 20-Jährige, seinem Heimatland den Rücken zu kehren und bewarb sich bei einer Agentur, die Pferdeleute ins Ausland vermittelt. Auf diesem Wege landete er im Stall von Trainer Horst Steinmetz in Hannover. Im Juli 1980 startete Stokes erstmals bei einem deutschen Hindernisrennen und brachte seinem neuen Arbeitgeber gleich einen Sieg. Vier Jahre blieb er in Hannover und wechselte dann zu Uwe Stoltefuß nach Dortmund. „Damals hatte ich eine tolle Stute namens Otilie, die fast jedes Jagdrennen gewann und 1985 und 1986 Hindernispferd des Jahres wurde“, blickt er zurück.
1988 arbeitete Stokes ein Jahr lang für Arnold Zweifel, ebenfalls in Dortmund. Bei ihm konnte der Brite seinen größten Erfolg verbuchen: Er gewann 21 von 150 Ritten und durfte sich am Ende der Saison deutscher Meister nennen.
Ein Jahr später zog es ihn nach Bremen zu seinem Freund Andreas Wöhler, der dort den Rennstall des Vaters übernommen hatte. 1989 und 1990 wurde Stokes Vizemeister. Dazu trug insbesondere der Hengst Oldtimer bei, mit dem er viele große Rennen gewann.
Zwei Jahre später entschied er sich, das Jockeyhemd an den Nagel zu hängen und wurde Wöhlers Assistenztrainer. „Das war eine tolle Zeit“, erzählt er. Durch seine Arbeit mit Monty Roberts und dem Hengst Lomitas entstand schließlich der Kontakt zum Sottrumer Gestüt Fährhof. Das engagierte ihn 1994, um Reha- und junge Pferde zu trainieren. „Seitdem arbeite ich jedes Jahr im Herbst und Frühjahr mit Monty.“ Von Roberts wurde er eingewiesen und orientiert sich seither an seinen Methoden.
Vor sieben Jahren wurde die Trainingszentrale in der Straße An der Weide eingerichtet. Stokes lebt mit seiner Familie direkt neben den Stallungen, in denen 24 Pferde Platz finden. Neben einer großen Reithalle samt Roundpen gehören eine Trainingsbahn und eine Führanlage zum Hof.
Gemeinsam mit vier Mitarbeitern betreut Stokes Pferde, die eine Pause von der Rennbahn bekommen sollen oder gerade aus der Reha kommen. Ein weiterer Schwerpunkt liegt auf dem Einreiten der jungen Pferde. Ab und zu schaut auch sein Lehrmeister Monty Roberts noch in Sottrum vorbei. „Aber so viel helfen muss er nicht mehr, wir arbeiten jetzt nur noch nach seinen Methoden“, betont Stokes. Elfmal besuchte er Roberts schon in Amerika – sowohl privat als auch geschäftlich. Schließlich waren auf Roberts‘ Flag-is-up-Farm auch einige Fährhof-Pferde untergebracht. Denn: Zu Stokes Aufgabengebiet gehört auch die Betreuung der Fährhofer Rennpferde. Ab und zu schaut er bei den Trainern Andreas Wöhler in Gütersloh und Peter Schiergen in Köln vorbei, um die aktuellen Nachwuchspferde genau unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Aber auch Frankreich und Amerika stehen immer mal wieder auf der Besuchsliste.
Zurzeit liegt das Hauptaugenmerk auf den Jährlingen, von denen einige sehr vielversprechend aussehen. Lomitas-Nachkommen gehören ebenso dazu wie Silvano-Sprösslinge. „Wir geben uns alle Mühe und arbeiten in Ruhe mit den jungen Pferden“, erklärt er. Einige sind schon jetzt soweit, dass sie langsam an die Startbox gewöhnt werden können – obwohl sie erst seit zehn Tagen unterm Sattel sind. „Sie lernen im Grunde genommen schon alles, was im Rennstall auf sie wartet.“ Auch Problempferde landen bei Stokes. „Hier können wir in Ruhe daran arbeiten und den Pferden die Angst nehmen.“ Das habe er Monty Roberts zu verdanken. „Denn so haben sie viel mehr Vertrauen zum Menschen und sind entspannter und glücklicher.“
So manch ein junges Pferd, das von dem Engländer eingeritten wurde, machte sich auf der ganzen Welt einen Namen. Dazu gehörten Galopper wie Lavirco, Quebrada, Silvano und Sabiango. Zuletzt machte der Hengst Lateral von sich reden, der jüngst ein Gruppe-1-Rennen in Italien gewann und bisher ungeschlagen ist.
Einen eigenen Vierbeiner besitzt Stokes nicht. „Ich hatte mir mal eine Stute gekauft, mit der ich züchten wollte.“ Die ließ er – wie soll es anders sein – von Lomitas decken. „Leider ohne Erfolg. Die Stute verfohlte.“
Dafür wird der Sottrumer den Fuchshengst, der zurzeit noch in England im Deckeinsatz ist, bald wieder ganz in seiner Nähe haben. „Wenn er in Rente geht, kommt er zurück nach Sottrum.“
Quelle: Rotenburger Rundschau
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