Florida Won: The Story in His Eyes

Standing in the ring, Barb Moore gazed into the eyes of a striking chestnut gelding and saw something she didn’t expect.

After saying goodbye to her heart horse, Jag, in February, the idea of welcoming another into her life felt unimaginable. The bond they shared over 27 years seemed irreplaceable.

Just over a month later, Moore visited LongRun, the respected horse retirement and adoption organization founded in 1999. On its pristine 100-acre property in Hillsburgh, Ontario, she watched as a horse cantered – a smooth, three-beat gait between a trot and a gallop – around the enclosed arena.

Moore, a longtime horse owner and rider, was captivated.

The horse was Florida Won, now known as Felix.

“The first thing I notice is their eyes and he has these kind, beautiful eyes. I saw him training with a lady, who was riding him in the arena, and I thought, ‘What a sweetheart.’ He just moved beautifully. He was so kind and I loved his personality. So, I thought, ‘This is the horse for me.’ He had this way about him.

Winning Form

On the racetrack, the son of Birdstone had a penchant for winning ways.

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway, Florida Won was consigned by his breeder to the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he sold for $385,000.

Over 45 races, Florida Won took on top-flight competition, winning on 10 occasions while achieving status as a multiple graded stakes winner.

After his final race, on Nov. 19. 2021, Florida Won, who recorded $585,071 in purse earnings, was donated to LongRun by owner Domenic DiLalla of Centennial Farms (Niagara) and trainer Ross Armata, Jr.

His journey after racing wasn’t a straight path, but today, the 15-year-old gelding is living the good life with Moore.

“LongRun tries to offer all of its graduates a safety net, whether it be emergency financial help or reintroduction into our care should circumstances with the adopter change and dictate the horse’s return, which was the case with Felix,” said Vicki Pappas, LongRun co-founder and chairperson. “We are so happy that Felix and Barb found one another.”

Finding the Right Match

Moore is grateful they did.

“He’s got that playful kind of personality. He’s very quirky and he just loves to play. He’s just got this kind side to him. I have found a beautiful horse. He’s just a lot of fun. You can see it in his eyes. He’s very playful. He’s just the type of guy that just really wants to be happy and have a good time.”

Janet Hall, Moore’s longtime friend and an accomplished riding coach, saw it immediately.

“This horse just looked so sweet and kind,” recalled Hall. “I love his conformation, too. He appealed to me instantly.”

Just like Up Pops the Devil did for Hall over 30 years ago.

Hall has a long history with LongRun, holding the distinction of being its very first adopter.

In 1992, while working at Woodbine Racetrack, Pappas discovered a horse named Up Pops the Devil, who had raced 127 times over nine seasons, winning 27 races and earning more than $266,000. Nearing the end of his career, he became the inspiration behind what would eventually become LongRun.

Hall adopted him.

“My husband worked at Woodbine for 39 years and knew Vicki. She approached him – I rode hunters and jumpers for many years – about this horse, Up Pops the Devil, and my niece happened to be looking for a horse. He was wonderful, but he was a little too much for my niece to handle. We only had him for six months before he ended up moving on to Bradley Clack. He gave her a pony because she was just learning to ride.

Hall stayed connected to the horse and later adopted others through LongRun, including Great Surcan who spent 17 years on her farm.

“We always kept tabs on Up Pops the Devil. I would see him at the shows. He was wonderful. We had Great Surcan for 17 years as a turnout horse on our farm. He would help us do the farm work and play with the dog. He was amazing, too. I adopted one more, Knightly Deed. We tried to turn him into a Hunter, but that didn’t work out, so we gave him to a lady who was just going to take him on walk/hacks.”

From Loss to Connection

Hall was also there when Moore said goodbye to her longtime companion.

“I was there when we had to say goodbye and we both had a big cry. It was devastating. For 27 years, we knew that guy and he was just wonderful. I remembered later on telling her she needed someone to love. She was lonely, so I recommended LongRun. And now, here Barb and Felix are.”

Today, Moore and Felix are settling into life on her 10-acre farm in Rockwood, Ontario.

There’s just one thing missing, for now.

“I did get on him, briefly, at LongRun. It was one of the most freezing cold days. So, it was a quick ride. It was a canter and I just loved how he moved. It was so sweet. He was beautiful. It was so nice because I’ve been riding for a very long time and I was just looking for something that maybe I could go over a few jumps and I knew this was my guy. I just connected with him as soon as I got on.

“I haven’t ridden him yet at home because I don’t have an indoor arena, but I just can’t wait.”

When that moment comes, Hall will be there.

“I have taught her [riding] for 30 years and the four of us, my husband and her husband included, are all good friends. I am sure I will be there the first time she rides. We’re excited about him. She is a calm rider, gentle and has great hands. We will bring him along slowly.”

From Loss to Connection

Hall is confident Felix has found his forever home.

“There is nobody better when it comes to taking care of a horse than Barb. She is so kind and she is so caring. Everything is going to be wonderful in his world. I have been out to see him with her a couple of times and he is a real character.”

Florida Won has already won the trust of Moore’s other horse.

“She’s quite a bit older – she’s 25 – but he’s awesome for her. I swear he’s got into better shape because of him. He loves to play.”

Moore is even considering adopting another horse from LongRun.

“Everyone there was incredible,” she said.

That includes Eurico Rosa da Silva, the retired champion and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey who rode Florida Won to several victories. Now a mental performance coach, he also leads an equine-assisted program in partnership with LongRun.

“Eurico is lovely,” said Moore. “He is just so nice and happy. When I was putting Felix onto the trailer to take him home with me, Eurico said he just loves this horse. He raced him, and he won a lot on him. That made me feel really good. I thought, ‘Wow, this horse must be a superstar.’”

In Moore’s eyes, he is.

Felix hasn’t replaced what she lost, but he’s helped her find something new.

“When I look into his eyes, I smile. He’s brought so much happiness into my life and I know he always will.”

Chris Lomon, Woodbine