Michael Sternklar, founding father of Clear Stars Stable
Thoroughbred proprietor Michael Sternklar, founding father of Clear Stars Stable, has owned and raced horses in New York since 2005. Coming into the game as a novice, he has spent the final 18 years studying in regards to the enterprise, together with the significance of considerate Thoroughbred retirement and retraining. For his $5,000 contribution to the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program’s tenth Anniversary celebration, Sternklar is acknowledged as TAKE2’s July’s “Donor of the Month.”
TAKE2, based in March of 2012, set a aim of elevating $10,000 a month for 10 months in honor of its milestone anniversary. With the beneficiant assist of earlier “Donors of the Month” Len Green and the Green Group, TAKE2 competitor Patricia Hurter, Empire Racing Club’s Kyle Emmich, and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, the marketing campaign is forward of its aim. Many extra Thoroughbred lovers have contributed, elevating greater than $48,000 with 10 days to go earlier than the half-way mark.
When Sternklar determined to become involved in racehorse possession, he requested his buddy, artist Michael Geraghty, for a coach suggestion. Geraghty urged Rick Schosberg, who for the final decade has led the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association TAKE THE LEAD retirement program, and Schosberg and Sternklar have labored collectively ever since.
“I wanted to throw myself into it and learn everything I could,” mentioned Sternklar. “And Rick said, ‘This game needs young owners, and I’m here to teach you.’”
Sternklar pressured from that first assembly that he wished to do issues “the right way,” establishing possession teams that care in regards to the horses and placing the horses’ well being first.
“Our group couldn’t be more supportive,” he mentioned, “when it comes to giving horses down time or retiring them. We embrace what Rick has always wanted to do: we want to win, but we want to do it the right way.”
Together, Clear Stars and Schosberg have campaigned dozens of horses, with the coach usually an possession companion. They bought New York-bred Myfourchix for $90,000, and the Henny Hughes filly went on to win greater than $300,000 and the Seeking the Ante Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
In 2005, the concentrate on Thoroughbred aftercare was not what it’s at this time. But when Clear Stars’ That’srightofficer was achieved racing in 2009, the relationships within the enterprise that Sternklar had chosen and cultivated accelerated his dedication to horses when they’re achieved racing.
Purchased from the consignment of Niall Brennan, agent, for $60,000 as a two-year-old, That’srightofficer is a graded stakes positioned New York-bred by Officer that earned $230,000 and retired in 2009.
“Niall and his wife Stephanie have a program in which they’ll take back horses they sell and find them good second homes,” he mentioned. “I thought that was the coolest thing. He became a jumper and I think he earned some awards.”
In 2006, Sternklar and Schosberg claimed a three-year-old out of Maria’s Mon (a horse Schosberg had educated) at Aqueduct Race Track. In his eighth begin for his new connections, a second-place end at Saratoga in 2007, Bold Mon sustained a career-ending harm. He grew to become a part of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation program at Wallkill Correctional Facility, a state-accredited vocational program in horse care and administration for the inmates.
“He was there for about 11 years,” mentioned Sternklar, “and I saw him two years ago, when he was in Saratoga as part of a TRF showcase. He had spent over a decade helping people who need help.”
Sternklar goals to retire horses whereas they’re nonetheless sound sufficient to be retrained for an additional profession, and he desires to be a vocal advocate for retirement packages.
“There’s no better way for me to spend my money,” he mentioned of his donation. “I care a lot about the animals, and the least I can do is help them the way they’ve helped me. I’ve talked about it in interviews and other opportunities. I think it’s good for people to hear that owners are supporting these programs.”
