17 Nov OMRH Acquires Broodmares, Announces “Hats Off” Fundraiser

Our Mims Retirement Haven proudly announces the acquisition of five house ladies. The new residents of OMRH are Exactly So, Jamra, Iza Valentine, Taba, and My Turbulent Miss. These retired broodmares have moved into the barn and fields of Ahwenasa farm near Paris, Kentucky. Ahwenasa is owned and operated by Jeanne and Pete Mirabito.
OMRH is named after the 1977 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, Our Mims, who resided on the farm from February 9, 2000 until the time of her death on December 9, 2003.

Jeanne Mirabito adopted the great mare through ReRun, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred adoption group. Our Mims was 26 at the time of her adoption. Our Mims was Calumet Farm’s first Eclipse winner and a half-sister to Alydar out of Sweet Tooth. The great mare was treasured at Ahwenasa and had fans visit from all over the world.

Exactly So is an Irish-born daughter of Caro. Jamra is the full sister to Clever Trick and currently has two foals racing: Caddo and Jammin Corwyn. Iza Valentine’s daughter, Fran’s Valentine, is the dam of recently retired With Anticipation. Turkoman, winner of the Affirmed Handicap and the Marlboro Cup, is probably Taba’s most famous offspring, and she was a 2 Year Old Filly Champion in Argentina. My Turbulent Miss counts stallions Exploit and Prized among her offspring. Jamra and Iza Valentine came from George Waggoner. Exactly So, Taba, and My Turbulent Miss were donated by Olin Gentry, as was OMRH’s first official resident, Sugar and Spice.

Mirabito remarked, “These ladies have filled my barn and my heart with overwhelming feelings. I am still pretty much in awe that they are with us. Each mare has her own distinct personality so as individuals they are bringing their own special light to OMRH. Could there be a better way to enjoy a Thoroughbred? I don’t think so.”

With the arrival of the new ladies, OMRH also announces the beginning of their “Hats Off For The Ladies” auctions. Cheryl Bellucci, OMRH Director of Fund Raising and Promotion, explains, “We had a gracious volunteer take our hats to Belmont for the signatures of some very notable jockeys and trainers.” The hats will be auctioned through eBay, about four hats a week. The first auctions started November 14th with hats signed by jockeys Robby Albarado, Pat Day, Jose Santos and trainer Allen Jerkens. Auctions are scheduled to run through the end of December and include autographs from Gary Stevens, Jerry Bailey, John Velasquez, Barclay Tagg, Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, and more.
Additional hats are currently at Santa Anita where a second volunteer is working on getting them signed. “We were most pleased to get Jorge Velasquez’s signature on some of the hats,” Bellucci added. Velasquez was Mims’ regular jockey through most of her three-year-old campaign. OMRH’s eBay ID is ourmims-org.

“Hats Off” auctions will take care of some of the more immediate needs for the new ladies. The ultimate goal for OMRH is to create a tourist attraction modeled after the idea of the Hall of Champions at the Kentucky Horse Park. Through admission charges and various other fundraising methods the mares can support themselves while promoting the horse industry and tourism. The result will be more room at breeding farms, owners who are content knowing their mares are being pampered and a place for fans to reunite with their old heroes. Most importantly, the mares will be returned to the limelight. They will spend their last years being adored by racing enthusiasts. “Our Mims loved visitors. She seemed to know they wanted to see her and pranced around with the pride of a champion,” remarked Mirabito.

For more information about OMRH check out www.OurMims.org or Our Mims tribute website at www.OurMims.com.