And so, it ends...

Garrett, Registered Name:  Post A Note
Sire: Avenue of Flags    Dam:  Utterly Elegant

Foaled:  1/28/1995  Came to TIER:  8/3/1999

1999, late July.  Garrett was found in a feedlot headed to slaughter within the next few weeks.  He was 4 1/2 years old.  His left rear hock had sustained an injury that ended his racing career so he no longer had any value to his owners.  A generous donor paid his ranson and on 8/3/1999 he came to TIER.

Over a year of rehab on the hock injury enabled Garrett to be pasture sound.  He would never be able to be a riding horse for trails, arena work, etc.  He became fast friends with Moses, another Thoroughbred that was rescued from the feedlot, and they remained together for 18 years.

When Garrett's tattoo was researched, we found that his registered name was Post A Note, he had won over 120, 000 during his brief racing career, his grandsire was Seattle Slew.  As of 1999, he was listed as deceased.

We contacted the barn manager at Golden Eagle Farms (previous owner) in hopes of learning more about him/his injury and to let them know he was at True Innocents Equine Rescue.  We were told by a manager that because Post A Note could no longer race, he had been given to one of their employees who really loved him and that was all they knew.  We asked for transfer of registration papers so that Garrett's heritage would be kept intact and were told they no longer had any records.  As of 1999, he was listed as deceased.  The Jockey Club informed us at the time that the registered owners would have to submit paperwork to rectify the "deceased" status, but they declined and would no longer communicate with TIER.

16 hands of kindness.  What an incredibly sweet horse. He was at the top of scale in herd hierarchy, but not necessarily the alpha as Moses was the boss until the last few years and they switched places.  Then Garrett stepped up to be the boss with Moses as his reinforcer.  He remained clownish, sweet, loving an gorgeous despite his promotion to herd boss.

Many, many smiles, heart moving memories, laughs and "Garrett! Knock it Off! over the past 18 years.  Many, many Kodak Moments of the Heart.  Many Garrett stories/memories.  It has been incredibly difficult to put together a brief story about this amazingly wonderful horse. There is no way I could do his story justice other than to say Thank You Garrett! 

On 8/2/2017  Garrett was found down in his pen.  It had rained heavily the day before.  We think that Garrett and his buddy Moses were romping around in the cool morning air after the rain and that he must have slipped/fell.  He could not move his neck or head and the muscles at his shoulder were twitching.  He could not get up.  Friends came over to try to help get him up, but to no avail.  The vet was at a colic call nearby and he said he would be over shortly.  Garrett died before the vet could get here.  He was 22 yrs. old.

Run Free Garrett!

I was born 21 years ago today on 1/28/1995. I was a race horse that won some and lost some. My sire was Avenue of Flags and I lived at Golden Eagle Farms. In 1998 I ran in the Arkansas Derby and was injured. My racing days were over and in August 1999 I ended up in a feedlot waiting for my turn to board the truck to a Texas slaughter house. Thanks to some caring individuals I ended up at TIER instead.

My registered name is "Post A Note", but for the past 16 years, 5 months, 27 days I have been known as Garrett. How lucky was TIER to get me and keep me all these years!! Happy Birthday to me! For my birthday I got a pedicure, a cookie AND I got to give an old friend a ride (Stephanie McGregor). HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Here's a link to a video of the 1998 Arkansas Derby.  This was my last race.  I was injured in this race and my racehorse career was over.  In 1999 that Gail person found me at a feedlot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWPMMXYuusE

Phillip, aka: The Tooth Fairy, stopped by TIER to do his magic on the new arrival EA Flamette/Johara-Jewel.  Since he was already here, we realized that 17 year old Garrett was due for some dental attention. 

Garrett was a good boy for most of the procedure to remove sharp points that had formed on his teeth. 

He had some very sharp points/hooks on the left side and Phillip really had to work to get them filed down.

Once Phillip had taken care of all the rough edges on Garrett's teeth they were both relieved that it was over.  Phillip took the halter off and Garrett immediately went to work on his hay.  He didn't seem to be bothered at all by Phillip's intrusion into his mouth. 

From the Bloodhorse:  Avenue of Flags dies in New Mexico

Avenue of Flags, John and Betty Mabee's homebred son of Seattle Slew, was euthanized May 14 in New Mexico following an accident in his paddock, according to James Wasson, who operates Winners Circle Farm near Las Cruces. The 22-year-old stallion moved to Winners Circle last fall for the 2010 breeding season.

The stallion has sired 500 foals from 18 crops and is represented by 20 stakes winners including last year's Breeders&rsquo Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag.

Out of the Pass the Glass mare Beautiful Glass, Avenue of Flags made only three starts for the Mabee's Golden Eagle Farm. Trained by Richard Mandella, he broke his maiden first out at Hollywood Park in May of 1990, then ran second to Deposit Ticket in the six-furlong Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes (gr. II) in July. Avenue of Flags won a 6 1/2-furlong allowance test in February of his 3-year-old year in what would be his last start.

He spent his first 14 seasons at the Mabee's Golden Eagle Farm in California (Garrett, aka:  Post A Note, was born at Golden Eagle Farm), then moved to New Mexico for the 2005 breeding season where he stood at Double LL Farms. He also spent time at A&A Ranch and Hourigan Horse Farm before moving to Winners Circle.

In addition to California Flag, Avenue of Flags is the sire of grade I winners Joey Franco and Notable Career, plus grade II winners Belle's Flag, Fleet Lady, and Victor Avenue.

Avenue of Flags was buried at GW Stables Estate under the pecan trees where he used to watch over the broodmare band.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer won the 100,000 Golden State Mile with Post a Note.  Post a Note has gone two turns four times and won three.

Northern California's premier Kentucky Derby prep, the El Camino Real Derby was first run in 1982. It was hosted by Bay Meadows racetrack until its closing in August 2008.

The El Camino Real Derby, a 1 1/8-mile contest for 3-year-olds, is Northern California's premier steppingstone to the Triple Crown events. In 30 runnings the El Camino Real Derby has produced a Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year (Charismatic-1999), two Kentucky Derby runners-up (Cavonnier-1996 and Casual Lies-1992), five Preakness Stakes winners (Charismatic-1999, Tabasco Cat-1994, Snow Chief-1986, Tank's Prospect-1985, and Gate Dancer-1984), a Belmont Stakes winner (Tabasco Cat-1994), and a Belmont Stakes runner-up (Ten Most Wanted-2003).

In the 1998 El Camino Real Derby, Post A Note (Garrett), took the lead from the gate only to be beat by his stablemate Event of the Year after in the homestretch.

See Garrett (aka Post A Note) run!

Click here for video

Garrett has continued to improve. He is housed in one of the large paddock areas with Pilgrim and Moses so that he will continue to move around and keep that hind leg working. This boy has such beautiful movement! He is kind and so very personable!! He is at the top of scale in herd hierarchy, but not necessarily the alpha. Depends on who he is turned out with!! At this time, it is not known whether or not he would be sound for trail riding as I am not qualified to judge. We need someone to work with him to see if his hock will hold up. Currently, he does not exhibit any lameness at the walk, trot or canter. He is protective of his hock and when he lays down to roll he will do so gingerly but he manages to jump up, run off, buck and snort once he has gotten a good roll in.

UPDATE - We moved Garrett to a larger pen that will allow him more mobility.  Garrett sustained a hock injury to his left rear hock, which eventually ended his racing career and destined him to a feedlot. Garrett's ransom was paid by a wonderful lady named Betsy who hopes to have Garrett home soon. At present, we are basically letting Garrett rehabilitate. He came to us in August 1999 and needed stall rest due to the hock injury. The hock is still soft (thank goodness!) and the swelling has gone down considerably. We are hopeful that the move to a larger pen (with his new roomate Jake!) will help in reducing the swelling and keep him using that leg!! Let's all keep our fingers crossed that Garrett's leg heals well enough for him to eventually carry Betsy off into the sunset!!

More information on Garrett (aka Post A Note) from the Del Mar Pedigree Query

Garrett has been under the care of one vet for more than a year and is doing well. Time is helping him to heal properly. It is our hope that he will be able to do light trails at some point. If he is unable to do so, he will remain a sanctuary horse at TIER.

Garrett is a delightful young horse that has been very kind and patient with his recovery.

Garrett - #70. Bay TB Gelding. Appx. 5 yrs. old. 16.1 hands. Straight off the racetrack because he has a bad left hock. I do not know the extent of the injury. The only other information I have is a tattoo which is Y01507, if someone knows how to look that up and find out who he is.