THOROUGHBRED RACING

Silver Glen Racing Stable is a small thoroughbred racing and breeding operation based in Kansas and racing mainly in the south-central United States. Established in 1971 and originally comprised of harness horses, the stable converted to thoroughbreds in the later 1990’s following the closing of several midwestern harness tracks and the loss of racing days. The change has been an interesting and educational experience, which presents an exciting and challenging future.

The horses, which comprise the modest stable, are owned primarily by Silver Glen Ranch, although a few are or have been owned in partnerships. They are conditioned on the ranch track and schooled through the ranch’s starting gates. Because of the unique situation at the ranch, the horses are not kept in stalls, but are turned out to run in herds day and night and stalled only long enough to be fed grain following their morning exercise. This system has its pros and cons; but we have found over the many years in harness racing, and now with the thoroughbreds, the pros outweigh the cons.

The horses are trained by Chris Rogers, but the real work is performed by Gretchen Wacker who not only serves as ranch manager but also as exercise rider, equistrian theorst and stable hand. While Gretchen prefers the cattle, she is tireless and fearless in working with the horses and, at the moment, is responsible for exercising the entire stable. Gretchen does a remarkable job conditioning the stock with which she has been provided, and as with its cattle, Silver Glen Ranch is committed to improving and upgrading the quality of its racing and breeding stock over the next several years.

Gretchen began her career as a horsewoman at an early age, jogging standard bred racehorses long before her legs would reach the stirrups of the jog cart. She also had a half-standarbred half-quarter horse "Howie" that she would gallop bareback around the track much to the chagrn of her parents. Unfortantely, the stable has far too many horses for Gretchen to handle on her own, so if you or anyone you know would like to exercise ride and have the experience and physical stature, please feel free to us know at 620-221-6330 or 620-438-2333.