By Liane Crossley
Special to NKyTribune
After more than 30 years in the Thoroughbred business, David Randal was surprised to see something completely different last year at Keeneland.
He went to the track so see Can’t Be Dazzled, a chocolate brown filly raised on his Versailles farm. As she was being led around the barn, a miniature burro was tagging along.
“I thought it was the cutest thing I had ever seen—a little donkey trailing right behind the big horse,” he said.
His filly’s four-legged friend is a key member in the stable of trainer Kellyn Gorder who keeps a division year round at Keeneland. Gorder’s daughter Samantha named her Fergilious for the song popularized by music star Fergie, the nickname by which the donkey is known.
Fergie originally was obtained about 1 ½ years as a companion for a different horse, a high strung filly who was having difficulty adjusting to racetrack life. Since goats can provide comforting companionship for Thoroughbreds, Gorder placed one in her stall.
The horse immediately chased the animal out. Gorder considered trying another goat but because of their rambling ways and lust for food, they can cause more problems than their presence solves. Gorder had a new idea.
He recalled a miniature donkey that years ago was the perfect pal for a fidgety Thoroughbred. So he purchased a newly weaned one to serve as a buddy. Perhaps the youngster thought the horse was her surrogate mother. Maybe the Thoroughbred thought she suddenly had a baby of her own. Or the two lonely animals might have found solace with each other.
Whatever the reason, they instantly bonded.
Donkey business
During her time with her original filly, Fergie learned equine etiquette at Gorder’s Keeneland barn. Except for staying behind while her filly went to the track, Fergie was living the life of a racehorse. When the horse was bathed after her exercise at the track, Fergie stood beside her. While the racer was led around the barn to cool out, Fergie followed untethered.
After her initial foray into racetrack life at Keeneland, Fergie spent last winter in Florida and is now at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas where her celebrity status has gained momentum. She was featured during the evening news broadcast on NBC’s affiliate station in Little Rock and she has her own Twitter account. The relationship between the equids reached another level in January when Can’t Be Dazzled won for the first time.
Fergie deserves much of the credit for the victory and several previous second- and third-place finishes. With the relaxing influence of her roommate, Can’t Be Dazzled can save her energy for exercise and racing.
Donkey details
Who: Fergilious, nickname Fergie
What: Miniature donkey
Where: Lives most of the year at Keeneland; currently at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas
Why: Serves as companion for four-year-old Thoroughbred racehorse horse Can’t Be Dazzled, a recent winner
“Fergie has had a settling influence on her,” said Randal, who with his wife Marylyn reside on their 232-acre Fallbrook Farm in Woodford County where they have about 25 broodmares and an equal number of retired mares that are no longer used for breeding.
The Randals actively find homes for their geldings when their racing careers conclude. Some are placed with riders seeking pleasure mounts while others such as Crown the Chief, live leisurely at Fallbrook Farm. Crown the Chief had an eight-year career in which he was third or better in 30 of 75 starts. Although he had changed hands, the Randals bought him back specifically to retire him at their farm.
Diva donkey
Fergie clearly is comfortable in her unique role, but horses can be startled when seeing or hearing her for the first time.
“Most of the other horses are just inquisitive when they see her for the first time,” Gorder said. “I have not come across too many horses that are scared of her. Sometimes when she is loose in the barn she will come running around a corner and that will surprise a horse so we have to be really careful with her.”
Except for occasionally lagging behind to investigate some enticing hay or fresh bucket of water, Fergie does not stray far from her roomie.
“She is very protective,” Gorder said. “If someone comes up to Can’t Be Dazzled, she has been known to throw a kick now and then.”
Fergie is confined to the stall while Can’t Be Dazzled is racing or exercising on the track. She will bray for awhile before settling down.
“But if Fergie goes out and Can’t Be Dazzled is left in the stall, the filly will get upset in the stall,” Gorder said.
As the focus of a television segment and with her Twitter account, Fergie’s fan base is expanding. Gorder said a random server at a restaurant knew about Fergie.
On another occasion, Gorder was leaving his barn when a security guard rapidly approached him. Gorder asked if there was a problem and the man replied that he merely came to see Fergie.
“She pretty much rules the barn now,” Gorder said.
Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer