Dixie Rap
From AlexBrownRacing
Dixie Rap racing photo 
Dixie Rap as he looked after being rescued at NH:
Dixie Rap was rescued at New Holland on June 11 by MidAtlantic Horse Rescue. In his racing career he won more than $100,000 and was 3rd Maryland Million Sprint Starter Handicap, 2005.
Life after Rescue
We saw Dixie Rap at New Holland on June 11th. We did not know who he was- just a thin dark bay gelding with a kind eye and a very sore ankle. We bought 7 horses that day when we had room for 5- but could not stop thinking about him. We left the sale without knowing his fate but had a pretty good idea where he would end up. On Tuesday AM, we called the sale barn and found out that he did indeed go to kill. On Wednesday AM, after two sleepless nights, we called Mr N and found out that he had not yet shipped to Canada- so we offered to buy him on the spot, figuring it was meant to be. Mr N agreed to put him aside for us until we could arrange to pick him up. We called Suzanne, an adopter (Maria Canela and Pressure King) who was on her way to her farm in NY. She had been at the sale with us on Monday and could not stop thinking about him either- although she did not want to bring it up, because she knew about the difficult decisions we had to make each week at the sale. Suzanne offered to pick him up on her way to her farm, and keep him until we could find a spot for him. We called Susan from the Friends of Twilight, and Shelley and Mr Boxcar, fresh off their win in the Peppy Addy Stakes, offered to pay for his rescue - THANK YOU!!!!
When he first came in, he was exhausted and sore- he was bitten up, thin, and had a lifeless eye. A few days of TLC have started him on his way to recovery. He now looks for Suzanne, and will wrap his head over her shoulder and pull her close and breathe in her neck. He is very careful getting around on his ankle. A vet exam showed significant arthritis in the joint, but no chips or fractures. It is our hope that he will become sound enough to be a walk trail horse. We will keep everyone posted.
Bev Strauss MidAtlantic Horse Rescue June 21, 2007
