Amazing Kids! of the Month

Carly Silver is a 13 year old horse racing journalist living in Connecticut. She is a member of Kids to the Cup, a youth horse racing organization. She hit her first trifecta at age 12! (That’s when you pick the first place, second place and third place winners in a horse race – not an easy thing to do!)

Carly has been a horse racing whiz kid since she was 8. Carly’s amazing journey began when, a month before the 2004 Kentucky Derby, Carly wrote a pedigree analysis of a horse named Smarty Jones. By tracking Smarty's bloodlines back 150 years, Carly proved that Smarty had enough stamina influences and raw talent to win the Kentucky Derby. She sent her pedigree profile to The Blood-Horse, a leading horse racing magazine. She asked them to consider her pick for the Derby, the long shot, Smarty Jones and, even though she was only 13, her knowledge of the sport would soon surprise them...

The Amazing Smarty Jones!

Of course, when Smarty Jones won the Derby, The Blood-Horse knew they had a winner in Carly. In fact, the magazine staff was so impressed that they gave her a job writing pedigree articles for the website, and titled the column "Teen Tracks," and requested exclusive rights to her articles!

You can read Carly’s column at www.bloodhorse.com. Just search for "Teen Tracks" on the home page.

Amazing Carly Silver, with John Servis, trainer for Smarty Jones,
winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and the 2004 Preakness

John Servis, Smarty’s trainer, was given a copy of Carly’s article and he spoke about Carly’s analysis of Smarty’s pedigree in his press conference on May 28^th. Shortly after, on the morning of the Belmont Stakes, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and editor of Bloodhorse.com arranged a meeting with John Servis and Carly at Smarty’s barn. When they emerged from the barn, the media frenzy began. The reporters from the press conference realized that Carly was the 13 year-old writer that John had spoken about and asked to interview her.

Here is a copy of Carly's original letter to Charlsie Cantey and Steve Haskin at The Blood-Horse Magazine:

“My name is Carly Silver. I met you at the Derby and Preakness. I am a member of Kids to the Cup, a youth horse racing organization. I know that the race for the Derby is wide open this year, but I would like you to consider the following pick. But, keep in mind, not to be boastful, but I did hit a trifecta at the track when I was 12 (I am 13 now) and I am also an avid reader of The Blood-Horse. I know A LOT about breeding. I know nicks and crosses like no other teen I know (just quiz me). I have read Edward L. Bowen’s Matriarchs and Dynasties cover to cover, as well as American Classic Pedigrees by Avalyn Hunter (ask my parents, that’s all I read :_) I like Smarty Jones for the Derby. Here’s why. . . . “

Read the full text of Carly’s amazing pedigree analysis of Smarty Jones (as it was originally published on the bloodhorse.com website) here: www.kidstothecup.com/racing/books/journals/carly3.html

Carly at the racetrack barn

Carly's interest in publishing articles continues and she dreams of someday owning her own race horse and becoming a horse racing commentator on television.

With her amazing initiative and drive, we know Carly will someday see her dreams come true! Way to go, Carly! You're truly an inspiration!

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An Interview with Amazing Carly

Amazing Kids!: “Why did you decide you wanted to be a horse racing journalist?”

Carly: "The first time I thought of being a racing journalist was when I saw an interview in a magazine about being one. It suddenly struck me that that particular profession was a combination of two of my greatest passions-horse racing and writing. Plus, turf writers get to visit owners, trainers, jockeys, and the horses themselves, which I love to do."

Amazing Kids!: “Why do you love the sport?”

Carly: "Horse racing, to me, is more than just a sport. It's about loving not only the people in it, but the animals themselves. Horses are just such beautiful, majestic creatures, and to watch a Thoroughbred in full stride galloping down a race track gives me a sense of elation nothing else can supply."

Amazing Kids!: “Do you have a mentor, or a role model in racing that you look up to?”

Carly: "I don't have one specific mentor that inspired me to become a racing journalist. However, there are many figures in the business that I look up to. Steve Haskin is the senior correspondent of The Blood-Horse, and, via e-mail, I was able to contact him and send him my Smarty Jones article. He is a very talented and inventive writer, which is what I aspire to be. Charlsie Cantey is a horse racing commentator for NBC. She is intelligent, motivated, and driven, which are essential qualities in a turf writer/ commentator. I also admire the turf writer Edward L. Bowen. He has authored many novels, which I have read, and is an excellent writer with a vast knowledge of horse racing and a devotion to the game such is rarely seen.

“As for past trainers/jockeys/other racing figures that I admire, I look up to the late Arthur B. "Bull" Hancock of Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. He was a talented and brilliant horseman, who, through much determination, managed to acquire the services of many top stallions for Claiborne, even putting together syndicates to purchase stallions from overseas, not once, but even twice, such as was done when Mr. Hancock and other owners tried to purchase the great Nasrullah."

Amazing Kids!: “Which races to you hope to attend someday?”

Carly: “I’ve always wanted to see one of the European horse races: the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in France or the Epsom Derby at Ascot in England.”

Amazing Kids!: “Which race horse would you have liked to have met?”

Carly: “I wish I had met Secretariat, the 1973 Triple Crown Winner.”

Amazing Kids!: “Which horse would you like to meet now?”

Carly: “Tiznow, the only two-time Breeder’s Cup Classic Winner.”