{"id":4773,"date":"2023-07-20T13:56:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T13:56:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kyhorsepark.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=4773"},"modified":"2025-01-13T08:49:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T13:49:07","slug":"gene-carter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/kyhorsepark.com\/explore\/gene-carter\/","title":{"rendered":"Gene Carter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Eugene Carter<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Eugene Carter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1926-2019<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mr. Eugene Carter, better known as Gene, was a lifelong horseman who came to work at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2006 at the age of 79. He was known for telling his story of being the last man living to sit on the back of one of the greatest racehorses ever \u2013 Man o\u2019 War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 14 seasons, Gene entertained visitors at the Hall of Champions with both his expert horsemanship and captivating storytelling. Gene\u2019s popularity rivaled and sometimes surpassed many of the champion racehorses that he cared for in the Hall of Champions. Gene\u2019s legacy will enhance the tradition of legends that have called the Hall of Champions home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cOne day when no one was around, Harbut turned to Carter, who he knew had galloped horses on the farm, and asked if he wanted to get on the most famous Thoroughbred in the world. Carter leapt at the opportunity, and Harbut gave him a leg up, right there in the stall.
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\u201cHe said, \u2018Gensie, how does it feel to be on the mostest horse in the world?\u2019\u201d Carter remembered. \u201cI said, \u2018Mr. Harbut to tell you the truth, I don\u2019t have words to express what I\u2019m feeling. Words have left me. I\u2019m just so thrilled. I\u2019ve never been on a horse like Man o\u2019 War.\u2019
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\u201cHe said, \u2018Gensie, you take this to your grave. Ain\u2019t but three people been on this horse \u2013 the exercise boy, the jock that rides him in the race, and Gene Carter.\u2019\u201d as told to Natalie Voss in the Paulick Report, 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the Full Feature Here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\r\n

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Carter would bring his Kentucky Horse Park magazine from the tack room to tell guests about the time he rode the legendary Man o\u2019 War.<\/h3>\n\n\n\r\n
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When he got to the walk-up start, Carter sized up the situation. He was aboard Royal Matter, a horse he knew well from morning works, and he knew the horse had endless class. Davis told him to hang back and put in a closing effort, but Carter was certain the other riders would box him in and never give him a chance to run.

\u201cI said, when they drop that flag, I\u2019m going to be long gone.\u201d Carter recalled. “I hollered like a panther. That horse jumped straight out in the air and went straight to the front”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“That was my highlight \u2013 Royal Matter.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Lill and his children in the audience \u2013 though not permitted in the stands \u2013 he won handily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voss, N. (2019, August 6). The last man to ride man o\u2019 war looks back on a lifetime with horses – horse racing news: Paulick Report.
Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. Retrieved February 24, 2022,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the Full Feature Here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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