MOUNT GREENWOOD — A Standardbred horse born at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood won its first stakes race Wednesday at the Coles County Fair in Charleston, Ill.
Send for Me won the seventh race at the fair, defeating four other horses, according to William Hook, principal of the school at 3857 W. 111th St.
The trotter was born at the magnet school in April 2013 and originally named Brite Star Aggie. The 3-year-old horse qualified Jan. 6 to race at Hawthorne Race Course in suburban Stickney.
The owner renamed the horse Send for Me for the 2016 harness racing season, Hook said. He added that the school relieves 6¼ percent of the "breeders stake" every time the Chicago-born horse wins, places or shows. Thus, the latest race brought $260 to the school.
"Her first stakes race was a winner!" Hook said Thursday morning.
He also hopes the strong showing will help bring a premium price for Emily Strong. This filly, or female horse, will be sold Aug. 14 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Hook said.
The two horses share the same mother, Basic Brown. Meanwhile, Emily Strong was born May 5, 2015 and named by Olivia Beazley for her 12-year-old sister Emily, who died on May 18, 2015.
Hook expects this horse to sell for around $5,000 and the proceeds will be given to Emily Beazley's Kures for Kids. The charity run by Emily's parents, Nadia and Ed Beazley of Mount Greenwood, funds research programs aimed at reducing the mortality rate of pediatric cancer.
Emily Strong "is an absolutely incredible specimen," Hook said. "I think if people come by and look around, they'll see her and see she is a very good-looking horse."
The Ag School, which specializes in teaching urban students various aspects of agriculture, is expecting another foal in April, Hook said.
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