Race horse doing better after being neglected

When you think of the Kentucky Derby, iconic racehorses like Secretariat and Seattle Slew come to mind.

However, a Mid-State thoroughbred horse with the bloodlines of the above two champions had a far different outcome in his quest to run in the Kentucky Derby.

Wolf Man Rocket may not be racing now, but he does have a pedigree that reads like a “who’s who?” He’s actually descended from Seattle Slew, who is descended from Secretariat. In fact, Wolf Man Rocket has the same distinctive white star markings on his face as his great-grandsire Secretariat, but his story is vastly different.

Years ago, famed horse trainer Bob Baffert was so impressed with Wolf Man Rocket’s athletic ability, he paid $550,000 for him; Wolf Man Rocket easily won multiple races, earning $165,000 in quick succession.

However, while on his way to being a star, Wolf Man Rocket injured his leg and couldn’t race anymore. Unable to recoup his money, Baffert sold him to a Lexington woman who left Wolf Man Rocket neglected in a field for a year to lose an incredible 500 pounds.

The horse was sold for less than the cost of a soda at a fast-food restaurant.

After being sold to a Nashville woman, Wolf Man Rocket regained his weight and self-confidence, learning to trust his human owners again.

The horse’s journey has been a long one and now he’s ready for his next challenge – learning to be a horse again.