Maryland Stakes Coordinator Michele Enck Finds Second Heart Horse Rebound

Michele Enck, recently promoted from horse identifier to stakes coordinator for the Maryland Jockey Club, has found what the racing world calls a second heart horse in Rebound, a bay Big Bad Bob gelding who retired after one win from seven starts. The adoption grew out of a chance conversation at Michele’s Pimlico office and has become a case study in how aftercare networks and staff engagement can create successful retirements for Thoroughbreds.

Jessica Hammond, executive director of Beyond the Wire, stopped by Michele’s Pimlico office and helped connect Michele with options for retired racehorses. Beyond The Wire is a program designed to facilitate safe and enriching placements for retired Maryland-based racehorses. Rebound came through The Foxie G Foundation, a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization, where Laurie Calhoun worked closely with Michele to arrange visits and vetting.

Rebound began his life in Ireland, foaled on April 16, 2013, and passed through sales at Goffs and Tattersalls before arriving in Maryland to race. He finished his career with one win from seven starts and was retired to aftercare. Michele spent three months visiting Rebound at The Foxie G Foundation once a week while she searched for the right farm and the right fit. With Laurie’s guidance, the adoption process was seamless and Rebound moved into his new life with Michele.

Rebound’s temperament made the transition natural. The gelding’s gentle nature and ability to “win over everyone he meets” became clear during those weekly visits. “Rebound is just so loved by every horse and all different kinds of animals that come across him,” Michele said. “He’s truly one of a kind.” That kind of personality matters to adopters and caretakers because it reduces rehoming risk and lowers long-term care costs.

The adoption also shows how accreditation and program partnerships add value to the sport’s business model and social license. The Foxie G Foundation’s Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accreditation provided assurance on care standards, and Beyond the Wire’s local placement program offered operational pathways for connecting staff and aftercare providers. For the Maryland Jockey Club, staff involvement like Michele’s sends a positive message about industry responsibility and can strengthen relationships with fans and donors who increasingly expect transparent aftercare commitments.

Culturally, Michele’s decision underscores the emotional bond between industry professionals and the animals that underpin the sport. For many in the backstretch community, a “heart horse” is both personal and emblematic; Rebound represents more than a successful adoption. For Michele, Rebound represents more than a successful adoption. He is proof that sometimes, when you least expect it, another heart horse can find its way into your life.

The immediate outcome is simple: Rebound has a home and a caretaker who invested time and attention during his transition. The broader takeaway for Maryland racing is practical and reputational - when accredited aftercare organizations, placement programs, and engaged staff align, retirements can be humane, efficient, and rewarding. For readers, the story signals that aftercare partnerships are working and that personnel at venues like Pimlico are actively part of the solution as the industry navigates welfare expectations and public scrutiny.