Prince Abama (IRE)
Chestnut Gelding
Foaled: May 4, 2018
Sire: Tamayuz • Dam: Abama Lady (by Mr. Greeley)
Last Race: May 4, 2024 at Santa Anita (7th race, Charles Whittingham S. Presented by FanDuel TV - Gr.2)
Career Stats: 15 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, earnings of $502,053 (Ran 7 Stakes races & won 2 of them) Best Racing Class Achieved: “Multiple Graded Stakes Winner”
Arrived at SCR: : February 15, 2026 (from CARMA)
A Personal Message from Madison & Prince Abama:
My name is Maddie Curcie and horses have been part of my life since I was six years old. I still remember the day my family surprised me with my aunt’s childhood pony (he was 25 yrs old) on Christmas morning. That moment changed my life; I didn’t just fall in love with horses I fell in love with the connection, trust, and the feeling that only a horse can give you. After riding for a while, I got my own horse, and that’s when my passion truly took off. Over the years I have learned to listen, be patient, and most importantly how to build a partnership. I am thankful for the horses I have had the opportunity to enjoy as they have shaped me into the rider I am today.
As a USPC member and blossoming three-day event rider, I have heard for years about the importance of learning how to ride a thoroughbred due to their athletic abilities and overall temperament. For years I have been begging my parents to purchase me my own Thoroughbred. Then one day my mom told me about an opportunity called "Train the Trainer" that was being put together by SCRAF (Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation). I joined the informational meeting and was so excited for the opportunity. Thanks to SCRAF I convinced my parents to let me join the Train the Trainer Program with the plan to learn as much as I could about retraining a thoroughbred for a second career and the end goal being the Retired Race Horse Project in Kentucky.
SCRAF let us pick from a selection of CARMA horses that were handpicked for their incredible temperaments and athletic abilities. After meeting all of the horses I ended up selecting Prince Abama, a retired racing Thoroughbred that earned over half a million dollars on the track as a Grade 2 Stakes Winner. The very first time I saw him, I turned to my mom and said, “he’s the one!” I didn’t have to think about it, I just knew. There was something in his eyes that felt familiar, like he was waiting for someone to build a partnership with and we picked each other.
Our retraining process didn’t start with big rides, instead we started with groundwork, slow and steady. Step by step, we learned from each other. I learned his fears, his softness, and his strength. He learned my voice, my energy, and my intentions. Somewhere in that quiet work, we built teamwork. Not because someone forced it, not because he was “easy,” but because we chose each other.
I am excited to have the opportunity to bring Prince Abama to the Thoroughbred makeover because I believe in giving Thoroughbreds a strong foundation for a successful second career. Prince Abama had an incredible career on the track, and I know he will have an incredible career after the track with the foundation he is receiving with me in SCRAF’s “Training the Trainer” Program and under the guidance of the incredible SCRAF team. My goal is to showcase what patience, love, and teamwork can do for a horse who’s already lived a whole life before you ever meet them.
Everything I learn from my experience with preparing Prince for the makeover to include: the training, discipline, patience, and understanding will be tools that I can use on every horse I work with in the future. This experience makes me a better rider, trainer, and partner to every horse I touch. I look forward to learning and growing so I can continue to help other horses find their confidence, their purpose, and new beginnings. The RRP in Kentucky means so much to me. It’s not just a competition, it’s a chance to honor Prince’s past, to show how far we’ve come, and to prove that building a partnership matters more than anything.
How You Can Help Prince Abama:
Your support helps provide:
Daily feed, hay, and care
Veterinary and farrier services
Training and education opportunities
Transportation and competition expenses
Travel to the Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover in Lexington, Kentucky
Prince Abama's racing racing career may be over, but his story is just beginning
Thank you for helping us give this deserving gelding the opportunity to discover what comes next. Every donation helps turn a former racehorse's second chance into a successful future.
Together, we can help Prince Abama write the best chapter of his life yet.
Learn more at www.scraf.org
