Diversify returned home, where champions also find their place

Almost a decade after his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), the New York champion is enjoying his retirement at Old Friends at Cabin Creek; his return to the state where he built his history also keeps alive the memory of Rick Violette, his trainer and a tireless advocate for equine welfare

ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— As Belmont Park prepares to reopen its doors and the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) reclaims its home turf, one of the horses who once owned that very stage is enjoying life at a different pace. There are no starting gates, stopwatches, or rivals for Diversify. There is grass, carrots, peppermints, and, for the past few months, an inseparable companion.

At 13 years old, the son of Bellamy Road resides at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, New York, having spent his first six years of retirement at Old Friends' main headquarters in Kentucky. He returned to his home state in July 2025, and his adjustment was seamless.

“He settled in from day one. He is very calm, a truly sweet horse, and he is happy to be here. It’s as if he always belonged in this place,” tells JoAnn Pepper, owner and facility manager.

It is difficult to picture him any other way when recalling the fierce competitor he was on the track. Diversifyconcluded his racing career with 10 wins from 16 starts, along with 2 second-place finishes, flying the colors of Laurenand Ralph Evans for much of his career under the care of the late Rick Violette.

His big story began right here in New York. After building a string of victories between Belmont and Aqueduct, he made his definitive breakthrough during his 4-year-old campaign. He won the Saginaw Stakes (L) and then crushed his opposition by 11 1/2 lengths in the Evan Shipman Stakes (L) at Saratoga, a performance that convinced his connections to test him at the top level for the first time.

The challenge was the 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Waiting for him were rivals of the caliber of Keen Ice(Curlin), winner of the Travers Stakes (G1), Pavel (Creative Cause), and Destin (Giant's Causeway), runner-up in the Belmont Stakes (G1). But that afternoon, Diversify turned his G1 debut into a masterclass.

With Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons, he seized the lead immediately and never looked back. He set the tempo comfortably and, when Keen Ice attempted to launch a challenge in the stretch, still held plenty in reserve to keep him a length away at the wire, stopping the clock in 2:00.96 for the 2000 meters.

Violette could not hide his joy.

“We couldn't have dreamed of a better scenario. He has done nothing but improve since early summer. He was always a good horse, but today he definitely stepped into the big leagues,” he said at the time.

And Diversify still had more to give. In 2018, he captured the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont by 6 1/2 lengths, earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure of his career, a 111, before adding another unforgettable afternoon at Saratoga.

Following a lengthy delay caused by severe weather, he scored a 3 1/2-length victory over Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) in the Whitney Stakes (G1).

The image that followed remains etched in memory forever: Diversify galloping back down the Saratoga stretch under a giant rainbow. It was also one of those moments that took on a deeper meaning with time. That Whitney proved to be the final graded stakes victory for Violette, who passed away in October of that year at age 65 following a battle with lung cancer.

Diversify had made his final start a few weeks prior, finishing fifth while attempting to defend his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and was subsequently named 2018 New York-Bred Horse of the Year.

An attempted comeback in 2019 under trainer Jonathan Thomas was cut short by a suspensory ligament injury, signaling his retirement.

Far More Than Just Diversify's Trainer

That Diversify now resides at Old Friends carries a particularly profound meaning because of Violette's legacy.

Beyond his training career, he was for decades one of the strongest advocates for Thoroughbred aftercare once their racing days concluded.

He served as president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, sat on the board of NYRA, and created the Take the Lead program, dedicated to finding rehabilitation and retraining placements for horses retiring from the New York circuit.

He was also a founding board member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, an organization dedicated to accrediting and funding retirement and retraining facilities.

Among those facilities are Old Friends and Cabin Creek. “Having Diversify retired here honors Rick, and we share his story with every tour group,” explains Pepper. “His legacy lives on, and you see it in this horse. Every horse still has value long after their track days are over.”

At Cabin Creek, Diversify shares the 40-hectare farm with other memorable runners, including several prominent New York-breds such as A Shin Forward (Forest Wildcat), Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American), and Be Bullish (Pure Prize).

And now he has a special paddock mate. Victorious Leader (Freud), known to everyone as Victor, arrived in May and was soon paired with Diversify. They have been virtually inseparable ever since.

“Now that he has a best friend, he is even happier. They get along amazingly well, and Diversify won't let Victorwander far away. He walks over to him, leans in, and rests his head over his neck. Victor just accepts it,” says Pepper.

This Friday, the Jockey Club Gold Cup will once again be run at Belmont Park during the card marking the grand reopening of the historic venue following three years of reconstruction.

Forever Young (Real Steel) will be the star attraction as another chapter begins to unfold. Diversify will not be there. His life now flows away from the thunderous crowds, welcoming visitors and waiting for a carrot alongside Victor. But while Belmont reclaims its history, it is only fitting to remember one of the horses who helped build it—one who, after giving so much on the racetrack, finally found a place where he can simply be a horse.