Richlyn Farm

Richard “Dick” and Evelyn Pollard race as Richlyn Farm, which they concocted by combining letters of their first names. They met in New York City, where Dick was working as a bank clerk and Evelyn was a secretary for an oil company. Eventually, they moved to Boston, where Dick became a senior lending officer at a Boston-based bank and chairman of the Boston Ballet. Evelyn had ridden horses growing up on Long Island and on summer vacations at a dude ranch in upstate New York.

Their first horse, a cheap yearling, never made it to the races. Their second yearling, Jen’s Trueheart, became their first broodmare. They’ve enjoyed success in racing ever since, but rarely at the highest level. The last thing they expected this summer was to be standing in the winner’s circle at Saratoga after a Grade 1 stakes. Rather, they were surprised that their trainer, George Weaver, had even entered their three-year-old filly Lighthouse Bay into the Grade 1 Prioress Stakes.

Weaver, who was on his way to an outstanding Saratoga meet – nine winners from 41 starts – had surprised the Pollards eight years earlier when he entered their horse, Saratoga County, in the Dubai Gold Shaheen. He won, giving Weaver his first Grade 1 stakes victory.