05/01/2026
The Story of Ginger Brew
A Champion's Journey
On January 29, 2005, a chestnut filly was foaled at Adena Springs Farm in Canada. Sired by Milwaukee Brew and out of the mare Coral Necklace, she possessed a distinctive chestnut coat and demonstrated notable athleticism from an early age. Named Ginger Brew, she exhibited impressive speed and stamina, distinguishing herself among her contemporaries. Ginger Brew became a distinguished thoroughbred whose journey captivated significant attention within the racing industry.
Ginger Brew commenced her racing career on October 26, 2007, with a maiden victory at Woodbine Race Track, immediately establishing herself as a promising contender. She progressed to more competitive races, consistently securing top finishes and placing in 13 out of 15 starts. Among her achievements, Ginger Brew’s most notable win was in the esteemed Woodbine Oaks—a premier Canadian thoroughbred event for three-year-olds—where she won by an impressive six lengths. Her performances garnered significant recognition within the industry and served as an inspiration to fans and aspiring jockeys alike. Her most notable races were the Calder Oaks, Jammed Lovely Stakes and Belle Mahone Stakes. Ginger Brew also placed second in the Dance Smarty Stakes, Maple Leaf Stakes and narrowly missed winning the Queens Plate Stakes-Canada’s racing premier event-against a field of all boys. In 2008 she was recognized by receiving the 2008 Sovereign Award for Champion 3 year old Filly in Canada. Beyond her racing achievements, Ginger Brew became known for her gentle temperament and strong bond with her trainers and handlers.
On November 7, 2009, Ginger Brew ran her last race, finishing second in the Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine. Retired by Adena Springs for breeding, she produced ten foals over the next decade by leading stallions, including a c**t by Medaglia d’Oro in 2011, Giant’s Causeway, Awesome Again, Bernardini, Ghostzapper, and Animal Kingdom. Her offspring earned over $850,000 racing.
During this time, a new horse racing and breeding facility was under development in Texas. Lori and Mark Collinsworth were pursuing their goal of racing and breeding thoroughbreds. In October 2021, they purchased the stallion Mr. Speaker from Lane's End Farm in Kentucky for an undisclosed amount. Mr. Speaker had reached distinction by winning G1, G2, and G3 races, amassing total earnings of $1,247,544. The next month, the Collinsworth’s went to the Keenland Fasig Tipton Stock Sale, where Ginger Brew—part of the Adena Springs broodmare reduction and in foal to Hard Spun—was offered for sale. They bought her for $90,000, intending to breed her to Mr. Speaker. After Ginger Brew’s 2022 foal by Hard Spun did not survive, Ginger Brew was bred to Mr. Speaker, but this attempt was unsuccessful. In 2024, she produced a filly named So Shoe Me. Subsequent breeding’s to Mr. Speaker in both 2024 and 2025 did not result in a live foal.
This story should acknowledge Adena’s historically strong reputation for tracking horses that came through their care. The family’s late matriarch, Frieda Stronach, “kept track of every single horse that Adena bred, and was available at any time to pick up and bring Adena-bred horses back to the farm.” Frieda passed away in 2024.
At the end of 2025, Collinsworth began downsizing. In January 2026 they set up 5 mares to sell at the Fasig Tipton Digital Sale. Three of the 5 sold. One of the mares that sold was “I Think So” who was in foal to Mr. Speaker. She sold to Glen Robertson, who was involved with the Texas Thoroughbred Association. When he came to pick her up from the farm, he inquired about any other open mares that Collinsworth that might be available. Collinsworth checked with the people from the Texas Thoroughbred Association and because this was a guy he could trust, he gave him Ginger Brew and “Unspoken Word”. Ginger Brew was bred in 2026 but did not conceive. Since he had no investment in her, he passed Ginger Brew to an acquaintance for someone seeking a riding horse. The story is a familiar one.
Beyond The Roses Equine Rescue (BTRE) is a nonprofit group dedicated to assisting thoroughbreds facing difficult circumstances and war horses. BTRE is also accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which inspects, awards grants, and supports organizations that care for, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds through industry-wide funding. In recent years, BTRE has helped numerous horses found in kill pens, scheduled for slaughter in Mexico and Canada.
March 23, 2026 BTRE was sent a message that there was a mare in the Kaufman Kill Pen shortly after it was posted on Facebook. The post read:
“SHIPPING TO MEXICO
Lot 185
Thoroughbred 21 yr old sorrel mare that stands about 16.2 hands tall. Talk about a NICE mare!! She won over 970K on the track herself. She is a big thick nice mare that’s been very well cared for. Her note says she’s a good broodmare and great with foals. She is broke to ride and gentle to handle and be around. LOCATED IN KAUFMAN, TX. “
“OH HELL NO!!!!! There must be some mistake. This mare does not belong there!” Not that any of the other horses belong there, but this one definitely does not. Gail with BTRE immediately called the kill pen to inquire about her. They wanted $1,400 for her. “ I want her and I am sending you the funds right now”….. DONE! Then the phone calls started. Gail contacted other board members stating what she had done. Calls were made to arrange her pick up and taken to a farm where she would be quarantined for a month. Calls were made to past connections of Ginger Brew’s. They couldn’t believe it. A call was also placed to Mark Collinsworth. Funds were promised and sent by Gulfstream Race Track and Collinsworth to help with her. Donations came in from other supporters to help with her bail and transport. Word got out that Ginger Brew had been saved from the kill pen. Bloodhorse, The Ray Paulick Report wrote articles about Ginger Brew and how she ended up there.
Ginger Brew has completed her quarantine and is preparing to be picked up and delivered to BTRE in the coming week where she will be retired and live out the remainder of her life.
Her legacy continues today, celebrated as one of the finest thoroughbreds to grace the tracks, a testament to perseverance, talent, and heart.
