Red Mile: Young horse owner planning for his future

While 9-year-old Logan Shehan may not be the youngest Standardbred horse owner in the history of harness racing, but he may be the happiest.

“He has not stopped smiling since we got here,” remarked his parents Tyler and Marna Shehan, who are stabled at the Red Mile.  “Since we shipped in he has really been enjoying himself.”

The Shehans, who call Hopkinsville, Kentucky home, shipped onto the Lexington backstretch in July and have had Logan with them the entire time.  “He is home schooled, so we make sure he spends time with his studies in the afternoon after the barn work is done.”

Logan Shehan became a young horse owner in April when a horse in their barn named The Phantom changed hands.  His previous owner, Matt Kiernan, decided to give all his horses to the Shehan family.  

Kiernan was 86 years old when he purchased the son of Lazurus N from the Standardbred Horse Sale in 2022 from the Hunterton consignment.  At that time, The Phantom was a $13,000 yearling purchase, who was bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms.  Considering Kiernan has kept racehorses with Shehans since 2012, he sent the colt to them to train.

But he has always had one caveat; the horses could never be sold.

“We have had this colt since he was a baby,” noted Marna Shehan, “and raced him lightly at 2.” 

At 3 he came around nicely and made about $30,000 in the Wildcat series.

Now 5, the horse has been paying his way, earning another $25,000 last year, with $64,703 earned in his career to go along with six wins.

But toward the end of last season, when the owner was turning 90, his health was waning and wanted to leave a legacy for the Shehans.  That’s when Kiernan decided to gift the horses he owned to Marna and Tyler, which carried on his wishes that the horses never be sold.  That prompted the parents of young Logan to start a college fund and utilize The Phantom’s earnings to help build for the future for their only child.

Matt Kiernan passed away in April, and since that time The Phantom has only missed a few checks.  In fact, the easy-going steed won a race over the historic red clay in early September, and registered USTA owner Logan M. Shehan could not have been prouder.

“Zyler drove him good and helped us make some money,” noted the fledgling horse owner.

“I like going to the barn every day and helping my parents, but I really love serving the coffee and donuts each morning,” stated the enthusiastic youngster.

His mom Marna agrees, “He’s a people person.  He loves talking to folks.  Someday I bet he will be a politician!”

Since the Grand Circuit rolled into town, Hunterton Farms has sponsored “Breakfast on the Backstretch” every morning from 7 to 10 am near the deck adjacent to the draw gate.  For the last week both Logan and his friend Lolah (stepdaughter of driver Devon Tharps) have been at the coffee table greeting horse people with a smile and pouring their coffee and offering them donuts.

“We have enjoyed having the young people around each morning.  Logan has been here bright and early each day…ready to assist,” noted Scotty Szafraniec, who facilitates the complimentary refreshments each day at The Red Mile, under the guidance of Director of Sponsorships Emily Gaskin Ratcliff.

“Having these young horse enthusiasts around each morning has been a welcome treat,” noted Ratcliff. “We love encouraging the next generation of harness horse people.”

The Phantom, for all the good will and hope for the future that the horse has brought the Shehans, the draw Gods had other ideas.  He is saddled with post ten in the twelfth race on Thursday (October 8), with Zyler Maxwell driving, once again.

But that doesn’t make any difference to Logan, who was quite optimistic about the race.  “I know that Zyler will drive him good…he always does!”

First post each day is 1 pm, with the final week of Grand Circuit racing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week.   For more information go to: redmileracing.com.

-edited release (by Chris Tully for Red Mile)