Ryan Keefe, born and raised in Sandy Spring, and Maryland-bred Thoroughbred Point Nemo, won Highest Earner at the The Real Rider Cup on July 11 at Mereworth Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. The pair finished second out of 33 entries.
Point Nemo was bred by Dr. & Mrs. A. Leonard Pineau and is by Songandaprayer out of Wood Knot (Kissin Kris). He was trained at the track by Ryan’s father Tim Keefe. Tim Keefe is a past President of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association, and as we reported last year, he has been on the Board of The Maryland Jockey Club since 2025.
Point Nemo has had post-racing career as an international eventer at the international levels. His international debut was with Ryan Keefe in the CCI2*–S at the Maryland International at Loch Moy Farm in July 2020. Ryan’s younger sister Carlin Keefe moved him up to the CCI3* level in April 2025 at the Stable View Spring 2/3/4* in Aiken, South Carolina. Point Nemo’s last international outing was at the CCI3*-L in Bromont, Quebec, on June 3rd.
The Real Rider Cup began in 2017 as the brain child of Maryland-based Anita Motion, who runs the business operations for Herringswell Stables at Fair Hill. It is a charity show jumping event that invites racing industry personalities to team up with an off-track Thoroughbred to compete over a course of jumps.
The riders compete in the silks of the supporters, employers, or racing connections of the horse. They also each pledge to raise a at least $1,000 for the Real Rider Cup’s three beneficiaries: Beyond the Wire, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, and the Retired Racehorse Project.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Keefe