Timothy L. Keefe, Thoroughbred trainer and breeder, past President of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and Board Member of the new Maryland Jockey Club.
Photo source: Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association
The Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority announced today that Thoroughbred trainer and breeder Tim Keefe of Sandy Spring was named to the new Maryland Jockey Club’s Board of Directors. Keefe has been a fixture — a well-regarded one at that — in the Maryland racing scene for decades. Less well-known, however, is his role in breeding and training Thoroughbreds that then go on to successful second careers as show jumpers and upper level event horses.
Here are a few of Keefe’s Thoroughbreds that are competing this season.
Act Lively: Bred in Maryland and trained by Keefe, this 2020 gelding is by Astern out of Kiss the Prince (Any Given Saturday). He last raced in May 2024 and started his eventing career in November of that year, finishing 8th in the Beginner Novice division at Virginia Horse Center Eventing. He is being ridden this season by Keefe’s daughter Carlin.
Bok Choy Betty: An unraced, 2017 mare bred by Keefe and is by Bourbon Courage out of Hidden Ball Trick (Hat Trick (JPN)). She competes in show hunters and show jumpers. Last July she was Reserve Champion in the .65M Jumper division at the Manchester Summer Hunter/Jumper show in Vermont.
Elusive Agent : A 2019 gelding bred in Maryland and trained by Keefe to two wins in 13 starts. He is by Blofeld out the Maryland-bred mare Celtic Heritage (Yarrow Brae). His first outing in recognized competition was in the Beginner Novice Horse division at Virginia Horse Center Eventing on November 8 last year. He was ridden by Carlin Keefe.
Maybe Someday: This 2017 gelding was trained by Keefe and is out of Bandbox by the Maryland-bred mare Desiderata (During). He started eventing in 2021 with Keefe’s wife, Rumsey. He had already reached the Preliminary level by 2024, when he placed 5th in Open Preliminary at the Middleburg Horse Trials (VA) on June 8. A month later he placed 5th again in Open Preliminary at the ESCTA Horse Trials (NJ) on September 18. He was ridden by Carlin Keefe throughout last year. Sydney Hagaman took him to 2nd in the Modified division at Morven Park this past March.
Point Nemo: This upper level event horse is a 2013 gelding, bred in Maryland and trained at the track by Keefe. He is by Songandaprayer out of Wood Not (Kissin Kris) and has gone on to a post-raceing career as a successful 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. He placed 5th. Carlin Keefe moved him up to the CCI3* level this past April at the Stable View Spring 2/3/4* in Aiken, South Carolina.
Wonderful Courage: This unraced 2018 gelding was bred by Keefe and is by Bourbon Courage out of Wonderful Secret (Stevie Wonderboy). His first recognized competition was in 2022 at the Jump Start Horse Trials in Kentucky. A mere three years later, he began his international career with a bang, winning the CCI1*-S at The Event at Terranova in Florida in March. He followed that up a month later with a 7th in the CCI1*-L at Ocala International Festival of Eventing in Florida.
As is evident from this list, Keefe’s daughter Carlin is riding the majority of her father’s sport horses this season. She is a talented and accomplished rider who has been competing at Modified and above since at least 2022. In April, the United States Eventing Association invited her to join 11 other riders at the USEA Emerging Athlete Under 21 Regional Clinic at Morven Park. The clinic will take place June 17-18.
