TRF Run for the Horses to benefit local horse charities.
TRF hosts Run for the Horses
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has expanded the mission of its annual 5K Run/Walk for the Horses to support all local racehorse welfare organizations.
The Sixth Annual Run for the Horses, which has been selected as a Saratoga Centennial Event, will be held Saturday morning, September 5, 2015 at the Orenda Pavilion at the Spa State Park in Saratoga Springs. The 5K course is certified and all proceeds benefit local non-profits that rescue and provide second careers or homes for ex-racehorses.
“It’s all about the horses. To help more horses, we local organizations know that we need to help and support each other,” said Diana Pikulski, Director of External Affairs for the TRF. “We are adding fun new elements to the race so that the whole community can come out to learn about and support the racehorses that make Saratoga Springs the special place that it is.”
The Run for the Horses begins with a 7 a.m. check-in and will benefit these locally based organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, retrain and retire ex-racehorses:
ACTT Naturally, Heading for Home, Old Friends at Cabin Creek, ReRun Inc., and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Check-in is at 7:00am. The Kids Fun Run will start at 8:00am and the 5K Race will start at 8:30am. There will be refreshments and prizes in all race/walk divisions. Runners finishing 19th and 15th place will each be presented with a Saratoga Centennial-shirt by members from the Centennial Committee. Pre-race registration for the event is $20. Race day registration is $25.
For more information call Mary Abbruzzese at 518-226-0028, or to register, please visit http://www.trfinc.org/event/run-for-the-horses-5k/
Texas Thoroughbred President Hal Wiggins presents the TCA Award of Merit to Jennifer Gibbs of LOPE. Photo credit: Gay Glazbrook
TCA June Merit Awards
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Louisiana and Texas OTTB charities were named last month as the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) Award of Merit winners for their hard work providing a better life for Thoroughbreds.
Merit Award winners were The Louisiana Horse Rescue Association (LAHRA), a nonprofit organization that aims to rescue, retrain and rehome Thoroughbred racehorses, and LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE), a Texas-based charity that rehabs, retrains and re-homes Texas racehorses. Texas-based LOPE, which was founded by Lynn Reardon, author of Beyond the Homestretch, has assisted well over 1,000 Thoroughbreds. And the Louisiana charity has assisted over 200 since its inception in 2010.
From left: Louisiana Horse Rescue Association Directors Therese Arroyo and Victoria Richmond, President Patrick Richmond, Michele Rodriguez, Judy Agular and Dr. Frank Andrews (LSU). Photo credit: Linda McLellan
Both charities were lauded by the TCA for exemplary work in an ongoing merit program designed to highlight the good work being done by charities. The Award of Merit program was launched by the TCA in January and has been honoring award winners each month.
Other recipients honored earlier this year include Kip Elser, Elizabeth MacDonald, Russ Rhone, Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption, Emerald Downs’ the Prodigious Fund, Amy Tarrant, Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue, Dennis Miller, Hope After Racing (H.A.R.T.), Anne Tucker of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), Midwest Thoroughbreds, Steuart Pittman and the Retired Racehorse Project and Turning for Home.
New Vocations breaks ground on new OTTB facility.
New Vocations breaks ground
LEXINGTON, Ky.— (June 26, 2015) Over 100 guests gathered on Wednesday, June 24, to celebrate the groundbreaking of New Vocations’ new facility at Mereworth Farm. The facility will double the program’s Lexington capacity. The ceremony took place at the building site located on 85 acres on the iconic Mereworth Farm.
The brief presentation opened with New Vocations’ program director Anna Ford sharing the history of New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and the vision behind the building project.
Featured guest speaker Boyd Browning of Fasig-Tipton and Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm spoke about their support of New Vocation’s mission and dedication to retiring racehorses. Elizabeth Hughes, president of the Susan S. Donaldson Foundation, emphasized that by joining forces with New Vocations, Mereworth Farm will be able to better carry out its mission to house unwanted horses.
In addition to the new facility, Mereworth Farm will also provide the use of a 20-stall barn, and feed for New Vocation’s horses in need of rehabilitation prior to beginning their retraining.
The presentation concluded with a blessing of the grounds by Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day.
To date, $800,000 has been raised to begin construction on the facility, which will include two 15-stall barns, an indoor arena with viewing area, an outdoor arena, an office and ample paddocks and pastures. New Vocations will work diligently over the next year to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the project by seeking support through a variety of naming and giving options. More information on the New Vocations Capital Campaign can be found at www.newvocations.org/capital-
I support 2nd.chance for rehabitalation of Tb horses thoroughbred horses we must take care of their retirement