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Dreux Flaherty of Dallas meets her new horse, War Chant son Cease.

Big winner retired after social media effort

Two-time Breeders’ Cup participant Cease was suddenly retired after 43 starts and $700,000 in earnings by a determined woman who used the power of social media to plunge into a quest to pluck the horse from a recent downward spiral in the claimers. Dreux Flaherty of Dallas says she sent out 20 emails and texts a day on behalf of the 17-hand, 9-year-old son of War Chant. Through a “flurry” of notes, she enlisted the aid of Thoroughbred advocates and professionals in a months long effort to end the proud race career of a multiple graded stakes placed horse she […]

Ben in his Eventing days is ridden by Jill Adriani, who eventually sold him to Fran Burns for far less than he was worth. For a promise she kept.

A promise kept to ‘best horse in the world’

When she discovered the “best horse in the world” was for sale, Fran Burns didn’t have the money. But she did have something better than cash. So she struck a bargain with the seller. In exchange for selling the beautiful bay gelding Ben for “several thousands less” than the horse’s asking price, she would “make up the difference” in high-quality, lifelong care. It was an offer Jill Adriani couldn’t refuse. Agreeing to pocket far less for the 14-year-old OTTB than he was worth, she loaded him into a trailer and personally drove him to Burns’ Maryland boarding facility at the […]

John Evans was presented with the Award of Merit by the Thoroughbred Charities of America. He was recognized for his work helping Thoroughbreds and inmates at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Ocala, Fla. facility. He is pictured with his wife Marsha. Photo by  FTBOA

Award of merit goes to TRF’s John Evans

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Thoroughbred Charities of America has named John Evans as its first TCA Award of Merit recipient of 2016. Evans was presented with the award in front of 400 guests at the 54th annual Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association gala held in Ocala, Fla. March 14. The award honors his work as farm manager at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chance Farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute in Ocala, where inmates are taught equine vocational skills while caring for retired racehorses. Now in its 16th year, over 120 inmates have participated in the program at Lowell Correctional Institute. Award recipients […]