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 […]
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 […]
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 […]