Happy Holidays to the Horses

Photo:
The season of giving is upon us and I would like my gift to be that the Horse Racing Nation community will join together to make a significant statement about the importance of racehorse retirement.
 
We all appreciate the grace, beauty, and competitive fire of the thoroughbred. We all get a great deal of enjoyment from horse racing. In December, during this holiday season, I would like all of us to seriously consider making a gift to one of the thoroughbred retirement organizations. Think about how much we spend on gifts for our loved ones. Now, let’s set aside some money, at least something for the horses.
 
There is always outrage when we hear the story of a horse like Monzante, the former California grade one stakes winner who was euthanized at Evangeline Downs this year. However, for every Monzante there are countless other horses that slide down the claiming ladder and go unnoticed at tracks around the country. So many horses disappear without public knowledge.
 
Below I have included profiles of five retirement organizations that I have financially supported over the years. I am not wealthy by any means. I have a family, mortgage, and car payments like everybody else, but I have always found some money to send to these retirement groups.  Retirement organizations will not survive without the financial help from all of us. Now it is our turn to make a difference and support one of these groups or another of your choosing.
 
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is one of the very first thoroughbred retirement groups having been founded in 1983. From the beginning TRF has had a dual mission combining the care of racehorses with the rehabilitation of prisoners. Today, close to 1,000 thoroughbreds are retired on their farms and at correctional facilities in 10 states prisoners are improving their life skills.
 
ReRun was founded in 1996 and believes that when thoroughbreds’ racing days are over, they don’t need to be sent to auction or slaughter but can be retrained to pursue second careers with their adoptive families. ReRun has farms in NJ, NY, and VA. Horse Racing Nation Managing Editor Brian Zipse is a member of the ReRun Board of Directors.
 
The Exceller Fund was formed by a group of racing fans in September 1997, three months after Exceller was killed in a slaughterhouse in Sweden. Exceller had career earnings of $1,654,003 and won 11 grade one races on the grass and on the dirt in the US and Europe.  Exceller lost his life because he was no longer useful as a stallion.
 
The Our Mims Retirement Haven focuses their efforts on the care of thoroughbred mares. Their name came from their first retiree, the multi-grade one winning Calumet Farms mare, Our Mims. In addition they recently acquired one of my favorite horses, the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion, Elmhurst.
 
Old Friends operates thoroughbred retirement centers in Kentucky and near Saratoga Springs, NY. They now have 130 horses, most of them stallions whose racing and breeding careers came to an end. The farm attracts nearly 20,000 tourists annually to meet stars like Gulch, Sunshine Forever, Commentator, and Rapid Redux, along with Zippy Chippy, who failed to break his maiden in 100 tries. 
 
I am asking that after you have made a decision that you share your pledge in the comment section and that this one time we reserve the comment section for pledges only. Just let us know which organization will receive your check, it is not necessary to include the dollar amount. Be sure to click on the links for further information and to find out how to send your money to the groups.
 
Let me make the first pledge:
I promise that I will make a contribution the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in December 2013.
 
In advance I thank you for being part of Horse Racing Nation’s effort to make a difference for the horses that give us so much enjoyment throughout the year. 

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