'Amazing': Aftercare groups are getting vigorous support
Inflation reached its highest level in 40 years. Many believe a recession is imminent if not already a reality. The stock market seemingly takes a daily hit.
Yet Thoroughbred aftercare continues to receive vigorous support, demonstrating how far its cause has come in the public consciousness.
“We have come a long way. It is more on people’s minds, and it is a concern,” said Stacie Clark, operations consultant for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “We didn’t think this way 25 years ago.”
In November, the TAA announced grants totaling $3.6 million to 81 accredited organizations that operate 180 facilities. The TAA has granted more than $28.1 million since its inception in 2012.
The good news does not end there. Michael Blowen, who founded Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., in 2003, estimated that he raised about $2 million.
“It was our strongest year we ever had,” Blowen said. “Even though with Covid we didn’t have as many tours, people really stepped it up.”
The TAA is conducting a holiday gift-giving campaign in which prominent industry figures match donations up to specified amounts. The effort will close with Jill and Bob Baffert on New Year’s Eve. According to Clark, the TAA soon will announce results that are “amazing.”
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2023, set a goal of $60,000 for its annual Hay Drive. Peggy and Richard Santulli agreed to match that amount. The TRF raised $62,460. In all, that was a lot of hay.
In the past year that kind of success allowed TRF to provide an additional 25 horses with lifetime sanctuary, bringing its herd to almost 450. Its Second Chances program, which teaches inmates to care for retired Thoroughbreds, expanded to an eighth site with the addition of the Wyoming Correctional Facility in Attica, N.Y., Second Chances provides hope and potential careers to 165 women, men and youths.
“We’ve won the first battle,” said Kim Weir, TRF’s director of major gifts and planned giving. “I’ve always said, ‘If people are not aware, they cannot care.’ We won that, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
Blowen started Old Friends with one horse and a rented paddock. Now, he is constantly searching for ways to expand. His list of “old friends” has grown to include Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm and the great claiming horse Lava Man.
“I think there is a whole attitude change,” Blowen said. “Horses are no longer considered disposable once their breeding and racing careers are over. They are important assets to racing. They are important assets for the community and, for us, they are the essence of tourism in central Kentucky. People come from all over the world to see them.”
Clark emphasized that advocates for aftercare cannot rest. “There is the misconception that this is taken care of. That is a dangerous misconception,” she said. “A lot of people do take care of their own horses, but there is not enough of a safety net for horses that may fall through the ranks and are running at smaller tracks that don’t have support systems. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
Financial help sometimes comes when it is least expected. Linda Culp used to occasionally stop by Old Friends to feed carrots to the horses. Blowen did not understand how much that interaction meant to her until her recent death. Her will included a six-figure donation.
Then there was a visitor from North Dakota who arrived at Old Friends late one afternoon and asked to see the grounds. As weary as Blowen was after a long day, he gave him the go-ahead. When the man was done, he told Blowen he did not have his checkbook with him but would send a donation.
Blowen had heard that one before. He never gave it a second thought – until he received a check for $500,000.
“People care and they are not going to stop caring and they are going to tell their friends,” said Weir. “Together, I think we’ll have a good year next year, and I hope that’s true for all of our kindred spirits.”