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Too often we forget to say thank
you for giving back. The following small praises for big deeds
should not be overlooked.
To Maggie Moss who will return to her role as attorney in
defense of trainer Steve Asmussen for the Texas lidocaine positive.
We should all be outraged when attempts to convict are proposed without
recourse and the premise becomes guilty until proven innocent.
To
Thoroughbred Charities of America, an ongoing succession of
yeahs. TCA has been repeatedly awarded the highest rating by
Charity Navigator, for its exceptional distribution of 96% of incoming
funds going directly to charitable organizations. Recently, TCA
has approved grants totaling $1,592,225 for distribution to deserving
industry organizations supporting "rescue, research, backstretch,
education, and therapeutic riding."
To Mr. Hidetoshi Yamamoto, owner of Casino Drive, for his
generous
donation to Anna House at Belmont Park, benefiting the children of
the racing industry.
To the Delaware Park stewards for their swift handling of
the 6/23/08
incident regarding jockey Jeremy Rose. Handing down a 6 month
suspension, without granting stay during appeal, the judgment was
delivered just one day following the incident and sends a clear message
in continuing efforts to safeguard the sport and all participants.
To Doug Matthews, owner/trainer of Gravano, 10yo
Pioneering gelding, who
ended his career of 103 starts with a win at Hawthorne.
Wanting to end his career on a a high note, Matthews "got him good
enough to win one more time" and retired him to Forest Preserve Stable,
IL, where he will become a trail horse.
To the Keeneland Foundation and Toyota Motor
Manufacturing for their
generous grant to the
Kentucky Equine Humane
Center to assist horses in need. It is always a pleasure to
say thank you to
Keeneland for their great work.
To jockey Robby Albarado for the recent establishment of
the
Robby Albarado Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 charity to aid the
underprivileged in the Louisville area.
To Donald Williamson who, although mostly unrecognized in
his efforts, continues to keep a watchful eye on horses in need and
facilitates the connections for a happy ending.
To Karakorum Racing, running homebred Chernobyl's
Hero (2004 G) with contributions of one quarter of his earnings to the
Chernobyl
Children's Project International.
To both Susan Wagner of
Equine
Advocates and
Martha Stewart
for the
segment which ran on 1/16/08 on The Martha Stewart Show regarding
the importance of passing the federal legislation to end both horse
slaughter and the transport for slaughter within the U.S. Where
much of the media is steadfast in its noncommittal attitude, with claims
to be neither for or against, Martha Stewart showed her usual tenacity
and commitment to go public with what she believes in. Susan
Wagner, a long time advocate and forerunner in efforts to end slaughter,
did her usual exemplary job in presenting the information.
To Robin and Carolyn Hoffos who
claimed and retired the 8yo gelding Zayed. Zayed was
originally the Hoffos' first winner and he will now become a riding
horse. Congratulations!
To the
Finger Lakes
Thoroughbred Adoption Program and the track, donors and
volunteers for making the program a growing success. Based on the
grounds of Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, a 12/30/07
article from MPNnow.com gives the details. Congratulations!
To Woodford Reserve for its generous donation of funds raised
through auction of 132 gold plated Mint Julep cups. The recipients
of the donations were Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Don MacBeth
Memorial Jockey Fudn, and the New Bolton Center for laminitis research.
To
Bollam, Sheedy, Torani & Co. for underwriting Christmas dinner
for hundreds of backstretch workers at Belmont Park, Aqueduct, and
Saratoga. Merry Christmas everyone, and thank you to all of the
backstretch workers who care for the horses 365 days a year.
To the Stronach family for just two of their major
contributions to humanity. Giving a leg up to the Katrina
families, they have enabled those still in need to regain a self
sufficient way of life with
Magnaville
a Louisiana community with "neighbors helping neighbors."
Additionally, demonstrating equine responsibility, Adena Springs has
established a model
in-house
retirement program for their horses.
To Bobby Frankel who chose to stay in California
with his ailing dog Happy rather than travel to the 2007 Breeders' Cup.
As
quoted in DRF, "My dog,
Happy, who I've had for eight years, is very ill, and I'm not going to
leave here," Frankel said Monday. "I've got lots of good help at Belmont
and elsewhere and I know my horses are in good hands."
Responsibility such as this is one of the reasons that he remains among
the world's most excellent horsemen.
To Janet Hoke,
Florida veterinarian and breast cancer survivor who has pledged 10% net
profits of Keeneland September Yearling Sale consignment to the Susan G.
Komen For the Cure organization.
To the
generous owners pledging a portion of earnings to the Make-A-Wish
Foundation. The Lucarellis and
Wolfs, owners of Octave, will donate a portion of any earnings from the
Alabama Stakes. Roddy Valente also donated in excess of his pledge
from purse money earned by Callmetony on 8/15 at Saratoga. All of
this is resultant of the dedicated work of Mark Cusano, Saratoga
handicapper and commenter on behalf of the charity.
To The Racetrack Chaplaincy of America
and Stonerside Stable, Circle E Racing, Padua Stables, IEAH Stables,
West Point Thoroughbreds, Dogwood Stable, Darley Stable, James
Scatuorchio, Lael Stables, and Earl Mack for their sponsorship of and
donations to the August 9 basketball game benefitting
Andrew
Lakeman, who suffered sever spinal trauma in May 25 riding accident.
To Fair Grounds race track
in New Orleans for their part in launching a program to
rebuild the homes of elderly citizens following Hurricane Katrina.
In partnership with the New Orleans Council on Aging, Lowes, and the
city of New Orleans, the
HONOR (Helping Older New Orleanians Rebuild) program has been funded
exclusively by the donations of Churchill Downs employees.
A huge YEAH to owner and president of Ellis Park, Ron
Geary, on the
purchase of Alpena Magic. Not content to be a "stay at home"
horse, the 17 year old gelding was entered to race at Ellis on 7/11/07.
Instead of racing, Alpena Magic will now be a part of the Ellis working
team and introduce the public to the sport. A great solution for
all and a new job for the gelding. More on Alpena Magic
here.
To Dana Parham for his
generous donation to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. As
a Standardbred owner and breeder, Parham has made the single largest
contribution to the Fund on record because he wanted to "do something
significant that will help." Bravo!
To Robert Cole for
retiring
Shake You Down to the care of TRF at the Marion County Correctional
facility in Ocala. A donation was also made to TRF by Mr. Cole to
help care for Shake You Down. You can
sponsor Shake You Down and other great horses through The
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Hats off to the
owners and connections of Street Sense, Cowtown Cat,
Any Given Saturday, Sam P., and Appealing Zophie. A
portion of any winnings in the Derby or Oaks will be donated to
the
Race for Education.
To
Michael Bello for his generous donations to both the Permanently
Disabled Jockey Fund and the Jockey's Guild.
To
Edgar Prado for his unending generosity and donation of the
saddle used in Barbaro's 2006 Derby victory, as well as Belmont Stakes
wins aboard Sarava in 2002 and Birdstone in 2004. Proceeds will
benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund.
To
Canter-Ohio
for getting
Eye
Pea Oh off of the track and out of the lower level claiming races.
The 11 year old With Approval gelding will now get his well deserved
retirement.
Hats off to the trainers who have signed on to the
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's
Pony-Up Program. Through the program, a set
amount will be donated for each win by the trainer's horse to benefit
race horse retirement. Already on board are Gary Contessa, Michael
Dickenson, William Entenmann, Jimmy Jerkins, John Kimmel, Lisa Lewis,
Kiaran McLaughlin, Ken McPeek, Graham Motion, Todd Pletcher, Chuck
Simon.
To Royce Clay for the
purchase and retirement of 26 year old Mepache, dam of Valid
Expectations.
Consigned to the February '07 Fasig-Tipton sale, Clay purchased the
mare pre-sale to assure her well deserved retirement.
To ReRun, Inc. for their
"sticker"
program and "Running
for ReRun." An
important link in the chain of responsibility, the sticker provides
contact information in the event that a horse needs retirement and the
current owner can not provide it. This should be a model for breed
registries and can extend far beyond Thoroughbreds. Running for
ReRun allows participating horses and owners to donate a portion of
their earnings to the retirement foundation.
To jockey
Garrett Gomez, for his donation of $10,000
to The Winners Foundation, an organization assisting members of the
racing community. Thanks for giving back!
To
Friends of Barbaro, U. S. Representative Ed Whitfield and Mrs.
Connie Whitfield for making Dream Aster's
retirement and new home a reality. Dream Aster, a daughter of
Ferdinand, will be sent to the Keck family, who campaigned Ferdinand.
The Whitfields have purchased other daughters of Ferdinand, and Rep.
Whitfield is instrumental in the fight for The American Horse Slaughter
Prevention Act.
To Ro Parra of Millennium Farms
for
hosting a fund-raiser to establish a new Tubby's Clubhouse for at
risk children of the Thoroughbred industry.
To the Ontario, Canada division of H. B. P. A.
for the
donation of
one quarter of one percent of their total purse fund to LongRun,
an Ontario horse retirement organization.
Woodbine also supported
LongRun
with a benefit held at the track in September and provided an
information booth on the Northern Dancer celebration day in July.
To trainer Todd Pletcher
for
his donation of 26 stallion seasons to the Thoroughbred Charities of
America Stallion Season and Art Auction.
To
Marsha Naify for her quest to locate,
claim, and retire horses owned or bred by her late
father Marshall Naify. Hats off to you, Marsha!
To all of those involved in
trying to save the not-so-famous Home Tour
following her Del Mar breakdown on 7/20/06.
To all of you unsung angels out
there! If you are involved
in horse rescue, the fight to end slaughter, or making
sure that retired horses find a new career or caring home,
this means you! The hours are long, the pay is
non-existent, but the rewards are endless. Thank
you!
And, maybe unrelated, but maybe not...
Hats off
to
Simon Pulsifer,
Wikipedia's most prolific contributor, in his unending
pursuit of knowledge!
Lastly, this is the very definition
of heart. The letters
CAN are never followed by T. Click on the film cell to
watch the incredible story of a father and son.
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