Anna Ford

New Vocations has launched its 15th annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, in which connections of Breeders' Cup contenders have the opportunity to pledge a percentage of their Championship earnings to support the charity's mission to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. The Pledge has raised over $1.1 million towards aftercare since starting in 2009. "We are thrilled to have had so many owners and trainers involved in our Breeders' Cup Pledge over the years," said Anna Ford, New Vocations' Thoroughbred Program Director. "The Pledge offers an easy way for owners and...

The Bluegrass Community and Technical College has partnered with New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program to allow students of BCTC's Equine Program to learn at New Vocations' Lexington facility. The BCTC Equine program provides instruction on essential skills required for a variety of careers in the horse industry and all students receive hands-on instruction in basic horse care management learning industry-accepted standards and techniques in the program's foundational lab course. Students taking this lab at New Vocations will learn with recently retired racehorses as they transition to be adopted for second...

Horse owner Brent Malmstrom told Wednesday's opening session of the annual National HBPA Conference that he has spent more than $620,000 "with no end in sight" on fighting the two-year suspension handed trainer Jonathon Wong after one of Wong's horses became the first to test positive in a post-race sample for the widely prescribed diabetes medication Metformin under the HISA era. The comments came during the opening session of the four-day National HBPA Conference at Prairie Meadows. While Malmstrom doesn't own the horse at the center of the case, he...

In its 21st year, the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Presented by Heider Family Stables raised more than $180,000 when it was held May 31-June 2 at Highfields Event Center, the non-profit said in a release Wednesday afternoon. The annual show brought together 179 retired Thoroughbred racehorses from 11 different states with all proceeds going to directly support efforts to rehab, retrain and rehome retiring racehorses. Exhibitors competed in a variety of classes including dressage, hunter, jumper, in-hand, Western and pleasure. New classes this year included a Mini Jumper...

Edited Press Release New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program will host its 21st Annual All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, SC, from May 31-June 2. Heider Family Stables is once again the title sponsor of this year's event. "We're thrilled and honored to have Heider Family Stables as our title sponsor again this year," said New Vocations Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. "Scott and Cindy Heider are long-time supporters of New Vocations, our show and Thoroughbred aftercare in general, and we couldn't be happier to have them...

The 7th annual New Vocations Open Barn & BBQ will take place Thursday, Apr. 25 from 4:00p.m. to 8:30p.m. at the Lexington, KY facility at Mereworth Farm, the organization stated via press release Monday. Presented by Seidman Stables, the event is free and open to the public and will feature a series of educational seminars including one by international five-star eventer Allie Knowles. There will be a chance to meet adoptable horses while touring the facility and guests can expect an interactive, educational program on a variety of topics pertaining...

Retired jockey and horse advocate Rosie Napravnik will be on site at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to spearhead the fourth annual "New Vocations Day at the Races" Saturday. A four-time local riding champion who was instrumental in the opening of the New Vocations facility in Covington, Louisiana, Napravnik will join host Joe Kristufek on the live feed during the racing day to help build awareness, promote success stories, and inspire donations for Thoroughbred aftercare. "I am thrilled to be part of our fourth annual New Vocation's Day at...

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, whose mission is to rehab, retrain and rehome retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds, saw 478 horses go through its program in 2023, with 143 horses remaining in the program at the end of the year--a 15% increase from 2022. "I'm very proud of the New Vocations team as they have done a phenomenal job providing much needed aftercare services to a huge number of horses with diverse backgrounds that come from various tracks around the country," said New Vocation's Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford. "We serve...

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program celebrated a successful Giving Tuesday, raising over $40,000 for their mission to rehab, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. Churchill Downs Incorporated, alongside their nine racetrack properties, pledged to match the first $20,000 raised by New Vocations in support of both Thoroughbred and Standardbred aftercare. Over 100 supporters in the equestrian and racing communities rallied together in support of New Vocations' aftercare program. "It was really great to see support come in from so many of our adopters and supporters along with many new contributors via...

Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), represented by their nine racetrack properties, will match all New Vocations Giving Tuesday donations up to $20,000 in support of Thoroughbred and Standardbred aftercare. Giving Tuesday takes place five days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 28. "CDI is pleased to jump start New Vocations' holiday giving campaign with a match donation. The work New Vocations does is vital to both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred industries," said Cathy Shircliff, Director of Equine Industry Relations for CDI. "On behalf of Thoroughbred tracks Churchill Downs Racetrack, Colonial Downs, Ellis Park,...

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program will host an Open Barn and BBQ Apr. 28 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its Lexington facility at Mereworth Farm. This year's event--held concurrently with the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event, taking place at the nearby Kentucky Horse Park--will feature educational seminars, a MasterClass presented by the Retired Racehorse Project, "Introductory Jumping Exercises for OTTBs," and a chance to meet adoptable horses while touring the facility. "We look forward to welcoming guests to New Vocations at Mereworth Farm," said Anna Ford, New Vocations'...

Due to severe storms, high winds, power outages and flight cancelations in Kentucky, Saturday's scheduled "New Vocations Day at the Races" event at Fair Grounds has been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, Mar. 23. Despite their efforts, Mother Nature thwarted travel plans to New Orleans from Kentucky on Friday and early Saturday morning for both retired jockey and racehorse advocate Rosie Napravnik and New Vocations' executive director Anna Ford, and the decision was made to postpone the event. "We are disappointed that we had to postpone the event, but happy...