New Vocations

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...

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...

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...

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,...

More than $100,000 was raised during this year's Breeders' Cup Pledge, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program announced Monday. That total was driven by four horses with pledge connections--Fierceness (City of Light), Unquestionable (FR) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn})--winning their races on Future Stars Friday and Championship Saturday. Additional pledges are still coming in as of Monday and final donations are being tallied. Now in its 14th year, the Pledge has raised more than a million dollars, with 100 percent of funds going...

Night of the Stars Pledge, an initiative created by DJ Stable to promote and raise funds for New Vocations' aftercare efforts, invites sellers and buyers to pledge a percentage of sale price(s) during Fasig-Tipton's Nov. 7 breeding stock sale. The initiative comes at a time when the program has taken in 20% more retired racehorses than it did last year leading to a dramatic increase in operational costs. "We are so pleased to have the opportunity to partner with New Vocations. We are confident that the Fasig-Tipton Night of the...

New Vocations, the largest racehorse adoption agency in the country, has received its first pledge which was made by MGISW Arcangelo (Arrogate)'s trainer Jena Antonucci and owner Jon Ebbert of Blue Rose Farm, the organization said in a release Wednesday morning. This is the 14th annual Breeders' Cup Pledge, in which connections of Breeders' Cup contenders are encouraged to earmark a percentage of their championship earnings to support the charity's mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses. To date, the initiative has raised over $1,090,000 in support. "It's no...

Six of North America's prominent Thoroughbred aftercare organizations will be featured on-site Sunday as part of Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, the track said in a Thursday release. After post time at 11:45 a.m. (CDT), fans will be invited to learn more about Thoroughbred retirement at several booths set up on the concourse by Friends of Ferdinand, New Vocations, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The six participating Thoroughbred aftercare organizations will be featured in the Jeff Hall Winner's...

When the Real Rider Cup launched a second leg of its charity show jumping fundraiser last year in Lexington at New Vocations' Mereworth Farm, the event's creator Anita Motion said that her team was not sure what to expect. But the breeding and racing community showed up in force to support the cause and the evening was a smashing success. The place was packed as spectators enjoyed lighthearted competition and helped double the event's previous record by bringing in over $90,000. "We didn't even think that it would go beyond...

The New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show Presented by Heider Family Stables raised more than $175,000. Held at Highfields Event Center in Aiken, SC, New Vocations' 20th Annual show brought together over 150 retired Thoroughbred racehorses from nine states featuring a variety of classes including dressage, hunter, jumper, in-hand, western and pleasure. To view several of the show highlights, click here. "I'll never forget our first show two decades ago, which was the first of its kind. It's been wonderful to see the event grow and play a large role...