Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

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...

The New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and New York Thoroughbred Breeders will host the third annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course. The featured race on Thursday's card will be the $125,000 Rick Violette, a 1 1/16-mile turf test for New York-bred sophomores named for the late trainer and NYTHA President who spearheaded the creation of the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program and TAKE THE LEAD Retirement Program. Representatives from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations will be on-site to educate both racing...

Former Major League Baseball pitcher and author Chris Carpenter will release his children's book "The Long Shot" in July. A percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the book, which is based on Carpenter's experiences with the racehorse Benbang (Shanghai Bobby), will benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. "I am honored to collaborate with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and contribute to their vital work," Carpenter said. "By supporting the foundation through the sales of 'The Long Shot,' we can make a tangible difference in the lives of retired racehorses, offering...

Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) are hosting an "Open Barn" event May 12 from noon to 2 p.m. to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the PVSP Second Chances Program. This vocational training program provides incarcerated participants with life-changing job skills through its accredited equine care and stable management courses. TRF program providers work closely with participants to train horses that live on institution grounds. This valuable training can lead to employment opportunities upon release. Attendees will have the opportunity to interview and photograph program...

by Paul H. Saylor Over the years I have read a lot of Bill Finley's articles, and his summary of John Evans's work at Lowell Correctional is one of the best (Having Made a 'Huge Difference', TRF's John Evans Retires). It shines a light on not only the man but also the TRF's work to save horses and humans over the last 40 years.

John Evans didn't know what to expect when he agreed to go to work for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) as the equine program director at its farm at the Lowell Correctional Institute for Women in Ocala. He had been a steward, a trainer and a farm manager for Bridlewood Farm and Stoneway Farm, so, at the very least, this would be something different. Perhaps, maybe, less interesting, less rewarding. But a friend, the late Dick Hancock, longtime executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, talked...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will host a charity golf event at the Nevel Meade Golf Course in Prospect, KY, on Apr. 18 in celebration the organization's 40th anniversary. The event will begin with 12:30 p.m. registration and lunch, followed by a shotgun start at 2:00 p.m. Included in the registration fee are greens fees, cart, lunch, range balls, a sleeve of TRF logo golf balls, an embroidered green golf shirt with TRF logo, a TRF baseball hat and more. Prizes will be given for the 1st-, 2nd- and last-place...

Stoneware & Co. will offer a limited number of signed Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottles to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. This year's signed collector's edition will commemorate the 10th anniversary of Orb winning the Run for the Roses and will be signed by his Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario. "The Kentucky Derby is one of the greatest sporting events in the country," said TRF executive director Kelly Armer. "With a captive horse racing audience, we are thrilled to be able to inform...

David Cassidy Memorial Legacy Group DCMLG will hold its sixth annual David Cassidy A Triple Crown Life Event: celebrating and defending Thoroughbred horse racing and supporting Thoroughbred aftercare Aug. 15 in Saratoga Springs, NY. Last year's event featured speakers: Richard Schosberg, Andy Belfiore, both of Take 2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, trainer Larry Smith, Pat Stickney of Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Rasi Harper of The Real Players Inside The Backstretch, Dr. Jerry Bilinski, horse breeder and horse owner and Medical Director at Columbia Greene Humane Society, Michael Wilson from Past The...

Lazy Dog Cookie Company launched its first horse and pony treat--Horse Bitscuits--Jan. 1. Lazy Dog Cookie Co. will donate 15% of the profits raised by the treats to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). Horse Bitscuits are available for purchase at local Saratoga retailers and customers across the United States may purchase them online through LazyDogCookieCo.com. TRF Executive Director, Patricia Stickney, shared "The TRF is immensely grateful to Amy and Keith for including us as a beneficiary of their new product and promoting our mission of saving horses and changing lives."...

In partnership with Mill Ridge Farm and In the Money Media Network, Marshall Gramm of Rhodes College will be releasing interviews from his "The Economics of Racetrack Wagering Markets" course to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The 10 interviews, recorded in the spring of 2022, were conducted with handicappers, figure makers, horsemen and more to provide valuable insight into the sport of horse racing. "I've never had a course before where I could reach out to knowledgeable experts to aid in helping my students more understand racing," Gramm said. Sponsorship...

Jessica Paquette, a New England native with nearly 20 years of experience in horse racing, will be the new voice of Parx Racing starting in December. In accepting the position, Paquette becomes the only full-time, year-round female track announcer in the United States. "I am grateful for the women in the racing industry who have paved the way for my generation to work in so many different areas," said Paquette. "My hope is that I can similarly help inspire young women who may want to be part of our sport."...