Breeders' Cup Contenders to Support Thoroughbred Aftercare
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New Vocations has found new homes for more than 5,000 horses, including some more notable ones such as Kentucky Derby competitor Sam P. (Photo courtesy of New Vocations).
Edited press release
Some of horse racing’s biggest stars are stepping up to the plate to support New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program by pledging a percentage of their purse earnings from the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championships to the program.
For the fifth consecutive year, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program is working with trainers and owners of Breeders’ Cup contenders to pledge a percentage of their earnings to support the program’s mission to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. In the past four years the Pledge has raised nearly $200,000.
"We are so happy to support such a great cause at this year's Breeders' Cup," said trainer Doug O'Neill who will start nine horses at the World Championships. "There are so many excellent Thoroughbred retirement and adoption organizations out there that care for these great athletes after their racing careers and it's our responsibility as trainers and owners to support their efforts."
To date, 30 Championship contenders have owners and or trainers supporting this year’s Pledge. Trainers who have committed to pledge include Bob Baffert, Kiaran McLaughlin, Doug O’Neill, Todd Pletcher, and Leah Gyarmati. Dogwood Stables with Breeders Cup Classic contender Palace Malice and Padua Stables with Breeders’ Cup Distaff contender Authenticity lead the long list of owners, which includes Conquest Stables, Let’s Go Stable, and Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey. New Vocations will continue to seek pledges from additional owners and trainers leading up to the November event.
“To us aftercare of a Thoroughbred is just as important as racing them,” said Justin Zayat, Zayat Stables’ racing and stallion manager. “We are horse lovers and when it comes to retiring them it is always our number one priority to find a good and safe home. There are no better people in the business to work with than New Vocations.”
Zayat Stables pledged with all three of their contenders including Paynter in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
New Vocations first opened its doors to retired racehorses looking for new careers in 1992. Starting with a single farm in Dayton, Ohio the program has grown to six facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
Serving over 40 racetracks, New Vocations works directly with owners and trainers in need of an aftercare program for horses leaving the track. Currently, the program leads the nation in racehorse adoptions, taking in over 400 horses a year. The program has a sound adoption system in place that is proven to move a large number of horses in a rather short period of time. Their focus is on adoption verses retirement, believing that retired racehorses that are physically able should have a chance to excel in a second career.
“We feel very blessed to receive so much support from the owners and trainers participating in this year’s campaign,” said New Vocations Program Director, Anna Ford. “The number of horses needing our services is huge and the funds raised from the pledges will help us continue to grow. It is fairly simple, the more money we raise the more horses we can take.”
For more information on New Vocations and how you can help support the program visit www.newvocations.org.
The complete pledge list:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
Ready to Act/ Klaravich Stables
Testa Rossi/ James Covello
Dancing House / Kiaran McLaughlin
Sky Painter / Kiaran McLauglin
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Home School / Wonderland Racing /Doug O’Neill
Bashart / Rosedown Racing Stables / Todd Pletcher
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
We Miss Artie/ Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey / Todd Pletcher
Rum Point / Doug O’Neill
Havana / Todd Pletcher
Bold Holder / Doug O’Neill
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
Renee’s Titan / Doug O’Neill
Dance Card / Kiaran McLaughlin
Breeders’ Cup Turf
Twilight Eclipse / West Point Thoroughbreds
Geico Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Capo Bastone / Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners / Todd Pletcher
Handsome Mike / Doug O’Neill
Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint
Fast Bullet /Zayat Stables
Justin Phillip / Zayat Stables
Laugh Track / WinStar Farm
Sum of the Parts / Klaravich Stables
Private Zone / Doug O’Neill
Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Suns Out Guns Out / West Point Thoroughbreds
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Palace Malice / Dogwood Stables /Todd Pletcher
Paynter / Zayat Stables
Game on Dude / Bob Baffert
Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Authenticity / Padua Stables /Todd Pletcher
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
My Conquestadory / Conquest Stables
Sweet Reason / Treadway Racing Stable /Leah Gyarmati
Concave / Doug O’Neill
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile
Verrazano / Let’s Go Stable /Todd Pletcher
Goldencents / Doug O’Neill