Founded in 1983, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is the largest equine sanctuary in the world devoted to the rescue, retirement, rehabilitation and retraining of Thoroughbred horses no longer able to compete on the racetrack.  Over 4,000 horses have come through our programs and we currently care for 960 nationwide.  More than 1,000 Thoroughbreds have been adopted out to loving homes.  At re-training farms, we prepare racehorses for adoption as riding and companion horses.  At nine correctional facilities, inmates build life skills while participating in a vocational training program as they provide supervised care to our retired horses. 

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation offers a humane alternative to the dire possibilities that have long faced a great majority of ex-racehorses - neglect, abuse and slaughter.  It is a place, built on love and caring, that is befitting such noble and deserving animals.  As a registered 501(C)(3) organization, the TRF receives no public funding and is entirely dependent on the generosity of private individuals.  Our Federal Tax ID Number is 13-3132741.

Please note:  As of May 22, 2012, the TRF office has a new mailing address: PO Box 834, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Our physical address (for shipping/deliveries) is 10 Lake Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Indiana Program to be Showcased at Open House

May 15, 2013  -  Come join us in Greencastle, Indiana for an Open House on Friday, May 24 from 2 - 4 PM.  Second Chances Farm at Putnamville Correctional Facility is home to 30 TRF horses who are eager to greet guests, and current inmates-students will be on hand to talk about our equine vocational program.  Refreshments provided by the Putnamville vocational culinary program.   

Admission is free but an RSVP is requested.  Click here for more details.

"Out of the Gate" Art Show Thru May

The newest art gallery in Saratoga Springs, The Niche Gallery, is celebrating its grand opening with an equine-themed exhitit titled "Out of the Gate."  The exhibit is up until May 31 and a portion of all sales will be donated to TRF. 

Featured artists include David Aimone, Michael Johnson, Kathe Kokolias, Ned Lacy, Doug Levey, Mac McPherson, Susan Rivers and Bradford Smith.  We had a wonderful time meeting everyone during the opening night reception.

The gallery is localted at 480 Broadway in the Collamer Building (next to City Hall).  For more info contact Susan Rivers at thenichegallery@yahoo.com.  See the full press release here.

Meeting The Challenge

April 19, 2013  -  Three days ago, we announced that an anonymous donor had offered to contribute $4,000 to the TRF Haydrive IF we could raise an additional $4,000 by today at 5 PM.  Thanks to 66 generous donors, we exceeded the goal!  Including the matching gift, we raised $10,500 to help purchase hay for our rescued and retired Thoroughbreds.  Thank you to all who contributed! 

The Haydrive continues until May 31 and seeks to fund our entire 2013 hay budget of $144,000.  Contribute to the Haydrive here.

Second Chances Maryland Hits The Airwaves

April 5, 2012  -  Michael Jones isn't your typical inmate.  He came from a financially stable family and earned a wrestling scholarship to a Division I school.   But he ended up falling in with the wrong crowd and at age 26, he found himself incarcerated at the Central Maryland Correctional Facility. 

Now, after being selected for TRF's Second Chances vocational program, he spends seven days a week caring for ex-racehorses and also learning quite a bit about himself while he's at it.

Robbie Feinberg of WAMU 88.5 radio spent some time with Jones and produced a fantastic radio segment.  Listen and read it here.

(Above photo by Anthony Depanise/Maryland DPSCS.)

First Class to Graduate from Second Chances California

Wallkill Second Chances Grad Featured on Evening News

March 26, 2013  -  Steven Emery, a two-time former inmate and graduate of TRF's Second Chances program in Wallkill, NY was in the news today.  He discusses how working with horses has helped him reconnect with family, remain employed, and encouraged him to pursue his education.

Mr. Emery is one of the Second Chances grads who will be featured in an upcoming book. 

Enjoy the television segment and accompanying article by Jim Kambrich of WNYT Albany here.

(Thank you to Old Friends at Cabin Creek for allowing the interview to be filmed at their farm in Greenfield Center, NY.)

Longtime Racing Exec Lenny Hale Elected to the Board of Directors

Press Release

March 15, 2013 - Lenny Hale has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).  For 11 years, Hale worked for the New York Racing Association and left as a senior vice-president of racing and properties for the New York Racing Association. Hale has worn many hats in his long career, including stints as starter; paddock, placing and patrol judge and racing secretary at Hialeah Park, Garden State Park, Delaware Park, Calder Race Course and Colonial Downs. A former vice-president of racing for the Maryland Jockey Club, Hale has also been a trainer and consultant and handled the boarding of broodmares and lay-ups at Rockburn Farm in Virginia.
 
Hale said of his decision to join the TRF board: “Thoroughbred racing has been very good to me throughout my long career from hotwalker and exercise rider/pony boy to Senior VP Racing for the NYRA and the Maryland Jockey Club. I am honored to be accepted on their Board and will certainly do everything in my power to advance the mission of the organization.”
 
TRF CEO Michael Lakow, commented on Hale: “I have known and respected Lenny for many years and feel his experience, expertise and passion for thoroughbreds makes him a perfect addition for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation board.”
 
Diana Pikulski, a Director of the TRF, longtime Executive Director and current Director of External Affairs for the TRF, added: "Lenny is the consummate horseman and knows first-hand the duty of stewardship that racing needs to show for the horse’s whole life.
 
Hale joins Robin Ganzert, Mike Lakow, John Moore, Suzie O’Cain, Diana Pikulski, Hayward Pressman, Leslie Priggen and Peggy Santulli on the TRF board.

Over 100 Attendees Turn Out For Florida TRF Event

March 8, 2013  -  Today, more than 100 supporters turned out at TRF Second Chances Farm in Ocala, FL.  The Open House featured a variety of speakers, under saddle demos of adoptable horses, and lunch prepared by the Lowell Correctional Institutions new culinary arts vocational program.  Current inmate-students chatted with guests, and 4 program graduates came back to speak about how the program changed their post-incarceration lives.  One grad traveled 400 miles!

Check out the article and video by the Gainesville Television Network and don't miss the Ocala Star-Banner's photo gallery.

Bobby Flay to Receive 2013 TRF Earle Mack Champion Award

Press Release

February 27, 2013  -  Chef and racehorse owner Bobby Flay has been selected as the recipient of the Earle I. Mack Thoroughbred Champion Award, annually given to an individual for outstanding efforts and influence on Thoroughbred racehorse welfare, safety and retirement.

The award will be presented, fittingly enough, to Flay at his Bar Americain restaurant in New York City June 6 as part of the 2013 Belmont Stakes Celebration, which will serve as a fundraising benefit for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.  Continued...

Learn more about the event or purchase tickets here.

5th Annual Haydrive Underway

Press Release

February 13, 2013  -  The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) announces its 5^th Annual Haydrive campaign to fund hay costs for its 950 retired racehorses.  Because of record drought conditions and a resulting national hay shortage, TRF expects its hay budget to increase by 50% over last year.  The goal for this year’s Haydrive is to raise $144,000 by May 31, 2013.

Providing ample, high quality forage is the key to keeping pasture-kept retired racehorses warm and healthy through winter.  Hay is TRF’s single largest feed-related expense, with an average TRF horse eating 22 pounds of it daily.  Continued...

Suzie O'Cain Joins TRF Board of Directors

Press Release

February 6, 2013,  Saratoga Springs, NY  -   The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) announced today that Suzie O'Cain has been elected to serve on its Board of Directors.  

O'Cain has served nine terms on the Board of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) and also serves as a director of Thoroughbred Women, Inc. and is a past President of that organization.  She has also served as Co-Chairwoman of the Political Action Committee of the NYTB and as Chairwoman of its Media Committee. She founded "Find A Cure Stable, LLC" to race horses for the benefit of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Read the full press release here.

TRF Partners with Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and Bobby Flay for Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration

January 14, 2013  -  The official Belmont Stakes Charity Celebration will be held at Chef Bobby Flay’s highly acclaimed Bar Americain restaurant in New York City on Thursday, June 6, 2013. 

The event, featuring “The Foods of Bobby Flay,” will be jointly hosted by and benefit two prominent charities in the equine industry: the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). It will also feature an auction of select stallion seasons and unique experiences. Terence Collier, director of marketing for Fasig-Tipton Inc., will conduct the auction.

View the full press release here or view more info and purchase tickets here.

Hammond School Students Donate To Wateree Program

January 10, 2013  -  Last week, TRF's 'Seabiscuit Stable' at Wateree River Correctional Institution in South Carolina was delighted to receive a special, unsolicited donation from the English and Western riding teams at Columbia's Hammond School.

After learning about TRF, the middle and high school students collected bucket loads (literally) of horsecare and farm items to help care for the retired Thoroughbreds at Wateree. Additionally, the inmates participating in TRF's Groom Elite-certified vocational program will also enjoy the educational, equine-themed books, DVDs, and magazines.

Best of all, the teams have pledged to continue helping support and spread awareness of TRF's programs.  And perhaps a few of the adoptable Wateree horses might find new homes with students, too!

(Photo of Baby M with TRF South Carolina President William Cox and Seth Watkins, a young leader in the local equestrian community who helped spearhead the Wateree donation project.)

South Carolina Open House Attracts 100 Attendees

November 21, 2012  -  Yesterday's Open House at the Wateree River Correctional Institution was a rousing success and we're thrilled that so many people came out to spend some time learning about the Second Chances vocational program.  

Special thanks to South Carolina TRF President William Cox, Groom Elite Horsemen's Certification Program Executive Director Reid McLellan, longtime TRF board member John Rainey, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections for helping make the event possible.

Visitors met adoptable horses, toured the farm, interacted with Second Chances inmate-students, enjoyed a Groom Elite graduation ceremony, and heard from several distinguished speakers.  Local and state media were in attendance and published several great pieces:

WIS-TV article and video

SCNow.com and Morning News article and photos

The State article and photo gallery

California Parolees to Participate In Second Chances Program

Press Release

November 14, 2012 -   In a move to provide an alternative to rehabilitation services for probationers, Dependent Ranch, Unbridled Hope and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department have partnered to introduce the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s (TRF) Second Chances Vocational Program to the area. The emphasis of the Northern California initiative will be to provide EAGALA Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and the nationally accredited Groom Elite™ Horsemen’s Education Program.

TRF will be moving retired Thoroughbred racehorses to the 10-acre facility in Modesto where probationers will learn how to care for and bond with the horses and receive mental health counseling.  Continued...

Indiana Horse Industry Supports Putnamville Program

October 20, 2012  -  The TRF Second Chances Program at Putnamville Correctional Facility in Greencastle, Indiana, was thrilled to recently receive a $15,000 grant from the Indiana Horseman's Benevolent and Protective Association.  Read the full story by the Greencastle Banner-Graphic here.

Additionally, earlier this fall, the Indiana Horse Council Foundation, Inc. (IHCF), awarded $2,500 to the Putnamville program as its first-ever Racing Legacy Fund grant.  The non-profit IHCF created the Racing Legacy Fund with financial support from the INHBPA and the Indiana Standardbred Association to protect the interests of Indiana racehorses in all stages of their careers.  

Since opening five years ago, 73 Thoroughbreds have called the Putnamville farm home.  More than half were rehabbed, retrained, and adopted out to new owners, while the rest are permanently retired and will enjoy lifelong care by the program's offender-students.  Over 80 men have received the vocational and emotional benefits of the Putnamville TRF program.

Marylanders Explore TRF Program

October 6, 2012  -  It was a gorgeous afternoon yesterday for the first-ever Open House at TRF's Second Chances Farm at Central Maryland Correctional Facility.  Department of Public Safety and Corrections Secretary Gary Maynard and Edward Rybolt (pictured), the first graduate of the program, headlined the program.  The farm's 6 equine residents put on a show in the background, alternately grazing and playing on the hillside behind the podium.

The Baltimore Sun sent a news crew and published a great article today!  We're actively planning to expand the program with increased pasture, horses, and inmate-students.  A new regional committee of local volunteers is in the works and we would love to hear from anyone who is interested in joining.  Please click here to view photos and video. 

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