TRF SARATOGA GALA RAISES HALF-MILLION

(August 8, 20100) The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation gala at the Saratoga City Center Sunday night raised more than $500,000 to help care for the organization's 1,110 retired racehorses. The event, which drew over 600 guests, was the largest and most well-attended event of the Saratoga season, and set records for attendance and auction gross proceeds for the TRF, at $472,000. Additional revenues were raised from ticket sales and sponsorships.  

 The event featured dining, dancing and an auction of stallion seasons and unique experiences, and was hosted by Chef Bobby Flay and HRTV's Carolyn Conley.  Bo Derek was among the TRF supporters in attendance.

The auction was topped by Chester and Mary Broman's purchase of a 2012 season to Medaglia d'Oro for $120,000. The season was donated by Darley and Colts Neck Stallions. The Bromans also picked up a season to Congrats for $45,000. Kenny McPeek was the winning bidder on a season to Awesome Again at $40,000 and Bill Shively bought a season to More Than Ready for $50,000.

Four tickets to every World Series game, donated by the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees, went to Tom Ryan for $20,000, and Paul Saylor had the winning bid for a week at Marlene Brody's Big Horn Wyoming ranch at $11,000. Bobby Flay will be appearing on HBO's "Luck" after topping the bidding at $7,500 for the item.

"It was the biggest success," said Earle Mack, the lead sponsor of the event. "It was over the top. It was standing room only. There were 611 for dinner, and 700 came for cocktails. The auction, by any standard of measure for the times that we're in now, was beyond our expectations."

 Mack presented the inaugural Earle Mack TRF Champions' Award to Frank Stronach for his efforts regarding racehorse retirement, saying that Stronach’ s “leadership and desire to do what is right for the horses can be a template for all racing in North America.”

In accepting the award, Stronach said, "I am very honored to receive this award, especially from Earle, who has been a real champion for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Each of us has a responsibility to see that our horses are cared for after racing. When some in the sport do not meet their responsibility, then it is up to the rest of us to support programs like the TRF that serve as a safety net. I will continue to do everything I can to assure racehorses receive the care they need throughout their lives."

"Frank's words were incredible; very compelling and inspirational," Mack said. “You could hear a pin drop in the room while he was speaking. Nobody made a noise. People are calling me today, asking, `Where do I send a contribution? The event re-established the TRF as THE organization for retired horses, as the premier organization, the go-to organization. It was very heart- warming.”

 The event’s manager, Diana Pikulski, said, “The support for this event and this organization is particularly moving this year. It has reaffirmed our belief about how much people care about the cause of racehorse retirement, and the money raised at the event will help to ensure the long-term viability of this very special foundation. I am particularly grateful to Earle Mack, Bobby Flay, Carolyn Conley, Tom Durkin, and to all of the racing and breeding industry leaders for supporting this event and for making it so special.”

 The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is the largest equine rescue organization of its kind, devoted to the rescue, retirement, rehabilitation and retraining of Thoroughbred racehorses no longer able to compete on the track. At the TRF's correctional facility farms, they offer vocational training programs for inmates as they provide supervised care to retired horses.