(Edited Thoroughbred Charities of America press release)

Blue Horse Charities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fasig-Tipton, is awarding $218,685 to 52 non-profit Thoroughbred adoption and retraining centers this year.  The non-profit charities were chosen to receive grants based on the number of horses they placed into new permanent homes after retirement from racing.  Applications for grants were accredited by Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), the managing agent for Blue Horse Charities and the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).

Blue Horse Charities was formed in 2001 by the late John Hettinger to financially assist organizations that find adoptive homes for Thoroughbreds off the racetrack. The charity is financed by buyers, sellers, consignors, and auction company Fasig-Tipton. A buyer, seller or consignor can donate one quarter of one percent of a sales transaction with Fasig-Tipton, which is then matched 100% by the auction company.
 
“TCA only recently took over the time-consuming responsibilities of grant verifications and we are very grateful for the speed in which they have accomplished their work,” said Terence Collier, Fasig-Tipton’s director of marketing. “With further help from TCA, we intend to bring greater awareness of the plight and needs of retired Thoroughbred racehorses, to expand the mission of Blue Horse and hopefully raise even more money for this cause.”

Said Liz Harris, the executive director of TCA: “For this year’s round of grants, the top five most productive Thoroughbred retraining and adoption centers were New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program, MidAtlantic Horse Rescue, South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue, and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which together placed 317 of the 717 tattooed ex-racehorses funded.”

“We are extremely grateful to receive this grant,” said New Vocations program director Anna Ford. “It has been a tough year for unwanted horses and the organizations that care for them. Blue Horse Charities founder, John Hettinger, realized the importance of adoption over retirement and rewards the charities that get horses into homes. It’s harder now than ever before to find qualified people that are willing to take on the expense of a new horse. In order to encourage adoptions more time and training must be put into each horse. This grant helps give us the resources to do that.”