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.
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 include Bob Baffert, Kiaran McLaughlin, Doug O'Neill, Todd Pletcher, and Leah Gyarmati.
Dogwood Stables with Breeders Cup Classic (gr. I) contender Palace Malice and Padua Stables with Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) contender Authenticity lead the long list of owners, which also includes Conquest Stables, James Covello, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Klaravich Stables, Let's Go Stable, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Rosedown Racing Stables, Treadway Racing Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, Wonderland Racing, and Zayat Stables. New Vocations will continue to seek pledges from additional owners and trainers leading up to the November 1-2 event.
"To us, aftercare of a Thoroughbred is just as important as racing them," said Justin Zayat. "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.
"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 in a release. "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
