Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and the California Retirement Management Account have announced a new matching funds program beginning with the upcoming 2013 race meeting at the seaside track opening July 17.
Del Mar has agreed to match the funds contributed voluntarily by owners during its race meet. In 2013, the track will match 50% of those donations and will increase that support to 100% starting in 2014.
CARMA, a 501c3 non-profit, raises money for retired Thoroughbred racehorses that have raced in California. The organization has a seat on the NTRA Safety Alliance aftercare subcommittee, which works toward a national solution to issues surrounding retired racehorses and also is a member of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
"Del Mar is proud to support a leader in the Thoroughbred retirement community by making this contribution to CARMA," said Joe Harper, Del Mar's president and CEO, in a release. "We are committed to the health and welfare of our equine athletes when their racing careers are over and we believe CARMA will be able to use these additional funds to help many of the horses who have raced at Del Mar."
Since 2008, owners have contributed more than $1.4 million to CARMA and to the retirement of off-track Thoroughbreds through a voluntary 0.3% contribution from their purse earnings. Because of this support, CARMA has been able to grant that full amount to accredited 501c3 non-profit charities that care for, retire, and re-purpose former runners.
"Through the years Del Mar has been a very strong supporter of CARMA and we are so grateful to Joe and the entire Del Mar team for making this additional commitment," said CARMA founder Madeline Auerbach in a statement. "While owners have to be responsible for their horses, it is important for the racing community to support one another and this is an excellent example of that."
