Blue Horse Charities has announced it awarded grants totaling $138,150 in 2012 to 44 non-profit organizations that place registered Thoroughbreds into adoptive homes.
Blue Horse Charities is funded by contributions from buyers and sellers at Fasig-Tipton auctions and all contributions are matched equally by the sales company. Since being founded in 2001, Blue Horse Charities has distributed more than $1.7 million to more than 70 charities.
In addition to granting funds, Blue Horse Charities strives to educate owners about the suitable options for Thoroughbreds at the conclusion of their racing careers.
Blue Horse Charities provides grants based exclusively on the number of registered Thoroughbreds placed into adoptive homes by a charity. The next Blue Horse Charities grant application cycle will begin in January 2013. Organizations that work to rehabilitate, retrain and find homes for off-the-track Thoroughbreds and are 501 (c) (3) charitable organizations may be eligible for a grant.
One of the organizations to benefit from the grants is New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, which has been awarded $54,360 to aid the program's efforts to rehab, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. Part of the grant came from Thoroughbred Charities of America, the managing agent of Blue Horse Charities.
"We are very grateful to receive both grants as we have found ourselves in a great time of need with the current drought," said program director Anna Ford in a release. "Hay prices have doubled and the cost of caring for the horses in our program continues to rise. We have new horses arriving into the program on a weekly basis and it's only through grants and private donations that our doors have remained open."
"TCA and Blue Horse Charities are proud to name New Vocations as one of our 2012 grantees," added Erin Crady, executive director of Thoroughbred Charities of America, in a statement. "New Vocations successfully completed our grant application process and as a result we are pleased to provide a grant that will assist in the rehabilitation, retraining and adoption of off-the-track Thoroughbreds."
Formed by Fasig-Tipton in 2001, Blue Horse Charities assists nonprofit organizations that work to offer adoption solutions for Thoroughbreds no longer suitable for breeding or racing. The charity is financed in equal parts by buyers, consignors and Fasig-Tipton. Thoroughbred Charities of America is the managing agent of Blue Horse Charities.
Thoroughbred Charities of America selected New Vocations as one of the 82 Thoroughbred industry-related non-profits that have been awarded TCA grants totaling $597,258. Those chosen work to uphold TCA's mission "to provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers."