After raising $47,000 in pledges from the 2009 Breeders' Cup, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program is well on its way to doing the same--if not more--this year. Owners and trainers of Breeders' Cup starters have been asked to pledge a percentage of their earnings to support New Vocations' mission to rehabilitate, retrain, and re-home retired racehorses.
New Vocations first opened their barn doors to retired racehorses ready for new careers in 1992. Today, serving over 40 racetracks, New Vocations works directly with owners and trainers in need of an aftercare program for their retiring racehorses. Their mission is to stand in the gap for retiring racehorses and provide skilled hands to assist in their development as pleasure mounts.
With both owners and trainers pledging this year, there will be more than 18 horses running that have a chance to give back. So far, E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC's R Heat Lightning, Robert V. LaPenta and Whitehorse Stable's Cool Coal Man, Sisters in Racing Stable and Jeff Siskin's Romp, Turtle Bird Stable's Haynesfield, Three Chimneys Farm LLC's Miss Keller, and trainers Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, and Eddie Kenneally are among the growing list of connections making a pledge. New Vocations will continue taking pledges until the start of Friday's races.
"We are extremely grateful to have owners and trainers who truly care about the welfare of their horses beyond racing make a pledge to support our efforts," said the program's director, Anna Ford. "We are flooded with requests from owners wanting to get their retired racehorses into our program. The need for our service continues to grow but unfortunately our funding has not, which is why this Pledge Campaign is so important."
New Vocations hopes that this pledge program will not only generate much needed funds, but also raise public awareness about racehorse adoption during the Breeders' Cup.
Disclaimer: Seek the advice of a qualified veterinarian before proceeding with any diagnosis, treatment, or therapy.