(Edited Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation release)
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at James River will hold “An Evening in the Winner’s Circle” July 17 at Colonial Downs racetrack in New Kent County. The event is a fundraiser to benefit Greener Pastures at James River, a Second Chances program of the TRF.
The evening’s festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue through the last race. The cost is $55 per person. Ticket information is available at http://www.jamesriverhorses.org. Included in the event will be a handicapping tutorial to improve their chances of picking a winner and a live auction, including the naming rights for the last race of the evening. There will also be door prizes given away between races.
TRF was founded nationally in 1982 and has saved literally thousands of horses from abuse, neglect, and slaughter. TRF’s Second Chances Farm at the James River Work Center in Goochland County is one of nine corrections-based TRF programs where retired Thoroughbred racehorses are provided rehabilitation and TRF provides vocational training for the inmate caretakers. Begun in 2007, this local effort has 17 horses and 10 inmates currently participating. There have been 15 offenders who have graduated from the program.
“In our race to save retired Thoroughbreds from abuse, neglect and slaughter, we like to think we make it to the winner’s circle more times than not,” said Robin Traywick Williams, director of TRF’s Virginia chapter and a member of the TRF national board executive committee. “Every time I’m at the barn I can see the magic of people helping horses and horses helping people.”
Event sponsors are Essex Bank, Breeders’ Cup Ltd., Colonial Downs, Cre-Run Enterprises, Peebles Golf Cars, VirginiaEquestrian.com, Mr. & Mrs. Ernest M. Oare, and Norden Equine Worldwide.
