(Edited press release)
Equine Advocates’ Eighth Annual Awards Dinner and Charity Auction, to be held at the Canfield Casino in Sarasota Springs, N.Y. Aug. 6, promises to be a star-studded affair, as actor Burt Reynolds receives the 2009 Safe Home Equine Protection Award.
Reynolds will be honored for his commitment to the protection of America’s wild and domestic horses and his strong opposition to horse slaughter. All proceeds raised at the event will go toward Equine Advocates horse rescue, sanctuary, and humane education programs.
Josephine Abercrombie, owner of Pin Oak Stud near Versailles, Ky., will receive The Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award for Philanthropy for her generosity and giving, as well as for her work and dedication to ban horse slaughter. Abercrombie operates The Abercrombie Foundation, which grants financial support to charities and educational institutions around the country.
"Thank you so much for this very important award,” Abercrombie said. “I believe strongly in the care and protection of our horses. I'm very pleased to be the recipient of this honor."
Reynolds is a veteran of more than 90 feature films and 300 television episodes. In 1997, he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for his outstanding role as Jack Horner in the film "Boogie Nights." In a career that has spanned 50 years, Reynolds has won multiple awards for his performances both in film and on television. Some of his most notable films include "Deliverance," "The Longest Yard," "Smokey and the Bandit," and "The Cannonball Run." He won an Emmy for his performances in the 1990’s hit TV series, "Evening Shade."
“We are thrilled to be able to honor Burt Reynolds and Josephine Abercrombie who are both strongly against horse slaughter,” said Equine Advocates’ president, Susan Wagner. “Shining a bright spotlight on this issue is something we have done at this event every year since we first started and we will continue to do it until this cruel practice is banned once and for all. Having a major star like Burt Reynolds and a tower in the racing industry like Josephine Abercrombie together in bringing attention to the horse slaughter issue is vitally important to keeping it in the news and in the public eye. We are grateful to them and delighted to be able to honor them.”
Television personality and author Carson Kressley of "How to Look Good Naked" on Lifetime will be on hand to participate in the festivities. Kressley is also an avid horse lover and an accomplished equestrian.
This year’s fund-raiser will be co-chaired by Saratoga’s Julie Bonacio and Equine Advocates’ 2008 honoree, Dr. Patricia Hogan. Tickets are $250 per person. For more information, call (518) 245-1599.