Edited press release
ReRun, a nonprofit adoption program for ex-racehorses, announced that owners IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr. will have Big Brown, winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness (both gr. I), participate in the organization’s "Running for ReRun" charity at the Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park Aug. 3.
According to Big Brown’s owners were more than happy to participate in the program, through which owners donate a portion of purse earnings from a race to support the adoption of ex-racehorses.
“We are thrilled to be participating in such a great cause,” said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH. “This is a great way to give back to our industry.”
IEAH was also a sponsor of and guest at ReRun’s second annual "Day at the Races" charity luncheon at Monmouth Park June 21, where they were joined by Dr. Patty Hogan. Hogan will be the head surgeon of the new Ruffian Equine Medical Center at Belmont Park, which is being built by IEAH.
Felice Busto, vice president of ReRun, said he hopes that participation in the Running for ReRun program by Big Brown’s connections will encourage other racehorse owners to join the program.
“There are so many retired racehorses who need loving, permanent homes once their careers are over,” said Busto. “This is a great way for owners to give back to the horses in the industry and help ReRun so that we can make available to them the more humane alternative to auctions. Plenty of owners care about the future of their retired horses and will make the right choice of placing them in ReRun’s adoption program, but we have to have the funds and resources to keep that option open to them.”
For more information on ReRun and the Running for ReRun program, visit www.rerun.org.