Category: NTWO

LOUISIANA HBPA PARTNERS WITH FAIR GROUNDS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR RACE HORSE AFTERCARE

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Fair Grounds matching funds contributed by horse owners

 

 NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 2, 2020) – The Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (LAHBPA) and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (Fair Grounds) have united to partner in an initiative that will expand efforts made by parent company Churchill Downs, Inc. to financially support race horse aftercare.

For the entirety of the Fair Grounds’ 2019-2020 Thoroughbred racing season (Nov. 28 thru March 29), consenting Louisiana HBPA member owners have contributed $5 per starter to race horse aftercare. At the conclusion of the meet, the track will then match that dollar amount. Efforts made during the Fair Grounds’ 12th annual, ten-day summer Quarter Horse Race season resulted in a total race horse aftercare donation of $6,580.

Each year, thousands of racehorses are retired from racing. Many go directly on to second careers as stallions or broodmares while others are retired to organizations that work towards finding new homes and other types of second careers for retired racehorses. This fund-raising effort is geared toward financially supporting groups such as these.

“The Louisiana HBPA thanks Fair Grounds for matching our members’ donations to help with horse aftercare,” said Edwin Fenasci, executive director of the LAHBPA. “Our members care deeply for our equine athletes and want to help find a place for them after their racing career. The LAHBPA has provided financial grants to great charitable organizations like NTWO and New Vocations. Their efforts in Louisiana have been transformative and we look forward to their continued good work. Fair Grounds matching those funds is vital for the success of aftercare in Louisiana and shows their commitment to help this great effort.”

The NTWO works to place Thoroughbreds in the hands of sport horse trainers and owners. They pull from all available resources to be a comprehensive welfare organization that protects racing’s greatest asset, the horse, for the overall benefit of the sport.

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program was founded in 1992 to offer retiring racehorses a safe-haven, rehabilitation, and continued education through placement in experienced, caring homes. Their focus is on adoption versus retirement, believing that each horse deserves to have an individual home and purpose.

New Vocations currently has locations in five different states: Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York and Louisiana.

“Fair Grounds is proud to be a part of such a worthwhile and supportive funding mechanism that will add resources to assist retired racehorses” said Doug Shipley, president of Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots. “We look forward to working with all of our industry participants and organizations to continue to make a difference.”

National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization Partners with Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs

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Lexington, KY— The National Thoroughbred Welfare Organization (NTWO) today announced a partnership with Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel and Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel, which have each agreed to provide financial assistance and other support to NTWO’s horse-rehoming efforts in the state of Louisiana.  The Boyd Gaming Corporation-owned tracks are the first in Louisiana — and the nation — to provide much-needed support to horses and horsemen through the NTWO program.

The NTWO is focused on intercepting retired Thoroughbred horses from being sold into the slaughter pipeline.  The NTWO will have a full-time representative at the local tracks and training centers to work with trainers and owners to rehome their retirees. 

“While improvements have been made in the aftercare of racing’s horses, there is still much to be done,” said Victoria Keith, President of NTWO. “We have a lot of work in front of us, but we’re excited to get started and make a difference in the lives of horses in Louisiana.  We are grateful to Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs for taking the lead in working with us to fight the indefensible practice of horse slaughter – and we encourage others to follow their lead.”

“Every horse that races at our tracks deserves to find a good, loving home after it retires,” said Vince Schwartz, Senior Vice President of Operations for Boyd Gaming. “The NTWO’s noble mission is one we are proud to support. Both Delta Downs and Evangeline Downs want to see this inhumane practice eliminated from racing, but we can’t do it alone. We encourage our community partners and race fans to join us in supporting racehorse protection and welfare through the good work of the NTWO.”

The NTWO, founded by Rick Porter of Fox Hill Farm, will pull from all available resources to operate as a comprehensive welfare organization that protects horses for the overall benefit of the sport. In addition to bringing rehoming programs to areas in need, the NTWO also plans to address in the future drug and other issues that are damaging to the health and welfare of racing’s horses.  

For more information on the NTWO or to learn more about ways to support, please visit NTWO.org or call their hotline at (859) 382-7779.