$85k+ Raised for Horses First

A cocktail party and fundraising event sponsored by LNJ Foxwoods in Saratoga on Sunday night raised more than $85,000 for the Horses First Fund. The event was held at the restaurant Salt & Char, and featured several items and packages up for auction. The top-priced auction item was an oil painting by Andre Pater that went to Stonestreet Stable's Barbara Banke for $25,000.

“We were really happy with the turnout, and really appreciate people coming and supporting the horses,” said LNJ's Jaime Roth.

Also up for auction were halters worn by American Pharoah, Arrogate, Curlin, Tapit, and War Front, as well as a Napa Valley wine excursion package, private air travel, two-nights at the Adelphi Hotel, and sales videos from ThoroStride.

The fundraiser was well attended by industry professionals, including Hill 'n' Dale's John Sikura, Claiborne Farm's Bernie Sams and Walker Hancock, Bluewater's Mike and Meg Levy, Ben McElroy and trainer Simon Callaghan, Three Chimneys' Case Clay, Keeneland's Chip McGaughey and LNJ's bloodstock advisors Jason Litt and Alex Solis. Fasig-Tipton's Terence Collier handled emcee duties.

The Horses First Fund was established by LNJ Foxwoods a year ago to support 43 horses abandoned in Mercer County, Kentucky, as well as horses in need of emergency aid in the future. To date, the fund has raised over $38,000 and expended more than $24,000 in support of the Mercer County horses. Roth said that all horses were successfully re-homed, and that she wants to continue the fund as a way of helping other horses in dire circumstances.

“People are willing to give when something's happened, but I wanted to take a different approach and be proactive, so that we're ready if and when something does happen in the future,” said Roth.

LNJ Foxwoods is the nom de course of Jaime Roth and her parents Larry and Nancy Roth's racing and breeding operation, which was launched just five years ago.

“I really got into the sport because of my love for Rachel Alexandra, and, personally, it was just really cool for me to be sitting next to Barbara Banke and have her support,” said Roth about the Hall of Fame filly's owner. “It's a little surreal.”

Sunday's event was originally planned to coincide with the opening of the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga, which is co-owned by Larry Roth and Jaime's brother, David. Construction delays, however, prompted the move to Salt & Char.

“But the plan going forward is to have an event at the Adelphi around this time every year, and hopefully we can improve on it and make it even better,” said Roth. “We want to make it something people are excited to go to.”