Pimlico Cleanout Raises Money for Aftercare

When Sallyellen Hurst, Sally Eck and Robin Coblyn realized that years of memorabilia kept in Pimlico storage rooms would be discarded in the destruction of racetrack, they formed what they called the Pimlico Preservation Project to put those items to good use. “We managed to get into Pimlico after Preakness and cleared out items from many storage rooms destined for the dumpsters,” said Hurst, who works at Country Life Farm. “Everything from trophies to silks, boxes of Preakness glasses of various years, assorted jackets, posters and more. We even have `Kegasus.'”

The group began offering the items in exchange for donations in order to raise money for Thoroughbred aftercare. Eventually, they staged a live donation site, setting up a table at Timonium during racing.

“With word of mouth, and a couple of mentions on Horse Racing Radio Network and Jason Beem's podcast,” Hurst said, “we collected $8,000 in donations during six days of racing, with 100% of the proceeds going to area Thoroughbred aftercare charities.”

Among the items they found were several different Peb posters from various Black Eyed Susan and `Lady Legend' days, including one that contained an image of the TDN's own Zoe Cadman.

Said Hurst, “I ran into Ms. Cadman at Saratoga and she was kind enough to add her autograph, making those more valuable.

I just wanted to share our story, and add a thank you to Ms. Cadman. We will continue to offer items until we run out, as well as offer items to the charities for their own fundraising efforts. We will be set up at Maryland Million in the Jim McKay Maryland Million Village and the following day at the Country Life and Merryland Autumn Day Open House.”