charity

Churchill Downs has launched Gallop for Good: From Race to Retirement ("Gallop for Good"), a national online giving campaign supporting Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits, centered around a one-day giving event on Churchill's Stephen Foster Day, June 27. Gallop for Good supports Thoroughbred aftercare, which includes programs and services that help retired racehorses transition into second careers, adoption, rehabilitation, sanctuary and lifelong care after racing. Hosted by CDI, the campaign will operate through a centralized online platform, giving participating organizations the opportunity to raise critical funds, expand their reach and engage new...

Years before they skyrocketed to sports stardom with the purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1979, the Buss family, consisting at the time of Jerry, then-wife JoAnn, and children Johnny, Jim, Jeanie and Janie, were just another family spending the hot summer months where the turf meets the surf. "My parents had a summer house at Del Mar," Janie Buss remembered of her childhood in California. "So every summer, we would go there. My parents were [gamblers]. We would go to Torrey Pines Beach in the morning, then go...

Keeneland Race Course and Maker's Mark have partnered for the third bottle in the "Greats of the Gate" 10-year commemorative bottle series celebrating Thoroughbred racing's most iconic horses. Proceeds from each year's limited-edition bottle benefit nonprofits that support Kentucky's horse racing industry and vibrant culture of hospitality and the arts. The 2026 beneficiaries include Kentucky Classic Arts, Kentucky Harvest, Kentucky Arts Center of the Bluegrass and Blue Grass Farms Charities. The limited-edition bottles will arrive on shelves April 16. Available exclusively at select Kentucky retailers that sell Maker's Mark, the...

The NTRA will match all horseplayer donations up to $5,000 to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at the upcoming NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). The event will take place at the Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from March 13-15, 2026. "Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance plays a vital role in promoting responsible aftercare across our sport," said Tom Rooney, President & CEO, NTRA. "We're proud to feature their mission at the National Horseplayers Championship and to support initiatives that strengthen racing's long-term integrity."

Halters worn by Storm Cat, Sovereignty, Good Cheer and Gun Runner will feature as part of the Bourbon & Bayou silent auction held by the nonprofit child advocacy organization CASA of Lexington. Each halter comes with a certificate of authenticity and is valued at $1,000. Bidding is available here opened Wednesday and continues until 9:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27. Also included with Gun Runner's halter is an exclusive VIP tour for up to 10 people of Three Chimneys Stallion Complex. The silent auction is part of CASA of Lexington's...

The 2026 accreditation application process is now open and can be accessed online, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced Monday. Nonprofit Thoroughbred aftercare organizations that are interested in applying for accreditation during the 2026-27 term must submit the completed application by Apr. 1, at 6:00p.m. EDT. All organizations that were accredited in 2023 or any new organizations need to apply for accreditation this year. Others that were accredited in 2025 need not apply as their current accreditation extends through 2026. Accredited Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance organizations are eligible to receive financial...

FanDuel TV will televise the live announcement of the finalists for the 2025 Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Noon ET, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWAB), and Daily Racing Form announced Friday. The Eclipse Awards, honoring excellence in Thoroughbred racing, are voted upon by the NTRA, represented by member racetrack racing officials and Equibase field personnel, NTWAB, and Daily Racing Form, and are produced by the NTRA. The announcement of the Eclipse Awards finalists on FanDuel TV is sponsored by...

The California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) has named the 22 individual recipients of this year's Howard "Howie" Zucker Grant Program, named in honor of their late president Howard Zucker, the group announced Saturday. This month, CARMA has awarded $515,000 to 22 different aftercare charity partners across the country, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring every California-raced Thoroughbred has a safe, dignified transition to their next chapter. The recipients are: After the Homestretch Arizona, CANTER California, Canter Haven Farm, Center for Racehorse Retraining, Champions Retreat, Desert Oasis Rescue, Down The Stretch Ranch,...

The fourth annual Holiday Giving Campaign, run for the benefit of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), is set to run the month of December to raise funds, the group announced Friday morning. Designed to raise awareness for accredited Thoroughbred aftercare and to support those organizations that ensure retired runners enjoy a good quality of life after their first career, the initiative raised $240,000 last year. This year the goal is to continue making a meaningful impact for Thoroughbreds in need and build on prior success. "We are thrilled to kick...

The 55th Resolute Racing Eclipse Awards will be held Thursday, Jan. 22 at The Breakers Palm Beach and tickets are now on sale for the black-tie event. The link to purchase is found here. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00p.m. EDT with the cocktail party and red carpet show, followed by the dinner and awards ceremony at 7:00p.m. EDT. The after-party will follow at the conclusion of the Eclipse Awards at 10:45p.m. EDT. All evening events will be held in the Ponce de Leon Foyer and Ballroom. Britney...

Vinery Sales will offer Grade I mares Dorth Vader (Girvin), Free Like a Girl (El Deal), and Sacred Wish (Not This Time) at the Fasig-Tipton November sale with a portion of the proceeds from each sale benefitting a specific charity, it was announced via press release Monday. Vinery Sales's Matt Bowling said the connections of the three racemares will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the respective sales each to a different charity. The selected organizations set to receive the donations have names or missions that resonate with...

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) will host its largest annual fundraiser, 'Benefits for the Backside: A Day at the Races', Friday, Nov. 21 in the First Turn Club at Churchill Downs, the non-profit announced via press release. Set to begin at noon, guests will enjoy a day at the races with front row views from the clubhouse turn while celebrating and supporting backstretch workers and their families. An auction will be available both in-person and online, and a raffle will be held for a chance to win a Derby or...