charity

The 13th edition of the Riders Up! East vs. West Jockey Karaoke contest kicked off to great success in Saratoga, and raised over $100,000 at the conclusion of the festivities, announced the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Leading a competition reportedly as fierce as anything on the track, Michael and Matthew Straight commanded the crowd with their performance of "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers. They had the crowd on their feet and singing along, and the brothers left their competition in their wake as they secured a double by...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-'TDN Rising Stars' Fierceness (City of Light) or Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI $1 million Whitney Stakes? Will one of them be running or will it be both? Those questions got definitive answers Saturday morning outside Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher's barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. When entries are taken for the meet's marquee race for older horses on Sunday, both horses names will be front and center, but it will be Fierceness who carries the flag for Pletcher and the ownership group of Mike Repole's...

Blue Grass Farms Charities, Inc. (BGFC) received a grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) in the amount of $2,755 to purchase 125 backpacks for their Back-to-School Backpack program for the 2025 school year, the organization announced Wednesday. Throughout Fayette, Bourbon, Scott, Clark, Woodford, and Jessamine counties, 1,300 backpacks will be distributed to area farm and track employees this year. BGFC's mission is to provide health and human services to those who work in the Central Kentucky Thoroughbred industry. In total, HOKC awarded $2.5 million in grants supporting...

Owner Mike Repole will match donations made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance throughout the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, the TAA said Tuesday. The campaign, made in honor of Repole Stables Derby entrant Grande (Curlin), will match donations up to $50,000 through May 4. "Every Thoroughbred athlete deserves an enjoyable and quality retirement. I am honored to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and their mission of accredited aftercare," said Repole. "I encourage others to join me in making a charitable donation during one of the most anticipated weeks of...

The third annual Blue Jeans, Boots and Bulls Derby Eve Charity event, hosted by the Barn Door Grill & Bar, will benefit Old Friends, the organization announced Tuesday. Held Friday, May 2 from 5:30-11:30 p.m. at The Bluegrass Stockyards in partnership with the Coaches for Kids Foundation, the event will also benefit The University of Kentucky Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Timbers Grateful Companions. It will include a silent auction, a Derby horse calcutta and a live auction along with live music and a buffet dinner. "Blue...

The R.A.C.E. Fund online auction--featuring halters from champions, farm tours, and other memorabilia to bid on--is set to go May 9, the group announced Monday evening. Kicked off with an online auction on eBay beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST and ending May 16, the non-profit's annual fund drive looks to raise money which will be used to help Thoroughbreds in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter. All proceeds from this auction will go toward that goal. Featured items include halters of champions like fan-favorite California Chrome; Serena's Song; Essential...

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS) has joined forces with the 2025 Seen Through Horses Campaign, according to an organization release Thursday. Seen Through Horses is a national peer-to-peer campaign convening individuals, mental health professionals, celebrities, and influencers to increase awareness, drive engagement, and raise critical funding for nonprofit organizations. THS is one of 95 charities across the country working to expand access to these life-affirming services during Mental Health Awareness Month, May 1-31, 2025. "Being part of this campaign is more than an honor--it's a powerful affirmation of what we...

The ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption and After the Finish Line's Triple Crown Moneigh Auction is set to begin Sunday, Apr. 20 and will have a total of 19 original pieces on offer, it was announced via press release Monday evening. Moneighs are abstract works of art created by Thoroughbreds using their lips, muzzle, hoof, and/or whiskers. This auction's artists include stallions, broodmares, and pony horses with noteworthy names including Audible, Authentic, Bayner, Enticed, Essential Quality, Harley, Medaglia d'Oro, Nyquist, Shedaresthedevil, and Tapit on offer, among others. The bidding will take place...

Churchill Downs has officially rebranded the Wednesday of Kentucky Derby Week to be known as "Winsday: Greater Thrills for the Greater Good, presented by Resolute Racing" in honor of supporting local nonprofit organizations in the Kentuckiana community, the organization announced Friday. With a total of 50 area nonprofits who have emailed unique ticket links to their supporters, Churchill Downs will donate $5 to the respective organization for every "Winsday" box seat ticket sold. Individual seats on the 100 level are $32 and the 300 level box seats are $39 with...

The Jana Domino Thoroughbred Foundation (JDTF)'s annual hay drive has kicked off to provide funds for New York-based off-track Thoroughbred organizations, the group announced Friday afternoon. In addition to the drive, the JDTF is offering challenge grants to help horse care facilities raise their profile as well as funding hay purchases. Anyone interested in participating via donation, or any New York-based charitable organization that wishes to apply for a Hay Drive matching gift, can contact Carl Domino at cjdomino@gmail.com. "Hay is the number one need for all equine rescue centers...

The Florida Derby Charity Golf Tournament will tee off at noon Monday, March 24 at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club in Plantation, FL, one of the state's top-rated public golf courses, and will benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), per a release Friday. The day will include raffles, food and beverages, gift bags, sponsored golf holes and awards. Sponsorship packages are available. Interested players can register by clicking here.

A donation drive to aid fire relief efforts will be held Sunday, Feb. 23 at Santa Anita in the parking lot from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., it was announced via press release Monday afternoon. Those wishing to contribute to the drive can enter through Gate 5 off Huntington Drive or Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue. Donations may include non-perishable food, water, paper products (paper towels, toilet paper, wipes, etc.), diapers, toiletries (must be new), and pet food. All who donate can also stay for a complimentary day at the...