Second Stride

Second Stride plans to honor Mary Nixon with the Industry Champion Award, and Jan and Joan Carstanjen with the Volunteer Award, the non-profit said via a press release on Tuesday. Both will be presented at the organization's Champions Night at Valhalla Golf Club on Monday, Apr. 27. Mary Nixon has been named the third recipient of Second Stride's Industry Champion Award, an honor given to someone within the racing community who has shown distinguished support and transformative dedication to the horses of Second Stride. Additionally, Jan and Joan Carstanjen, parents...

The non-profit equine adoption program Second Stride, based in Prospect, Kentucky, is conducting a series of three fundraisers with Kentucky Derby themes designed to support retired Thoroughbred racehorses as they transition to second careers beyond the track. "Derby season is when the world falls in love with the Thoroughbred," said Second Stride founder Kim Smith. "What many people don't see is what comes next for these horses. As more horses enter aftercare and require longer, more individualized support, our work--and the community's role in it--has never been more important. These...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Day on Saturday, honoring organizations and individuals dedicated to retired racehorses, will be staged at Churchill Downs Saturday, Sept. 27, according to a Churchill Downs release. Nine aftercare organizations will be on-site, including Friends of Ferdinand Inc., Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, New Vocations, Old Friends, Second Stride, The Secretariat Center, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Each organization has shared a special Thoroughbred Aftercare Day ticket link on their social media channels. A portion of each ticket purchased through those links will be...

After the eighth race at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 1, horse owner and philanthropist Ken Freirich will make a $100,000 donation to four Thoroughbred retirement charities to be split evenly amongst them, it was revealed in a joint press release. The four aftercare organizations are New Vocations, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and the Thoroughbred Charities of America. Freirich, who is a part of owner of Kentucky Derby hopeful Sandman via his involvement with West Point Thoroughbreds, will present the check in the winner's circle after the eighth race on...

Second Stride, one of the nation's leading equine-adoption programs, will host its 14th annual Derby week fundraiser at Valhalla Golf Club on Monday, Apr. 28 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Just 151 tickets will be sold and will require pre-purchase. Guests will be able to meet and mingle with a veritable racing who's who including Triple Crown winning jockey Jean Cruguet, Derby winning jockey Mike Manganello, and successful jockeys Sandy Hawley and Kaoru Tsuchiya-Hawley. NBC racing celebrity and former jockey Donna Brothers will be on hand to lend insight...

The aftercare rehabilitation and retraining organization Second Stride will hold "Champions Night" at Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club Monday, Apr. 28 at 6:30 p.m. ET. The evening will feature a Derby/Oaks handicapping panel, a silent auction, a Derby contenders halter pull, and appearances by Triple Crown-winning jockeys, as well as Kentucky-inspired food and beverage, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and a dessert bar. Tickets are $150 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets for Second Stride's biggest fundraiser of the year, click here.

Second Stride has received a combined donation of $25,000 from the horsemen of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and Horseshoe Indianapolis Racing & Casino. "Second Stride does an excellent job in horse aftercare," said HBPA Executive Director Tim Glyshaw. "Whenever the Indiana HBPA or Horsehoe Indianapolis run into a situation where aftercare is needed, Second Stride has always been there to help us." Additionally, Claiborne Farm's 7th Annual "Runhappy" 5K and 2.5K run/walk event, which will benefit Second Stride, will take place Sept. 20. The price to...

Second Stride, the Thoroughbred rehabilitation and retraining program responsible for the adoption of over 1,700 retired racehorses since 2005, has two new unique partnerships, the non-profit organization announced Tuesday. Two ambassador horses will live at Valhalla Golf Club, recent host of the 2024 PGA Championship, for the remainder of the 2024 golf season. The horses chosen to represent Second Stride at Valhalla are GSW Hawaakom (Jazil) and GSP 2014 Triple Crown contender General A Rod (Roman Ruler). They will return to Second Stride's Chorleywood Farm this fall. In addition, the...

Valhalla Golf Club, recent site of the 2024 PGA Championships, will host a pair of retired graded stakes horses through the conclusion of this year's golf season. Hawaakom (Jazil), winner of the 2018 GIII Razorback Handicap, and General A Rod (Roman Ruler), third in the 2014 GI Florida Derby, will reside in a  Valhalla-donated eight-acre area which features a traditional wood plank fenced paddock and lighted Lexington-style run-in shed. The two horses are sponsored by their prior connections, Skychai Racing, Hot Pink Stables and MagnaWave, to be ambassadors for the...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on site at Churchill Downs for a variety of events during Kentucky Derby week. The organization will be recognized with a named race on the undercard of Champions Day on Wednesday of Derby week. A representative from TAA will be present to host the winners of the "Off to the Races" VIP Experience online benefit auction, which was donated by Churchill Downs Incorporated and Second Stride. The winners will enjoy all-inclusive box seats, tickets to the Winner's Party at the Kentucky Derby Museum and a...

Second Stride's Champions Night fundraiser will convene at The Manhattan Project, 2101 Frankfort Ave. in Louisville from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Monday, Apr. 29, the retired racehorse organization said in a release Thursday. An admission donation is set at $25, while the restaurant is giving 10 percent of its bar business during the Derby Week event to Second Stride. Also, there will be the Smoke Easy Cigar Lounge, along with both live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia and experiences. As in the past, the centerpiece will be...

Second Stride, which rehabs, retrains and rehomes retired Thoroughbred racehorses, will open its 2024 fundraising efforts with twin raffles for third-floor boxes for six people, one box each for Kentucky Derby and Oaks Day donated by Churchill Downs. In the spirit of May 3-4 being the 150th runnings of America's favorite race and its filly counterpart, only 150 tickets will be sold at $150 apiece for the Derby and for $125 apiece for the Oaks. Buy raffle tickets for the all-inclusive boxes (including food and alcoholic beverage) here. The drawings...