Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

Kendall Norris has been tabbed the new Marketing and Communications Manager for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the organization announced Tuesday. In this role, Norris will lead the TRF's marketing and outreach efforts, furthering the organization's mission to provide dignified lifetime care for retired racehorses. Previously, Norris led digital marketing initiatives, managed high-profile PR events, and provided specialized marketing consulting for equine and technology businesses. "I'm incredibly honored to join the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation," said Norris. "As a lifelong equestrian, I've always believed in the healing power of horses, and this...

Raffles of six all-inclusive box seats to both the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Kentucky Derby will be held by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), with all proceeds benefitting the TRF's mission of providing lifetime aftercare to nearly 400 retired racehorses. Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has donated the boxes, which hold an estimated value of $3,000 for the Oaks and $7,000 for the Derby. The special on-line raffle boxes are located in Section 324, which is on the third floor overlooking the eighth pole. All reserved seating includes food, as...

In the 25 years that she worked overseeing Todd Pletcher's racing stable, Maggie Sweet only had to concern herself about horses from the time they were two until around five. In the one year that she has been executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the nation's oldest Thoroughbred retirement facility, she has learned that inspiring the industry to spend the money to care for them for the next 25 years is a much harder part of the bargain. The TRF currently provides permanent lifetime homes for 400 horses, primarily...

Maggie Sweet has been in her job at the TRF for a year now, after leaving Todd Pletcher Racing, and she has learned a lot--chiefly, that the racing industry isn't focusing enough on the need to provide lifetime dignified retirement for its athletes. She appears on the TDN Writers' Room to discuss the issue.

When the winners of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which are sponsored by Godolphin, were announced, anyone who knew the story of Julianne Stowell could not have been surprised that she won the "Newcomer Award." It wasn't just that she was thriving as the Client Relations Manager at Niall Brennan Stables, it was how far she had come in such a short time to land that position. Six years earlier, she was locked up at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. When it came to her future, she felt...

Edited Press Release The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2024 Hay Drive, supported by a generous $60,000 matching gift from the Santulli Family Foundation. This annual campaign is essential to ensure that the TRF's herd of 400 retired Thoroughbreds receives the necessary care and resources to thrive through the winter months. With a goal of raising $120,000, the TRF is calling on supporters to help fill the haylofts and provide vital sustenance to its retired horses. Rising costs have made this year's campaign...

Jockey Katie Davis McCarthy has been appointed to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's (TRF) Board of Directors, it was announced Wednesday. Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, New York, Davis McCarthy comes from a renowned racing family. Her father, Robbie Davis, is a former jockey and current trainer, while two of her five siblings, Dylan and Jackie, are also professional jockeys. "I'm honored to join the TRF Board and support the foundation's ongoing work. I'm here to support everyone and look forward to being part of an organization that gives so...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has announced a special collaboration with Stable Recovery for the upcoming John Hall Memorial Golf Tournament. A Constitution halter, donated by WinStar Farm, will be shared with Stable Recovery and auctioned at the event to raise funds to support their mission. Originally intended for the TRF's Stallions for Second Chances Halter Auction, the halter has become a symbol of the relationship between the organizations. "We felt that sharing this halter with Stable Recovery would be a meaningful way to honor the close ties we've built and...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation has awarded $61,500 in education grants to seven organizations. The following organizations received scholarships and education funding from TERF this year: $5,000 to Amplifying Horse Racing; $10,000 awarded to Belmont Child Care Association, Inc.; $10,000 to Maryland Horse Foundation; $5,000 to MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; $7,500 to Retired Racehorse Project; $9,000 to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation; and $15,000 to Wilson College. Founded by Herb and Ellen Moelis with the mission to support Thoroughbred health and welfare, TERF provides scholarships to students pursuing veterinary careers; educates racing...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) will host an online 'Stallions for Second Chances Halter Auction' beginning Saturday, July 27 at 8:30 p.m. ET and concluding the evening of Saturday, Aug. 3. The halters of four stallions have been donated by their respective farms: Gun Runner (Three Chimneys); Into Mischief (Spendthrift); Tapit (Gainesway); and Uncle Mo (Coolmore America). Each halter is accompanied by a handcrafted shadowbox made by artisan Matt Martinez of Martinez Woodworks in Lexington, Ky. All proceeds will benefit The TRF Second Chances program, which gives incarcerated individuals the...

The 2024 Casamigos 'For Jocks and Horses' event will be held at the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, with all proceeds to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund (PDJF). During the event, which will take place between 6 and 8 p.m., guests will enjoy gourmet hors d'oeuvres, a signature Casamigos cocktail made exclusively for the event and a silent auction featuring unique items and experiences. The event is expected to be attended by some of the biggest stars in...

By Francis LaBelle, courtesy Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Celestial City learned how to be a racehorse by continually proving himself against top competition. Each time he raced, he showed that the lessons he was learning were taking hold. Celestial City became a graded stakes winner, but just when his promising career was finally taking flight, he sustained an injury that ended his days as a racehorse. Now, he has a new home and a new purpose. On February 12, Celestial City joined the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's (TRF) herd at the Lowell...