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Backside Learning Center Bourbon Raffle to Fund COVID Efforts

The Backside Learning Center (BLC) will be hosting a Bourbon Bonanza Raffle on February 11. All proceeds will help fund efforts toward COVID-19 vaccine education, access and promotion for backside workers and their families at Churchill Downs.

The drawing will take place at 4 p.m. on February 11 and the deadline for entry is February 10 at 10:59 p.m. Participants will enter to win one of two, eight-bottle baskets with values ranging from $1,000 to $3,000.

The first basket, called Cupid's Collection, features Pappy Van Winkle 12-year-old Lot B, Kentucky Par, Blanton's and more. The second basket, the Valentine's Bundle, includes three variations of Wild Turkey, two types of Basil Hayden, 10-year-old Kentucky Owl Rye Whiskey and more.

Tickets are $50 for one chance to win or $200 for five chances.

Baskets will be delivered for winners within the Louisville city limits. All other winners will need to arrange pickup.

“Proceeds from the Bourbon Bonanza will help fund our extensive efforts towards COVID-19 vaccine education, access and promotion for backside workers and their families,” said the BLC's Executive Director Sherry Stanley. “It is very important to us that our clients can make informed decisions that affect the health of their families and the entire community. The BLC is a trusted source of information and support, therefore it is vital that we are well-informed and presenting up-to-the-minute information in order to protect the well-being of the entire equine community of workers and families.”

The Backside Learning Center is a non-profit organization that works to promote community and enrich the lives of equine workers and their families at Churchill Downs. Since the onset of the pandemic, the BLC has provided emergency food relief, created a digital inclusion project to overcome the challenges of virtual learning, provided computers to 20 backside families, offered virtual English classes and more.

To purchase raffle tickets, click here.

To view the event on Facebook, click here.

The post Backside Learning Center Bourbon Raffle to Fund COVID Efforts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Woodbine Announces Trio Of Initiatives To Support Backstretch Community This Winter

Woodbine Entertainment announced Friday a trio of initiatives designed to support the 130 people living on the backstretch at Woodbine Racetrack during the winter months.

First, Woodbine has partnered with the Horses First Fund, which will sponsor a nutritious, hot meal each week. The program will start on Wednesday, December 23 with a roast beef lunch then continue Fridays after that. This generous offering will be incorporated into a larger effort from Woodbine to engage backstretch workers over the course of the winter months through activities, shuttles to local malls and product giveaways.

The Horses First Fund assists Thoroughbreds and their caretakers in need of emergency aid due to large scale neglect, natural disaster, or other catastrophes.

Horses First Fund founder Jaime Roth of LNJ Foxwoods said: “I was especially moved by the misfortune caused by the pandemic on the Woodbine backstretch workers. Throughout this challenging year, the Horses First Fund has provided emergency funding to seven aftercare organizations, four backstretch organizations, and contributed to two equine feed assistance programs.”

The Horses First Fund is administered by the Thoroughbred Charities of America.

Additionally, Woodbine has reduced the rent for those living on the backstretch by 50 percent. Both the sponsored meal program and the Woodbine rent program will support workers until the reopening of the backstretch in February 2021.

Finally, in addition to its regular annual donation, Woodbine will make a $4,000 donation to the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada to help ensure proper resources, programming and support for those remaining on the Woodbine Racetrack backstretch throughout the winter.

“This year has been tremendously difficult for so many people, including those that contribute to our world-class racing at Woodbine Racetrack,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We know that due to circumstances beyond their control, many are unable to be with their friends and family this winter. I would like to thank our partners the Horses First Fund and the Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada, whom together with us will help ensure that everyone here at Woodbine has the support they need this holiday season and beyond.”

Earlier this month, Lawson was on-site to personally hand out holiday gifts to impacted backstretch workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for the Woodbine Thoroughbred community. Due to government restrictions, the season started late and ended early, denying the community their ability to earn money from the final three weeks of racing.

Woodbine thanks those involved in the training and care of Thoroughbred horses and wishes the entire Thoroughbred community a healthy and safe holiday season.

The post Woodbine Announces Trio Of Initiatives To Support Backstretch Community This Winter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Santa Anita To Provide Home For Non-Profit ‘Free Animal Doctor’

With an estimated 25 percent of America's pet owners unable to afford necessary veterinary care for approximately 24 million dogs and cats, Santa Anita Park will now provide a home for the non-profit Free Animal Doctor, which provides free veterinary surgeries for at-risk animals. Santa Anita management will also be working with Free Animal Doctor to extend its services to the track's backside community and other community groups in need, at no or low cost.

“There is a need for this type of small animal veterinary assistance locally and nationwide,” said Santa Anita's Aidan Butler, Acting Executive Director, CA Racing Operations for The Stronach Group. “We are well positioned to provide the assistance needed for the Free Animal Doctor clinic to administer necessary care for these precious animals, and we're honored to do so. We've let them know we are here to help in any way that we can.”

Free Animal Doctor (FAD), utilizes Crowdfunding to raise monies for specific pets and provides detailed itemized cost accounting which is directed by each animal's attending veterinarian.

“This serves to self-authenticate the cost of each surgery,” said FAD co-founder Sam Bernardo, who hopes to have FAD's veterinary “bus” fully operational in Santa Anita's parking Lot 7 by Sept. 15. “Once the money is raised for each individual animal's procedure, no additional money is accepted.”

Although a wide variety of surgeries will be performed, spaying and neutering will comprise the majority of the procedures taking place at Santa Anita. This important work also helps to assist community shelters from being overwhelmed by dogs and cats that do not have homes.

Bernardo, who is a practicing attorney, founded FAD four years ago with Ryan Boyd, who works in the local real estate industry.

“Our 'bus' is actually a 43-foot long mobile surgical hospital on a bus frame,” said Bernardo. “The facility was originally designed and used by the Spay, Neuter Action Program of San Diego. They donated it to us and we are so thankful that Santa Anita is providing us a home with independent sources of electricity and water, which are vital for surgical procedures.

“We've been operating for four years now and 80 percent of the animals that we've displayed on our website have gotten the required funding. With average costs ranging from $800 to $3,000, thirty percent of families that own these pets cannot afford the surgeries.”

Those interested are encouraged to visit FAD's website at www.freeanimaldoctor.org, where a photo and detailed description of each at-risk pet is provided.

The post Santa Anita To Provide Home For Non-Profit ‘Free Animal Doctor’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Ellis Park: Seven Individuals Quarantined After Testing Positive For COVID-19

Seven individuals working in the stable area at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky. have tested positive for COVID-19 and been quarantined, reports 14news.com. None were symptomatic; the individuals were tested as part of the track's protocols for beginning its live race meet on July 2. Six work for the same trainer, and the seventh was also closely associated with those individuals.

Six of those who tested positive have been quarantined inside the dorm, and the seventh has been quarantined at home. Contact tracing has also been initiated.

“As of right now, based on everything we know, based on the protocols we have in place in both the racing and gaming operations, we're confident we will be able to conduct our race meet, beginning the first day, opening day, July 2,” Skip Sayre, chief of sales and marketing for Laguna Development Corporation, told 14news.com. “As the backside opened, and the horses and personnel started coming in, we began testing those folks, so when this particular case came up, we were ready to move quickly and get those folks into quarantine and make sure we protected the integrity of the rest of the operation.”