Park Lane Stables Fundraiser Underway

A crowdfunding effort has been started for Park Lane Stables RDA (Riding for the Disabled), a riding school charity that provides therapy and riding lessons for people with and without disabilities in London. Run by Natalie O'Rourke, the Teddington-based riding school's landlord is not renewing their lease and selling the property. A total of £1 million is needed by Feb. 24 to enable Park Lane to purchase the property and secure their future in the community. The riding school has already raised over £183,000 toward their goal.

Park Lane first drew international notice with #tinyponyatyourwindow during the first London lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stable volunteers cheered those self-isolating with their pony Annie's Whizz, who eventually would visit over 300 people in their homes, schools, hospitals and care homes. To donate, please go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-our-stables.

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Retired Jockey Visits Canadian OTTB Organization Close To His Heart

Eurico Rosa da Silva is a retried champion jockey and longtime supporter of LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society in Ontario. LongRun has both horses up for adoption and horses that are permanently retired on their farm in Hillsburgh.

A paddock at the 100-acre farm was recently named in da Silva's honor. He visited the farm with wife Dr. Orlaith Clearly and daughters Amelia and Isabella. Some of the mounts Da Silva rode live at the farm, including Something Extra, who won several stakes races with Da Silva aboard.

LongRun is a steppingstone for horses in need of a soft place to land when they retire from racing; the nonprofit relies heavily on fundraising and donations to help as many horses as possible each year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected all facets of racing and aftercare in 2020, they are in need of financial assistance to keep helping the horses.

Da Silva encourages anyone involved in racing to help if they are able. A calendar featuring horses that have gone through the LongRun program and their stories is available for purchase here.

Read more at Canadian Thoroughbred.

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Jockeys Donate to Indiana Children’s Event

As in year’s past, the jockey colony at Indiana Grand will provide toys for the local “Breakfast with Santa” event Saturday, Dec. 12. This season, the jockeys will donate a total of 61 toys, a new record for the annual toy drive.

“I have three kids myself and we are fortunate enough to provide toys for them,” said Manny Esquivel. “I come from a very poor place in Mexico, and just thinking about it, it’s hard to think about kids not getting toys for Christmas. I used to play with a stick and make wheels to put on it, and I had fun. But just imaging the kids getting toys, it’s something special. I just wish I was there to see their faces when they get them.”

Last year, the jockeys collected 56 toys for “Breakfast with Santa” held through Shelby Parks and Recreation. The event also includes two sessions with breakfast catered by Denny’s, and a visit with Santa.

“This is great thing we do each year, and I look forward to it,” said DeShawn Parker, current leading rider at Indiana Grand. “And, because of Covid, I’m sure there are many more families this year that will struggle to get toys for their kids. Hopefully, this will help out and provide a little better Christmas for some kids this year.”

The abbreviated 2020 racing season comes to a close Thursday, Nov. 19 after completing 96 days of racing.

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NYRA, TVG To Contribute $410,000 To COVID Relief Via Backstretch, Aftercare Programs

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and TVG today announced a series of COVID-19 relief donations for a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations working to support the thoroughbred racing community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $410,000 in charitable contributions will be distributed to seven non-profit organizations including the New York Chapter of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America (NYRTCA), the Belmont Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T), the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA), the Racing Medication & Testing Consortium (RMTC), the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA).

“The racing industry has rallied in incredible ways in response to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kip Levin, CEO of TVG. “The entire TVG team is grateful that our partnership with NYRA will benefit these great organizations who do so much every day to help those in need.”

NYRA and TVG created the relief fund in the spring of 2020 to proactively respond to the myriad challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 54-day suspension of live racing in New York, the closure of casinos across the state and the continued lack of on-track attendance at all racetracks in New York.

“These organizations are all longtime partners of NYRA who have performed outstanding and oftentimes heroic work throughout the pandemic,” said NYRA President and CEO David O'Rourke. “Our thanks to TVG for recognizing the importance of the services they provide to the men and women who sustain the sport here in New York.”

As a result of the success of the joint effort between NYRA and TVG, the NYRTCA, B.E.S.T and the BCCA, whose work is devoted to the overall health and well-being of New York's backstretch community, will each receive donations of $100,000.

In addition, $30,000 each will be donated to the RMTC and the RTIP with $25,000 going to both the PDJF and the TAA.

In early March, NYRA established the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan Committee, comprised of key NYRA staff members as well as representatives from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), B.E.S.T, and the NYRTCA. Working together, the committee developed and implemented health and safety protocols aligning with the most updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the New York State Department of Health.

Representatives of B.E.S.T, NYRTCA and BCCA set up food banks, distributed masks, provided up-to-date communications on health care, worked as translators and collected and even distributed gift cards for groceries for the hundreds of Belmont-based backstretch workers and their families. They also created more virtual learning opportunities and at-home instruction for the children of backstretch workers enrolled in Anna House, the childcare and early education facility at Belmont Park, along with performing hundreds of other tasks that will never be recorded.

TVG has been able to remain on air since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has prioritized keeping its employees safe through strict social distancing, health protocols and remote broadcasting. The network has maintained a strong commitment to the horse racing industry and has continued sponsorships of the TVG Pacific Classic, TVG.com Haskell Invitational and the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile while also expanding to sponsor additional races at Keeneland in both July and October as well as a Breeders' Crown race. Additionally, TVG has partnered with charitable organizations throughout the industry, including the TAA, California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) and the PDJF to raise funding and awareness.

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