Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Thoroughbred Charities of America announced Sept. 8 the launch of the Race to Give, an online giving and awareness program to support Thoroughbred aftercare with the RaceToGive.org website as its central hub.
“2021 marks our 145th anniversary of caring for the equine industry,” said Hagyard's Dr. Luke Fallon. “These equine athletes have given us so much over the last century and a half. Our veterinarians created the Race to Give to demonstrate our appreciation. Leading an effort to support the critical area of aftercare in conjunction with other leading horse racing organizations was the right thing to do.”
The Race to Give calls to create teams and to challenge each other in fun and creative ways.
“The spirit of competition is at the heart of our industry,” said Ken Ford, CEO of Hagyard Pharmacy. “Hagyard's vision was to harness that spirit to not only raise money, but to also to expand the support of equine aftercare. By developing teams and then challenging each other, we could encourage a wider group of people to participate. Aftercare organizations which have been excellent stewards of our retired equine athletes have accomplished this through the generous support of donations from a concentrated nucleus of people in the industry. Race to Give is a new platform to encourage everyone who loves horses to donate.”
Organizations that have come alongside Hagyard and TCA include Keeneland, TVG, Thoroughbred Daily News, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and Resolvet.
“Everyone understands how important aftercare is for our sport,” said TCA president Mike McMahon. “It is exciting to see big names in our industry come together in year one. And I can only imagine how the list will grow in the years to come as other organizations see the impact and, frankly, how much fun it is to be part of this team of leaders.”
Hagyard and TCA note that on average Thoroughbreds retire from racing by age 6, meaning they still have a lot of life left after the racetrack since horses can live well into their late 20s. Responsible owners can set their horse up for future success by retiring them into a TCA-approved and TAA-accredited aftercare program where they can be retrained for their next career. Many Thoroughbreds will move into careers in new disciplines such as eventing, hunter/jumpers, dressage, western, polo, trail riding, equine-therapy, and much more.
“Like many involved in the sport of Thoroughbred racing, Hagyard believes that it is our collective responsibility to protect the well-being of these horses we love that retire from racing and breeding,” Fallon said. “I echo everyone that is involved with Race to Give to please help us support these horses as they transition to their next careers.”
To make a donation, register to fundraise, or create or join a team please visit RaceToGive.org and follow #aracetogive on social media.
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