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TAA Announces Calendar Photo Contest Winners

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) on Monday announced the winners of their third annual Calendar Photo Contest, the 12 chosen photos set to be featured in the 2024 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Calendar, sponsored by Repole Stable.

The grand prize winner and cover feature by Ann Cheek captures an early morning sunrise over the sanctuary at Our Mims Retirement Haven in Kentucky. The image captures Our Mims residents Theheartofdixie, Kidnap Katie, and Sweet Ambition.

This year's calendar contest received nearly 200 submissions and along with the primary winners, additional photos were chosen to be featured in the calendar as honorable mentions. A total of 49 photographs were chosen to be included in the calendar. Featured photographs represented 29 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organizations.

“We are thrilled to feature the talents of these Thoroughbreds from various disciplines and accredited organizations in the 2024 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Calendar,” Samantha Smith, Director of Marketing and communications for the TAA, said. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Repole Stable for sponsoring the calendar and to Tipperary Equestrian for their generous prize sponsorship. Congratulations to all our winners, and we extend our appreciation to everyone who submitted entries.”

The calendar will be available beginning on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28. With every online donation of $100 or more made between Nov. 28-Dec. 31, donors may opt to receive a calendar by noting “2024 Calendar” in the comment field on the donation form. Calendars will be available while supplies last.

The post TAA Announces Calendar Photo Contest Winners appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Thoroughbred Charities Of America To Honor Jen Roytz, Our Mims Retirement Haven

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Jen Roytz with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Our Mims Retirement Haven with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 32nd Annual Stallion Season Auction 'Tis the Season Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Grand Reserve in Lexington, Ky.

The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past award winners include LNJ Foxwoods, Dan Rosenberg, Barbara Banke, Bourbon Lane Stable, Graham and Anita Motion, Frank Stronach, Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and Madeline Auerbach.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jen Roytz is a marketing and communications specialist based in Central Kentucky with a professional background in Thoroughbred racing, breeding and aftercare. Over the past 10 years, Roytz served in the capacities of board member, marketing consultant, and executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project. Roytz is a partner in Topline Communications and was previously marketing director for Three Chimneys Farm. Roytz is a passionate advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare and regularly speaks on the topic at both the national and local levels. She and her husband, Dr. Stuart Brown, own and operate Brownstead Farm, a breeding, sales, racing and sport horse facility in Versailles, KY. Her dedication to the well-being of Thoroughbreds during and after their racing careers exemplify the spirit of the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award.

The Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award is presented annually to an organization that works to uphold TCA's mission. Past award winners include the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program, CANTER USA, Retired Racehorse Project, Belmont Child Care Association, Old Friends, and New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

Founded in 2007 by Jeanne Mirabito, Our Mims Retirement Haven is the only Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the U.S. dedicated solely to caring for retired broodmares. The organization's namesake is the 1977 Champion Three-Year Old filly who Mirabito adopted in 1997. As a tribute to the mare, Our Mims Retirement Haven was created to help many more broodmares at the conclusion of their breeding careers. Sadly, in 2020, Mirabito passed away however her husband, Pete Mirabito, and the organization's board of directors proudly carry on the organization's vision and mission.

The Stallion Season Auction opens with an online auction of stallion seasons at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5 and continues through 4:30 p.m. EST on Friday, January 7. Over 150 seasons will be available in the online auction including Audible, Basin, Candy Ride, McKinzie, More Than Ready, Speightstown, and Volatile. A full list of seasons is available here.

Most of the seasons will sell during the online auction however select seasons to Bolt d'Oro, Charlatan, City of Light, Constitution, Liam's Map, Maxfield (with 2023 breed back), Nyquist (with 2023 breed back), Quality Road, and Yaupon (with 2023 breed back) will be sold at the 'Tis the Seasons Celebration on Sunday, January 9. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on select seasons by attending the event in-person or they may email ecrady@tca.org to register to bid online. Non-season items including a John Deere Gator, accommodations at the Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa “tree house”, a wall box and stall webbing from Charlie Whittingham's barn, and more will also be offered in the live auction. Tickets can be purchased here.

An online silent auction of non-season items including halters worn by Life is Good, Curlin, Charlatan, Tapit, Knicks Go and more will be offered. A list of silent auction items is available here. More items will be added.

The auction is generously sponsored by Limestone Bank, Coolmore America, Equine Medical Associates, Bourbon Lane Stable, L.V. Harkness & Co., BloodHorse, Paulick Report, and Thoroughbred Daily News. For further information regarding the TCA Stallion Season Auction please visit tca.org or call (859) 276-4989.

The post Thoroughbred Charities Of America To Honor Jen Roytz, Our Mims Retirement Haven appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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New Lady Pleasantry Arrives At Our Mims Retirement Haven

Our Mims Retirement Haven is pleased to announce the arrival of Pleasantry to the farm. This sweet senior lady has had quite a journey. The stakes-placed mare arrived on May, 19, 2021, to the farm in Paris, Kentucky, via Florida TRAC, where she resided for 11 years.

Born April 15, 1992, Pleasantry is by Cutlass, out of the Master Derby mare Logiealmond. She had 13 starts winning $72,455 and was trained by Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens (who also campaigned War Front, Devil His Due, Belong to Me and many other known names in Thoroughbred history). Pleasantry's breeder/owner also had an illustrious career in the Thoroughbred industry, with the latest winner being Country House, the 2019 Kentucky Derby winner.

Pleasantry has had 12 foals, sired by such names as Rubiano, Wagon Limit and Full Mandate.

Florida TRAC reached out to Our Mims Retirement Haven owner/President Pete Mirabito late last fall, inquiring about an opening for the mare. Diagnosed with Cushings, she wasn't tolerating the Florida heat and humidity. Katie Schmit, TRAC Farm Manager commented on the Florida TRAC Facebook page that Pleasantry has “handled the trip with her usual class and grace and is looking forward to meeting her new friends at her forever home.”

Jimmy Jerkens, the son of Allen Jerkens, trained Pleasantry during winter racing while his father was in Florida. He remembered Pleasantry, sired by Cutlass, who he also remembered well. He said “She was sort of a small chestnut with a white face, and I remember she tried really hard and certainly had 'desire.'” Jimmy was also happy to hear she has a soft landing now at the Haven.

Haven President Pete Mirabito said “Jeanne built Our Mims Retirement Haven for horses like Pleasantry: horses who have contributed to the industry as best they could and are now ready for a forever home where they can roll in the bluegrass and relish in the love and adoration of their fans”. He also added, “I am looking forward to getting to know Pleasantry and watching her find her place among “the ladies of Our Mims”. I am grateful to Florida TRAC for taking such great care of this wonderful soul and to all our loving supporters who keep Jeanne's dream alive.”

“It is very heartbreaking when we lose one of our residents here because we love them all dearly”, said Ann Cheek, OMRH Vice President and Farm Manager. “But the excitement of getting a new 'lady,' knowing she will spend the rest of her life in peace and comfort, always helps with that heartbreak, because they reminded us of what our mission is.”

OMRH became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2006: Founded by Jeanne Mirabito. Featured in Barbara Livingston's More Old Friends, the Haven specializes in “restoring health and spirit in aged mares.” The Haven is supported through donations, and its online shop.

Our Mims Retirement Haven is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Kentucky Equine Health and Welfare Council. OMRH has received grants from Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), After The Finish Line (ATFL) and the Annenberg Foundation.

Current horses include Exciting Bucket, Braggin Rights, Jo Jo's Gypsy, Play Book, Kidnap Katie, My Heart Sez Yes, Theheartofdixie, Alpha Heat, Sweet Ambition, and the OMRH mascot, Tea Bisquit. Our Mims grandson, Elmhurst, arrived at the Haven in October of 2011, and passed at the age of 31 on January 4, 2021.

Founder Of Our Mims Retirement Haven Dies

Jeanne Mirabito, founder and president of Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, KY, died of cancer on August 5, reports Blood-Horse.

Mirabito founded the farm in 2007 in honor of Our Mims, a Calumet-bred multiple graded stakes winner. Mirabito first saw the filly on television in 1977 in her home state of New York and became enamored with the horse. Years later, when Mirabito moved to Kentucky, she came across Our Mims living on the same farm on which she was renting a house.

The mare was turned out with cattle and had limited human interaction; Mirabito said the mare had had minimal veterinary and farrier care. Still in love with the horse, Mirabito adopted the mare and rehabilitated her. Mirabito began Our Mims Retirement Haven in honor of her champion mare, offering mares a place to retire and live out their days once their broodmare careers ended. Our Mims died from colic at 29 and was buried in Calumet's cemetery.

Details of a celebration of Mirabito's life are forthcoming.