In 2007, Thoroughbred Charities of America established an endowment to support the needs of equine education and research organizations in the Mid-Atlantic. In 2012, that endowment was named Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation, and its reach was expanded to include grant applications from across the country.
Since then, TERF has provided funding to aftercare organizations, to institutions of higher learning, and to non-profits that support backstretch workers. TAKE2 has received a $4,000 grant to fund an aftercare education program at Saratoga Race Course on September 5, and for its generosity, TERF is recognized as August's “TAKE2 Donor of the Month.”
TAKE2, founded in March of 2012, set a goal of raising $10,000 a month for 10 months in honor of its milestone 10th anniversary this year. With the generous help of previous “Donors of the Month” Len Green and the Green Group, TAKE2 competitor Patricia Hurter, Empire Racing Club's Kyle Emmich, the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, and Michael Sternklar of Clear Stars Stable, the campaign is on track to meet its goal. Many more Thoroughbred lovers have contributed, raising more than $55,000 over the first 5 1/2 months.
TERF has identified four pillars to support its mission: education, fiscal growth to support future grant applications, leadership, and research. The organization offers three ongoing scholarships for veterinary students as well as other financial support for students, and its education support includes funding programs at Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue and a Thoroughbred Makeover Master Class, which educates members of the public on the opportunities for horses in second careers.
TERF's research arm has funded studies on bisphosphonates and the effect of stem cells on osteoarthritis and tendon healing, among others.
“We like to fund pilot studies by young researchers,” said Dr. Kathy Anderson, co-chair of TERF's board of trustees. “We want to support projects that are small enough that they fly under the radar of large funding agencies.”
The Labor Day event at Saratoga will feature TAKE2 Executive Director Andy Belfiore; TAKE2 President Rick Schosberg; and Dr. Keith Bogatch, an equine veterinarian who will speak to participants about the relationship between Thoroughbred owners and veterinarians and about how to decide when it's time to retire a racehorse. Also scheduled to speak are Monique Coston from Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue; and Deanna Mancuso from Lucky Orphans.
Held at the Spa Verandas, located at the top of the stretch, the event will include a day at the races from a trackside seat; a light lunch; and the aftercare presentation. Tickets are $25.
“We're excited to support this event,” said Anderson. “It fits well with our mission, which is to support education and research into making horse racing safer.”
TERF prioritizes funding initiatives that will have an impact, and Anderson sees the event as a way to get visibility for both its grant program and for responsible Thoroughbred retirement. Two TERF board members, Katelyn Jackson and Lynne Cassimeris, will attend the TAKE2 lunch.
A native of Maryland, Jackson grew up in the horse industry and currently works for BSW/Crow Bloodstock and ELiTE Sales, selecting and overseeing horses from yearlings to retirees.
Cassimeris holds a Ph.D. in cell biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and recently retired from her position as a professor of biological sciences at Lehigh University in Bethelehem, PA. She has received multiple grants for her work and written dozens of papers, and her experience as a Thoroughbred owner spurred her to found a lab at Lehigh to study laminitis.
“I'm committed to making sure that my horses end up in a good place when they're done racing,” said Cassimeris. “TERF's mission is based on making racing safer, and rehoming and retiring, and understanding when it's time for a horse to retire, are really important parts of that mission.”
For more information on attending the Sept. 5 event or to RSVP, contact Andy Belfiore at take2breds@gmail.com. Tickets are limited, and the deadline to RSVP is Friday, Aug. 26.
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