The Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky has raised $507,224 for both immediate response and longer-term recovery needs of individuals and families impacted by the deadly tornadoes occurring in Western Kentucky on Dec. 10 and 11.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association organized a GoFundMe page on Dec. 11, which has raised $318,199 since inception. Further donations came in, including a season to Triple Crown winning stallion Justify donated by Ashford Stud/Coolmore America and private sources, raising the total quickly. All told, the donations came from 315 Thoroughbred breeders, racehorse owners including Spendthrift Farm, trainers, jockeys, industry stalwarts like The Jockey Club and Breeders' Cup, Ltd., out-of-state entities We Are NY Racing and the Indiana Thoroughbred Alliance, and members of racing media.
By Tuesday, Dec. 14, response funds were directed immediately to farmers, livestock, and agricultural producers in Mayfield (Graves County), Oak Grove (Christian County), Dawson Springs (Hopkins and Caldwell Counties), and Princeton (Caldwell County) via a distribution channel set up by Don Campbell, a Thoroughbred Owner/Breeder in Princeton, and his neighbors Bradley & Rachel Boyd, who run an American Quarter Horse operation.
In addition to experiencing major damage to their homes, survivors also had catastrophic loss of livestock, feed, fencing and equipment. In addition to multiple trailers of feed and equipment paid for by KTA, substantial amounts of food, pet food, toiletries, water, clothing and feed were made by James “Mattress Mack” McIngvale.
Funding has been made available for short-term housing needs and will be made available for long-term housing recovery needs for those experiencing a gap in Federal and State disaster relief. Efforts will be coordinated via the Community Foundation for West Kentucky, located in Paducah. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky in Hazard will function as the custodian for the funds raised, and each donation will receive a tax letter.
Contributions can be made via check to the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, 420 Main St, Hazard, KY 41701 USA, and noting “WKY Thoroughbred Relief” in the check memo. Please contact Chauncey Morris at +1 859 447 5688 if you prefer wiring instructions or are considering donation of securities.
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