The nearly $15,000 proceeds from the sale of seasonal breedings sold Jan. 18, 2021 at the Tattersalls Winter Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands are being distributed to various Standardbred aftercare organizations and facilities.

Michelle and Albert Crawford of Crawford Farms, LLC donated the breedings to help jump-start the aftercare programs that are always in need of supplies and revenue.

“It is a hard message to get across, but these breedings are a great stepping stone toward raising awareness and providing much-needed funding to these aftercare facilities,” said Michelle Crawford.

Although funding for aftercare programs is generated across a wide spectrum of the Standardbred industry including regulatory agencies, horsemen’s groups, tracks, sales companies, farms, and individuals who participate as trainers, drivers, owners and breeders, this could be one of the largest single-source fundraising efforts of the year.

“We can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to the Tattersalls Sales Company, David Reid and Preferred Equine Marketing for their continued support for our aftercare initiatives,” Michelle Crawford said.

Providing a safe and secure future for Standardbreds when their racing days are over is no easy task. With the addition of COVID-19 challenges impacting every facet of the industry, it has become even more difficult to find rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming for retired racehorses. With thousands of Standardbreds withdrawn from racing duties annually, the need for aftercare continues to grow.

To learn more about aftercare and organizations in-need, go to the Standardbred Transition Alliance.

(Crawford Farms)