Truro Raceway has announced it will host a special fundraising day set for Sunday, June 9 during its upcoming harness racing season to support New Start Standardbreds Maritimes, a volunteer charity organization founded in 2020 dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming former Standardbred racehorses. The organization's mission is to find caring homes for them for the rest of their lives.  

“We are very pleased to support such an important charity that is helping former racehorses that need a new home due to their racing career being over or through no fault of their own have fallen on hard times," said Steve Fitzsimmons, General Manager at Truro Raceway. "It’s incumbent on all of us as an industry to help in the aftercare of these racehorses once their careers are over. We look forward to contributing to the positive work that Christina [Robertson at New Start Standardbreds] and her team are doing in Atlantic Canada and celebrating these wonderful horses, who are retired or in their second career.” 

“On behalf of New Start Standardbreds and its team of Maritime volunteers, we would like to thank Truro Raceway, for not only your support, but also for this amazing opportunity to shine a spotlight onto the expansion of our program in the Maritime provinces," said Christina Robertson, Director of Maritime Development and Outreach for New Start Standardbreds. "We are looking forward to spending a fun-filled day with new and old friends, all while bringing awareness to New Start Standardbreds and what we do.” 

The racetrack will have a silent auction in support of the organization, as well as sell race sponsorships, with proceeds donated to the organization. One of the organization's adoptees will also be on hand and lead out the post parade for several races on the afternoon’s card and the organization will have a booth on-site to meet the public.

For information on race sponsorships, to donate a prize to the silent auction or to make a donation to the organization, contact Steve Fitzsimmons at 902-956-0024 or [email protected]. You can also learn more about New Start Standardbreds by joining the Facebook group New Start Standardbreds Maritime or visiting newstartstandardbreds.com.

The 2024 live harness racing season at Truro Raceway is scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 19.

(With files from Truro Raceway)