It is well documented that horse racing participants are more than adept at stepping in and helping when disaster strikes. The latest tragedy, one that claimed at least 20 lives, took place this past Sunday (January 22), and although they didn’t have to, Standardbred horsepeople did their best to help those that were affected.
A massive tornado hit Albany, located in southwest Georgia, this past Sunday. The storm ripped through houses and a trailer park that is located roughly 30 miles from the Lawrence Bennett Training Center in Hawkinsville, GA.
“All of the horsepeople at the Lawrence Bennett Training Center came together to donate food and clothing and filled the tack room with items to be sent to the victims of the tornado that were displaced only 30 miles away,” explained Brenda Walker.
Horsepeople stabled at the training centre include the Garnet Arnold Stable, Dan Ater Stable, Tom Brinkerhoff Stable, Leslie Burton Stable, Cajon Stable (trainer John Taylor), Cartier Stable (trainer Sally Cartier), Fred Drouillard Stable, Robert Dykesterhouse Jr. Stable, E & L Stable (trainer Ed Peconi Jr.), Eddie Gorgei Stable, Gary Hayes Stable, Majestic Star Stable (trainer Jeff Edwards, assistant trainer Tom Grinstead), Clarence Martin Jr. Stable, Dane May Stable (trainers Dane and Ty May), Ron and James Otto Stable (trainer Ron Otto), Jim and Joann Perry Stable, Norman Robbins Stable, Team Shehan Stable (trainers Tyler and Marna Shehan), Dan Shetler Stable (trainers Dan and Kristin Shetler, second trainer Steve Waller), Bill Vankatwyk Stable, Paul Walker Stable (trainer Paul Walker), Greg Wright Stable (trainers Greg Wright and Rick Reisert).