This past weekend, members of ‘The Stable That God Loves’ pushed their combined seasonal purse earnings past the $2 million mark, signifying another significant chapter for the initiative that is now being noticed by others south of the border.
Officials behind the initiative are saying that the popular fundraising program has ‘been seen and talked about and read about by just under a million people.’ They are giving that number based on exposure on national television, major daily newspapers, national magazines, major racing websites, race announcers, Facebook and Twitter.
A release from the ‘stable’ explains that the initiative has attracted the attention of industry leaders in the United States, including the highly regarded ex-Thoroughbred jockey Pat Day. Officials with the ‘stable’ have quoted Day as saying, “What a great idea and concept. I cannot say enough about ‘The Stable That God Loves’ idea. I am passing it on to the U.S. Chaplaincy.”
The stable boasts 10 stakes winners to date and has amassed 63 wins, 54 second-place finishes, 43 thirds and $2,003,318 in purse earnings. Overall, stable starters have raced at 15 North American tracks this year.
One per cent of the stable members’ purse earnings will go to support the diligent work of the Standardbred Chaplaincy, which is dedicated to providing for the emotional, physical, spiritual and human needs of the horse racing workforce in southwestern Ontario.
With the addition of seven new members from Norm Clements’ Uxbridge, Ont. barn, two new members from Ed Hayter’s Cambridge stable, and one from the Martin LaChance string, members of the stable now number 70 strong.
Norm Clements, well known for his selfless, charitable work as founder of the Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity that assists seriously ill children and their families, is the largest contributor with 11 horses ‘bedded down’ in the stable.
Although the Stable That God Loves is bursting at the seams, stalls are always available. Every horse (pacer, trotter or Thoroughbred) regardless of ability, is welcome and guaranteed a stall.
Please send requests for stall space to Ken Middleton ([email protected]) or Norm Clements ([email protected]).
(With files from The Stable That God Loves)