It has been announced that an anonymous donor is doing her part to make sure that retired Standardbreds have a bright future ahead of them.
There are 377 trotters and pacers in need of homes under the expense and care of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF). The horses – who have collectively earned more than $10 million in purses on the track – are looking for a fitting retirement.
A generous donor, one whose life has been touched by these horses, like so many others, has just learned that racehorses don't retire to a good life without someone making that happen. That leaves nearly every one of these animals at risk. She asks for the generosity of others to join her to make a difference.
On #GivingTuesday, the anonymous donor will match every dollar donated to the SRF (up to $12,500). If the maximum amount is reached, $25,000 will be donated to the welfare of the retirees. The names of the 377 trotters and pacers under SRF's expense and care today are available here.
On #GivingTuesday (Dec. 3), the cost to feed these horses in need of a home, for just that one day, is more than $3,500. Here are a few other reasons to give back:
• SRF remains the guardian for each horse for life; your dollar doesn’t just help today and leave a horse at risk in the future;
• Eighty-six cents of every dollar is spent on the care of the horses;
• Even when an injured or sick horse is in great pain, giving them peace through humane euthanasia is very costly, approximately $500, for the veterinarian and the renderer;
• Ninety-six per cent of SRF's help comes from private donations; four per cent of the funds to help these horses comes from racing organizations.
• Tomorrow morning and the days that follow, SRF must find a way to fill the grain buckets, and stock the hay racks for each of the 377 trotters and pacers.
How SRF is different from every other organization:
1. It never relinquishes ownership so every horse remains safe in the event an adopter falls on hard times, or has a lifestyle change;
2. No other Standardbred exclusive organization manages and cares for this large number of horses, or remains the guardian for each horse for life;
3. SRF requires semi-annual veterinary follow-up reports for as long as a horse lives;
4. SRF exclusively helps Standardbreds;
5. SRF has 377 trotters and pacers under its expense and guardianship today, 200 continue to be passed over for adoption due to age and injuries.
For more information, contact Tammy at 609-738-3255 or direct your query to [email protected].
(With files from SRF)