Photo: Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn,
in conjunction with the Arkansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective
Association (HBPA) and the horse owners, presented
Racehorse Reclaim, an Arkansas-based Thoroughbred retirement and
retraining organization, with a check for $9,346 Wednesday.
The
money came from each owner donating $1 for every starter they had
during the meet and Oaklawn matching the $1. The 4,673 starters during
the 2012 live meet resulted
in the donation.
“This
money is going to help a lot of horses,” said Racehorse Reclaim Founder
and Executive Director Deb Adams. “We are very grateful to the Oaklawn
and the H.B.P.A. for
coming up with a way to generate the funds and for the owners who have
given so generously. We were also given the opportunity to get in front
of a lot fans during the meet and spread the word that these racehorses
can have productive careers after the racetrack.
Horses that leave our program have gone on to be trail horses, dressage
horses, hunter-jumpers and pleasure horses.”
Race
Horse Reclaim is a not for profit operation dedicated to
the rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement of Thoroughbred
racehorses. Its mission is to create a future
for horses after they have finished their racing careers. Racehorse
Reclaim conditions and retrains them for new careers and then finds
suitable long-term horses for them.