Breeders' Cup participants pledge purse share to horse adoption program

Several owners and trainers of Breeders' Cup horses have pledged a percentage of their purse earnings to the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.

Owners Mike Repole, Rick Shanley, and West Point Thoroughbreds have committed pledges to the retirement and retraining program, as have trainers Todd Pletcher, Kiaran McLaughlin, Nick Zito, and Eddie Plesa.

Pletchers runners include Repole's Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and Stopshoppingmaria in the Juvenile Fillies. McLaughlin's runners include Alpha in the Juvenile and Miss Netta in the Juvenile Fillies, It's Tricky in the Ladies' Classic and Trappe Shot, who could go in the Sprint or Dirt Mile. Plesa saddles the Shanley-owned Say a Novena in the Juvenile Fillies, while Zito has Jackson Bend on the probable list for the Dirt Mile. West Point Thoroughbreds owns Dirt Mile or Classic contender Awesome Gem.

"It is our responsibility as owners to make sure these horses find good homes after their racing careers are over," Repole said. "New Vocations, like many other great horse rescue organizations, does a great job at making sure our equine friends have a great life beyond the track, and we are happy to support them at this year's World Championships."

New Vocations - with divisions in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania - will continue seeking pledges from Breeders' Cup horses' connections.