Churchill's Carstanjen, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation to open sanctuary farm

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation will open a new sanctuary farm at Chestnut Hall in Prospect, Oldham County, outside of the city of Louisville, Ky. The farm, designed to connect the Louisville community to Thoroughbreds and aftercare issues, is opening with the support of Bill Carstanjen, CEO of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

The 30-acre farm, which also features a farmhouse that will be repurposed to serve as an event venue, will be the permanent home of 11 Thoroughbreds from the organization’s national herd of 500 retired Thoroughbred racehorses. The horses will serve as ambassadors for public education on horse care and aftercare issues. Starting mid-May, the farm will be open to the public for tours through horse country, and will be available as a venue for educational events and fundraisers for nonprofits across the Louisville community.

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According to the TRF, Carstanjen purchased the Chestnut Hill property to protect it from residential development, and over the past year has overseen the restoration of the property to its former status as an active horse farm. He sought out the TRF as his partner to provide a home for retired racehorses and to help form a connection between the community and the animals.

“Thoroughbred horses have enriched the lives of countless citizens and visitors to Louisville throughout history, but very few opportunities exist for the community to experience and interact with these extraordinary animals,” Kim Weir, the director of major gifts and planned giving for the TRF, said in a release. “It is with this goal in mind that Mr. Carstanjen restored the horse farm and historic home at Chestnut Hall with the express intention of giving the gift of the horses to the community of Louisville.

“Together, it is our hope that the TRF Sanctuary Farm at Chestnut Hall will provide a venue for education, inspiration, and imagination for many years to come.”