New Vocations Breeders’ Cup Pledge raises over $110,000 for aftercare

Over $110,000 was pledged by Thoroughbred owners and trainers toward aftercare efforts during New Vocations’ annual Breeders’ Cup Pledge fundraiser.

Participants pledged a percentage of their earnings to support New Vocations’ mission to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. Among the supporters of this year’s initiative were the connections of American Pharoah – Zayat Stables and Bob Baffert – as well as Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria’s connections, Town and Country Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher.

“We are more than happy to support such a worthy cause as providing proper aftercare to our horses is very important to our team,” said Shannon Potter, Town and Country’s racing manager. “New Vocations does an amazing job taking in hundreds of retired racehorses each year and giving them a second career.”

This was the sixth consecutive year for the program, which has raised over $380,000 to date.

Owners and trainers who supported this year’s Breeders’ Cup Pledge included Alto Racing, Al Shaqab Racing, Bob Baffert, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Conquest Stables, Michael Dubb, Bobby Flay, Mark Hennig, Hill ‘N’ Dale Equine Holdings, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Head of Plains, Eddie Kenneally, Michael E. Kisber, Solomon Kumin, Nelson McMakin, Sheep Pond Partners, Todd Pletcher, Matthew Schera, Philip Steinberg, Stonestreet Stables, Swift Thoroughbreds, Town and Country Racing, Twins Creeks Racing Stable, Wertheimer et Frere, West Point Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, and Zayat Stables.

“This was our most successful pledge to date and we are very grateful for all the owners and trainers who chose to participate,” said New Vocations program director Anna Ford. “We were truly blessed to have the connections of both the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff participate in the pledge this year. We really appreciate the much-needed support as the number of horses needing our services continues to grow; the funds raised will allow us to serve even more horses.”