Our Mims Retirement Haven, a farm specializing in the rescue and care of retired Thoroughbred broodmares, announces it has achieved 501(c)3 nonprofit status from the IRS.
OMRH is named after the 1977 Eclipse Champion Three Year Old Filly, Our Mims, who ran under Calumet's devil red and blue silks. Our Mims was found on a farm near Paris, Kentucky, and rescued by her last owner, Jeanne Mirabito with the help of ReRun. Our Mims spent the last years of her life at Mirabito's farm in Paris and died of colic complications in December of 2003. She is buried at Calumet Farm. In tribute to the great mare, Mirabito started the Haven to take in other mares "turned out" after their years of racing and/or foaling. The Haven's motto is "specializing in restoring health and spirit in aged mares."
The Haven has been operating as a private entity since early 2004 when it acquired Sugar and Spice, Mims' half-sister. It took over the care of 1974 Alcibiades winner Hope of Glory at about the same time. Later that year, the Haven received donated mares from the farm of Gentry and Gaines: Taba (dam of Turkoman, grand dam of Turko's Turn, great grand dam of Point Given, and grand dam of current Derby hopeful, Hard Spun), My Turbulent Miss (dam of Prized and Exploit), Iza Valentine (1985 California Broodmare of the Year, dam of Fran's Valentine and grand dam of With Anticipation), Jamra (full sister to Clever Trick), and Irish-born Exactly So.
In the years since, the Haven has added California mare Hana Bride (from a joint rescue with The Exceller Fund and the Columbia Basin Equine Rescue group), Timeless Sue (grand dam of Bourbon Belle), Alabama Nana (trained by D. Wayne Lukas and winner of several New York graded stakes and ran in the 1985 Breeders Cup Distaff ) and her pasture-mate Irvina. The Haven's most recent resident is Princess Royale, an Australian-bred mare by top sire Bletchingly.
The Haven has seen its losses. Sugar and Spice is buried at Calumet across the path from Our Mims. Hope of Glory, Taba, My Turbulent Miss, and Exactly So are now interred in the Haven's equine cemetery.
Not all members of the Haven's band are famous. Past boarders Blond Bomber (Thoroughbred mare), Misty (Saddlebred/Tennessee Walker mare ), Hero's Hurrah are buried alongside Chief, an Appaloosa gelding who appeared opposite Sam Elliot in the movie, "Prancer." Mirabito says, "Fame is all a matter of prospective. When a horse reaches her twenties, she has certainly touched many human lives. From our little lady, Peggy (a small pony in her 30's ) to Barhopper, Smokies Love and Chief, we know they are all talked about somewhere, even if it's only around someones dinner table. They are all famous in their own circles."
With the non profit status Mirabito hopes to obtain grants/donations for three main areas of the Haven's livelihood and goals, including grants for education purposes. "Old horses are great teachers. Anyone, child or adult, wishing to know more about the care of horses, and the horse industry, in general, could have a great opportunity in working with the ladies." Mirabito has worked with about a dozen students who were able to gain experience with horses through volunteering at the Haven. She would like the opportunity to increase that number.
Improvements to the farm are also a requirement. While the care of the ladies has never been compromised, the facility itself is in need of repairs. "Barns need to be painted, fences need to be replaced," says Mirabito. "It's an ongoing maintenance issue. We have awesome volunteers and we would like to provide them with the needed tools and materials to accomplish their goals."
Cheryl Bellucci, Director of Fund Raising and Promotions for the Haven, agrees, "There are a number of projects we have put on the back burner to complete this move to nonprofit status. We're hoping now our supporters will step up to help us pay off the final bills from the nonprofit move so we can get back to concentrating on the care of the ladies." Bellucci has put a web page on the Haven's site to keep track of their progress and to give supporters links to contribute to those bills at http://www.ourmims.org/nonprofit.html.
The Haven never wants to grow so big that the board of directors can not work with each resident personally, but the waiting list continues to grow. "We have the love, we can increase time in the barn. But we don't have the room or the means to provide for more than nine elders at a time right now," explains Mirabito. "There are many mares who need us."
The Haven relies on donations in both money donations and Thoroughbred collectibles at present. It has auctioned off a number of halters donated from area farms, including halters from Storm Cat, Unbridled Song, Point Given, Wild Again, Forestry, Holy Bull, Prized, Turko's Turn, and Funny Cide. Jockeys and trainers have signed several items that the Haven has sold. Barbara Livingston, Andy Padilla, and others have donated photos. The Haven runs auctions of the memorabilia through eBay; their id is ourmims-org.
OMRH has an important network of volunteers who help take care of the mares, provide repairs around the farm, and gather autographs, photos, and other memorabilia to help with the mares' upkeep.
Our Mims Retirement Haven is open for visitors with an appointment. The farm is just outside Paris on Millersburg Ruddles Mill Road. Please call Jeanne Mirabito at (859 ) 227-6304. For donations, please contact Cheryl Bellucci at (937) 776-1904.
Our Mims Retirement Haven
2810 Millersburg Ruddles Mill Rd
Paris KY 40361
Jeanne Mirabito
[email protected]
(859) 227-6304
Cheryl Bellucci
[email protected]
(937) 776-1904
Our Mims Retirement Haven Achieves Nonprofit Status
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