support for horse rescue

[mightyhijames]

the article below is from the thoroughbred times today. assuming it's all legit, i've passed it to the maryland racing officials, suggesting that they get with these guys or install a similar program. i think it's a great idea and thought maybe some of you might want to pass it along as well. i went to the monmouth website to the gift shop but wasn't able to find one of these.


New Jersey horsemen sell magnets to raise awareness for horse rescue

Project dubbed Magshoe also raises funds for adoption organizations

Ribbon-shaped magnets, from those that honor United States troops serving overseas to those that raise awareness of breast cancer victims and survivors, are a common sight on vehicles. Using the popular idea, a trio of New Jersey horse owners launched a project to sell purple and black horseshoe-shaped magnets to raise awareness of the need to find homes for retired racehorses and raise funds for rescue and adoption organizations.

Tom Swales, owner of Tee-N-Jay Farm in Holmdel, New Jersey, along with Randy DePolo and Greg Mascera collaborated on designing the magnet for horsemen and racing fans to place on their vehicles. Magnets are available for $5 each at the gift shops at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands and can be ordered via mail and e-mail. All proceeds are slated for distribution to organizations such as ReRun and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

More than 2,000 magnets had been sold as of mid-December, but Swales said the amount is allowing the group just to break even financially. "I've taken a lot of money out of my pocket," said Swales, a former sportswriter who serves as vice president of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey.

Swales teamed up on the project, dubbed Magshoe, with fellow association board member DePolo and Mascera. The three previously owned horses together in partnership, with some running under the name of DePolo's Headless Horsemen Racing Stable. They also own and race Thoroughbreds under separate entities.

Swales stands the Silver Deputy stallion Deputy Warlock at Tee-N-Jay and has ten to 12 horses in training with Tim Hills. He recalled the incident that opened his eyes to the problem of Thoroughbreds being sent to slaughter.

"Once, we sold a horse off the farm through one of my employees," Swales said. "The guy came in and said he had a wonderful home with a little girl for the horse. So, we sent a couple of others out with him. We found out that the guy was sending them to the killers. I did everything I could to find them. I found one of them that we bought back for $600, and I wound up giving the horse away."

Swales fired the employee, and the horse that escaped slaughter went on to become a blue ribbon-winning show horse. The incident lit a fire in the three men.

"If you have any kind of heart, you just don't throw away a horse," Swales said. "Others we find on farms are suffering from a lack of nutrition. People feed themselves before they feed their own horses."

Swales, DePolo, and Mascera decided to do something about the situation by making private donations to rescue and adoption organizations, but they were not in the position to raise large sums of money. That is when the idea of the magnets was born.

"We've sold some privately, and a lot of people have made huge donations," Swales said. "We're hoping it's something that takes off."

Marketing the magnets and making their presence known inside and outside the racing community is a key factor.

"We are hoping to eventually develop a website and find quicker, more efficient ways to get these magnets to as many horsemen and horsewomen as possible," DePolo said. "I think it is just as important to boost the awareness of this issue as it is to raise the money. Visibility is the key, and these magnets are darned good looking."--Tom De Martini

[mightyhijames]

fyi, i sent this to the maryland racing office and got a quick response. they think it's a great idea so hopefully, this could kick off a successful to promote horse rescue and stop the slaughter.

[BJ]

fyi, i sent this to the maryland racing office and got a quick response. they think it's a great idea so hopefully, this could kick off a successful to promote horse rescue and stop the slaughter.

Good work! Any idea is a good idea AS LONG AS the money actually goes to saving horses.

I still think a percentage of a breeders "awards" and the horse's earnings ought to go to a fund to provide a safe existence for at risk horses. It really amazes me how many people are willing to risk their livelyhoods on trying to make a living in breeding and racing horses, and how few are willing to put anything toward caring about the horse they created. That is why it needs to be a mandatory part of the industry.

[parsixfarms]

In New York, owners can advise the Horsemen's Bookkeeper, on a voluntary basis, that they want a per start contribution made to the "Ferdinand Fund." I just received the check-off form from the bookkeeper's office. Hopefully, many owners in NY will support this cause.

[Our Mims]

Great idea!

[Tairaterces]

Someone on the DelMar forum suggested that collection jars be put at the windows where you cash in your winning tickets as most people will throw in their change . . . . . . I know I would . . . . .

Tairaterces