BC owners, trainers pledge purse earnings to New Vocation

Some of horse racing's biggest stars are stepping up to the

plate to support New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program by pledging a

percentage of their purse earnings from the 2013 Breeders' Cup World

Championships.

For the fifth consecutive year, New Vocations Racehorse

Adoption Program is working with trainers and owners of Breeders' Cup contenders

to pledge a percentage of their earnings to support the program's mission to

rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retired racehorses. In the past four years the

Pledge has raised nearly $200,000.

"We are so happy to support such a great cause at this

year's Breeders' Cup," said trainer Doug O'Neill, who will start nine horses at

the World Championships. "There are so many excellent Thoroughbred retirement

and adoption organizations out there that care for these great athletes after

their racing careers and it's our responsibility as trainers and owners to

support their efforts."

To date 30 Championship contenders have owners and or

trainers supporting this year's Pledge. Trainers who have committed to pledge

include Bob Baffert, Kiaran McLaughlin, O'Neill, Todd Pletcher and Leah Gyarmati.

Dogwood Stables with Breeders Cup Classic contender Palace Malice and

Padua Stables with Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Authenticity lead the long

list of owners, which also include Conquest Stables, James Covello, Eclipse

Thoroughbred Partners, Klaravich Stables, Let's Go Stable, Ken and Sarah

Ramsey, Rosedown Racing Stables, Treadway Racing Stable, West Point

Thoroughbreds, WinStar Farm, Wonderland Racing and Zayat Stables.

New Vocations

will continue to seek pledges from additional owners and trainers leading up to

the event on Friday and Saturday.

"To us aftercare of a Thoroughbred is just as important as

racing them," Justin Zayat remarked. "We are horse lovers and when it comes to

retiring them it is always our number one priority to find a good and safe home.

There are no better people in the business to work with than New Vocations."

Zayat Stables pledged with all three of their contenders, including Paynter in

the Breeders' Cup Classic.

New Vocations first opened its doors to retired racehorses

looking for new careers in 1992. Starting with a single farm in Dayton, Ohio, the

program has grown to six facilities in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and

Pennsylvania. Serving more than 40 racetracks, New Vocations works directly with

owners and trainers in need of an aftercare program for horses leaving the

track.

Currently, the program leads the nation in racehorse adoptions, taking in

more than 400 horses a year. The program has a sound adoption system in place that is

proven to move a large number of horses in a rather short period of time. Their

focus is on adoption verses retirement, believing that retired racehorses who are physically able should have a chance to excel in a second career.

"We feel very blessed to receive so much support from the

owners and trainers participating in this year's campaign," said New Vocations

Program Director, Anna Ford. "The number of horses needing our services is huge

and the funds raised from the pledges will help us continue to grow. It is

fairly simple, the more money we raise the more horses we can take."

For more information on New Vocations and how you can help

support the program please visit

www.newvocations.org.

The complete pledge list:

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