Halter worn by Rachel Alexandra up for auction

Horse of the Year RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) had her first recorded work of the 2010

racing season at Fair Grounds Sunday morning, but beginning Friday a special

commemorative stable halter once worn by the magnificent filly will go on

display in the Fair Grounds clubhouse.

The halter, encased in a handsome shadow box, includes the signatures of trainer

Steve Asmussen and jockey Calvin Borel as part of the display, and has already

become the subject of a silent auction to kick off a barn-raising fundraiser for

the Remember Me Racehorse Rescue facility operated by Fair Grounds-based trainer

Dallas Keen and his wife Donna.

"We are deeply indebted to Steve (Asmussen) and Mr. (Jess) Jackson for

supporting Remember Me Racehorse Rescue by donating Rachel Alexandra's halter to

help support retired racehorses," Donna Keen said. "We want to

thank them for their gesture."

Remember Me Rescue placed 36 retired racehorses in new homes in 2009, some of

which were rescued from slaughter by the couple, but new horses are coming in

constantly.

"We have to put forth a huge fundraising effort to build a new barn," Donna Keen

explained on Remember Me Rescue's website, teamkeen.com. "I refuse to stop

taking in new horses, so the fundraising begins."

On March 20, the silent auction for Rachel Alexandra's halter and shadow box

will end, and the top two bidders will be asked to participate in a live auction

at Fair Grounds on March 26 when the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) will be run.

Rachel Alexandra won last season's Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to Horse of the

Year honors, and became the fourth of the last five Fair Grounds Oaks winners to

go on and win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) later in the spring.

For information on submitting a bid, visit teamkeen.com.