Thoroughbred Retirement FoundationBlue Million, Author at Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation https://trfinc.org/author/blue-million/ Saving Horses, Changing Lives™ Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:45:54 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Breeders’ Cup 2025: Beyond the Finish Line https://trfinc.org/breeders-cup-2025/ https://trfinc.org/breeders-cup-2025/#respond Tue, 04 Nov 2025 15:40:52 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1733 Breeders’ Cup Week: Beyond the Finish Line Breeders’ Cup Week: Celebrating Life Beyond the Track Each year, the Breeders’ Cup celebrates excellence in Thoroughbred racing; speed, athleticism, and the unforgettable thrill these horses bring to the sport. This year, during…

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]]> Breeders’ Cup Week:
Beyond the Finish Line
Breeders’ Cup Week: Celebrating Life Beyond the Track

Each year, the Breeders’ Cup celebrates excellence in Thoroughbred racing; speed, athleticism, and the unforgettable thrill these horses bring to the sport. This year, during Breeders’ Cup week, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation took a moment to shift the spotlight to what comes after the finish line.

The TRF shared stories from some of the industry’s most respected trainers and owners, each reflecting on a horse they once trained or cared for, a horse who now enjoys sanctuary, safety, and peace within the TRF herd. Their words were heartfelt reminders that aftercare is not separate from racing; it is an essential continuation of a horse’s story.

Honoring Horses and the People Who Remember Them

Some of the horses highlighted in this series have been retired with the TRF for more than two decades. Others have found new purpose through the TRF Second Chances Program, where they work with incarcerated individuals learning empathy, patience, emotional regulation, and responsibility.

Whether a horse won major stakes or never made the headlines, each one contributed to the industry. And each one deserves to be remembered, valued, and cared for, for life.

Featured Connections in This Series

  • Chad Brown, reflecting on Jaystone, now part of the Second Chances Program at Wallkill Correctional Facility (NY)

  • Amy Dunne, speaking about One Eighty, who resides at Lowell Correctional Institution (FL) as part of Second Chances

  • Mark Hennig, sharing appreciation for Air Kiss, retired for more than 20 years at TRF’s Powhatan Plantation Sanctuary Farm (VA)

  • Graham Motion, acknowledging multiple former trainees who now enjoy retirement with the TRF

  • Bill Mott, reminiscing about Classic Campaign, now a teacher in the Second Chances Program at Lowell Correctional Institution (FL)

  • Dale Romans, discussing Point Storm, who has been retired with the TRF for two decades

  • Todd Pletcher, reflecting on Mr. Viber, now retired within the TRF herd

Why These Stories Matter

These voices help remind us that:

  • Retirement is not an afterthought.

  • Every horse, regardless of racing success or earnings, deserves dignified lifetime care.

  • Aftercare works best when shared across the industry; owners, trainers, fans, and foundations all playing a role.

Their participation in this campaign sends a powerful message:
The future of aftercare relies on acknowledgment, responsibility, and compassion.

Be Part of the Legacy

If these stories inspired you, we invite you to take the next step.

Sponsor a retired Thoroughbred:
HERE

Watch the full Breeders’ Cup Connections Series:
HERE

Together, we honor the horses who gave us their all, not only during their racing careers, but throughout their long, meaningful lives.

 

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]]> https://trfinc.org/breeders-cup-2025/feed/ 0 Maggie Wolfendale Morley Interview with Light Up Racing on the TRF https://trfinc.org/light-up-racing-interview/ https://trfinc.org/light-up-racing-interview/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:20:49 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1717 TRF Board Member Maggie Wolfendale-Morley: “The reason we get up … is for the love of the horse” We are honored to feature a powerful conversation with Maggie Wolfendale-Morley, TRF board member, NYRA paddock analyst, and lifelong horsewoman, as she…

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]]> TRF Board Member Maggie Wolfendale-Morley:
“The reason we get up … is for the love of the horse”

We are honored to feature a powerful conversation with Maggie Wolfendale-Morley, TRF board member, NYRA paddock analyst, and lifelong horsewoman, as she reflects on why aftercare matters, how the TRF is changing lives, and what the future holds for the horses and people we serve.

“Not only is the TRF saving people, they’re also changing lives.”

Maggie’s commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare comes from a personal, deep place. In her interview with Light Up Racing, she shared stories of sanctuary, second chances, and the quiet dignity of horses’ later years. We are incredibly grateful to Light Up Racing for highlighting this crucial conversation and for giving the TRF’s mission greater reach. Thank you, Maggie, for your passion, advocacy, and unwavering heart for these horses.

TRF’s Promise of Sanctuary

When the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation began in 1983, its mission was clear: rescue horses from risk of neglect, abuse, or slaughter, and provide them with forever sanctuary. Maggie underscores that the TRF doesn’t just shelter horses, it makes them family the day they arrive. If adopted, they always have a place to return.

Today, the TRF cares for nearly 400 retired Thoroughbred racehorses supported by staff, farm managers, and volunteers. Their care is 24/7, driven by one guiding principle: “the love of the horse.”

Second Chances for Horses and People

One of the most transformative programs the TRF operates is the TRF Second Chances program, a collaboration with correctional facilities in eight states. Inmates care for the horses, forging healing connections and learning empathy, patience, and gentleness.

Maggie shared,

“When you put them together in a beautiful setting, everybody just learns to relax. The connection they establish… brings them so much peace.”

The change is profound: the horse reflects what you project, and many incarcerated individuals discover new purpose through that reflection.

The Heart Behind the Work

It gets personal. Maggie paused, voice slightly catching, when she said:

“I wouldn’t have my life, my career, or my family … if it weren’t for these horses.”

Each morning, she tends to her own horse. That relationship is therapeutic, grounding, and deeply human. And to her, the notion that any horse could be considered a “disposable product” is “utterly crushing to my soul.” That conviction powers her every step as a board member and advocate for the TRF.

About Maggie Wolfendale-Morley

Maggie comes from deep racing roots: a third‐generation horsewoman who serves as a paddock analyst with NYRA while also contributing to her husband’s training operation. Her broadcasting insight, love for OTTBs, and advocacy in aftercare make her voice a uniquely powerful one in the industry.

Watch the full interview HERE.

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]]> https://trfinc.org/light-up-racing-interview/feed/ 0 Horse Spotlight: Astro Force https://trfinc.org/astro-force/ https://trfinc.org/astro-force/#respond Mon, 13 Oct 2025 01:17:22 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1709 Astro Force: The “Grandpa” of Ashby Station Sanctuary Farm Astro Force has become something of a legend at Ashby Station Sanctuary Farm. At the ripe age of 32 years old, this Canadian-bred gelding (Katowice — Above the Stars, by Pia…

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]]> Astro Force:
The “Grandpa” of Ashby Station Sanctuary Farm

Astro Force has become something of a legend at Ashby Station Sanctuary Farm. At the ripe age of 32 years old, this Canadian-bred gelding (Katowice — Above the Stars, by Pia Star) is one of the most recognizable faces in the herd. With 36 starts, 8 wins, and a respectable earnings record, he transitioned into retirement in December 2000, when the TRF welcomed him into sanctuary life.

Ashby Station: A Sanctuary in Front Royal, VA

Nestled on 150+ acres just outside of Front Royal, Virginia, Ashby Station is one of the TRF’s sanctuary farms. It is home to over 60 retired Thoroughbred racehorses, with their average age being about 22 years old. The farm gives them space to live in a natural herd setting, where our retirees are free to graze, rest, and age with dignity.

A Day in the Life: Astro Force’s Rhythm

Astro is known for his strong opinions and laid-back approach to life. He’s not a fan of fly spray or fly masks, but he tolerates his biweekly bug treatments with a grumpy kind of grace. His treat palate is famously selective: only German Horse Muffins or German Minty Muffins make the cut.

Dinner time is optional. Some days, he’ll linger outside and watch the sunset rather than head in. After over two decades of sanctuary life, we think he’s earned that choice.

The Meaning of Lifelong Care

Astro is a living testament to the TRF’s sanctuary being a home for life. Whether a horse arrives after its second or third athletic career, or is freshly retired from the racetrack, the TRF gives them decades of care, love, and respect. Astro’s long, healthy life in retirement is proof of what is possible when commitment meets compassion.

Support Their Next Chapter

Your sponsorship or donation helps feed, heal, and house horses like Astro for as long as they live. You’re not just supporting a day, you’re ensuring a future.

Learn more and explore sponsorship: Sponsor a Horse

Because every racehorse deserves a safe place to land.

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]]> https://trfinc.org/astro-force/feed/ 0 TRF Second Chances Graduate Spotlight: Lauren Vannucci https://trfinc.org/trf-second-chances-graduate-spotlight-lauren-vannucci/ https://trfinc.org/trf-second-chances-graduate-spotlight-lauren-vannucci/#respond Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:26:33 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1675 From Purpose Inside to Possibility Outside   When Lauren Vannucci learned she’d been accepted into the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program at Lowell Correctional Facility, she cried tears of relief, hope, and the feeling that a different future had…

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]]> From Purpose Inside to Possibility Outside
 

When Lauren Vannucci learned she’d been accepted into the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program at Lowell Correctional Facility, she cried tears of relief, hope, and the feeling that a different future had just come into view. “It truly changed my life,” she says.

The TRF Second Chances program is a vocational training program that places retired Thoroughbred racehorses in correctional facilities, where participants learn daily horse care and workplace skills while providing hands-on stewardship to the horses. The Lowell Correctional Farm, which was launched in 2000, operates on approximately 100 acres and cares for 50 retired racehorses, pairing classroom instruction with barn routines and hands-on horsemanship.

For Vannucci, horses had long been a source of calm. Inside the Second Chances program, they became teachers. The cadence of grooming, leading, and groundwork taught patience, presence, and accountability. “Working with horses has always been a healing time for me. If I can work with and ride these 1,000-pound animals, I can pretty much do anything I strive to do,” she says. The program’s training focus is on feeding, grooming, handling, and safety, which equips participants with transferable skills for equine jobs post-release.

Asked to name a defining challenge, Vannucci points to a young Thoroughbred named OK Dude. Freshly gelded and recently off the track, he tested boundaries. “He pushed my buttons every day until we learned to work correctly with each other,” she recalls. The turning point was not dramatic but incremental: “We annoyed each other, invaded each other’s space, and ultimately taught each other to slow down, breathe, and try again tomorrow. We don’t have to be perfect; we just need to try our best.”

“The farm gave me purpose,” Vannucci says. Through Second Chances, she developed industry-relevant skills and met volunteers who helped her secure employment after release, the program’s intended pathway from training to opportunity. In the years since, Vannucci has publicly shared her story about how the program set her on a new trajectory and why retired racehorses make such powerful partners in rehabilitation and re-entry.

“Second Chances is a great program that can help people change their lives in so many ways,” Vannucci says. “There are good, hard-working people incarcerated who want to live a better life upon release, and they have the skills to be productive members of society.” Her advice to new participants is simple: “Take full advantage of it; it can be life-changing.”

How to Help

Lauren’s second chance and the dignified lifetime care of the horses who made it possible exist because of supporters who believe in TRF’s mission. To sustain Second Chances and sanctuary care at Lowell and other partner facilities, make a gift or sponsor a horse today!

Jails to Jobs Article
Spectrum News 13 Article
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Lauren Vannucci Article
Lauren Vannucci’s BBQ Event Speech 2025

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]]> https://trfinc.org/trf-second-chances-graduate-spotlight-lauren-vannucci/feed/ 0 Staff Spotlight: Liz Bennett https://trfinc.org/liz-bennett/ https://trfinc.org/liz-bennett/#respond Wed, 03 Sep 2025 15:08:10 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1629 Staff Spotlight: Liz Bennett From TRF Adopter to TRF Teammate A Lifelong Connection to TRF For Liz Bennett, her journey with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation began long before she officially joined the team. Her family adopted their first TRF horse…

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]]> Staff Spotlight: Liz Bennett

From TRF Adopter to TRF Teammate

A Lifelong Connection to TRF

For Liz Bennett, her journey with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation began long before she officially joined the team. Her family adopted their first TRF horse back in 1998, and since then, the connection has only grown deeper. With six TRF adoptions to date and countless hours spent volunteering, Liz’s dedication to the mission is rooted in decades of personal experience and passion.

“When a position became available that aligned with my skill set, I didn’t hesitate to apply,” Liz shared. Now, as a valued member of our team, she brings heart, knowledge, and hands-on experience to everything she does.

Why Liz Loves Her Role

What does Liz love most about working at the TRF?
“The ability to help horses and humans alike each day.”

That simple statement says so much. Liz is deeply committed to the TRF’s dual mission of providing lifetime care for retired racehorses and creating life-changing opportunities through our Second Chances programs.

A Moment That Left a Mark

One of Liz’s most memorable TRF experiences happened before she even joined the team. Her family had traveled to adopt two TRF horses from the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts, the first adoption from that new Second Chances location.

“When we arrived to pick up the horses, a few of the incarcerated individuals were crying,” she recalled. “It made me realize how impactful a program of this nature can be.”

That moment stuck with her, and it still fuels her commitment today.

Meet Her Favorite TRF Horses

When asked to pick a favorite, Liz couldn’t narrow it down to just one:

  • Private Relations, the last remaining TRF adoptee in her current herd, was adopted from the Wallkill Correctional Facility.

  • St. Augustine, a special horse she met years ago at Plymouth County, is now residing at Wallkill Correctional Facility.

These horses represent not just her personal connection, but the meaningful relationships formed across states and seasons through TRF’s lifelong commitment to care.

What the TRF Mission Means to Her

To Liz, the TRF’s mission is best summed up in three words:
“Hope. Opportunity. Purpose.”

And that goes for both the horses and the people we serve. “The success stories of horses thriving in our herd, or finding their way to loving adopters, and the individuals flourishing after release are proof that our work is making a difference,” she said. “Knowing I’m a small piece of that puzzle is motivation enough for me.”

Life at TRF: A New Adventure Every Day

Liz describes her TRF experience in one word:
“An adventure!”

“No day is ever the same when you’re working with horses,” she laughed. And we wouldn’t have it any other way!

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]]> https://trfinc.org/liz-bennett/feed/ 0 Event Wrap-Up: TRF Backyard BBQ 2025 https://trfinc.org/trf-backyard-bbq-2025/ https://trfinc.org/trf-backyard-bbq-2025/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:04:37 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1657 TRF Backyard BBQ Draws Record Crowd in SaratogaMore than 500 attend Rood & Riddle Saratoga; proceeds support lifetime care and Second Chances SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s annual Backyard BBQ welcomed more than 500 guests at Rood…

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]]> TRF Backyard BBQ Draws Record Crowd in Saratoga
More than 500 attend Rood & Riddle Saratoga; proceeds support lifetime care and Second Chances

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s annual Backyard BBQ welcomed more than 500 guests at Rood & Riddle Saratoga, one of the most successful events in its history. The evening blended philanthropy and community, with proceeds directed to TRF’s mission of dignified lifetime care for retired racehorses and to the TRF’s Second Chances program, the organization’s vocational training program operated in partnership with correctional institutions across the country.

Funds raised through ticket sales, the paddle raise, and the silent auction will underwrite essential care, including feed, hay, bedding, and veterinary and farrier services, as well as sustain classroom materials and hands-on instruction for the Second Chances participants. The program places retired Thoroughbred racehorses in structured settings where daily routines build horsemanship skills, work habits, and confidence that translate beyond the farm.

A highlight of the evening was a speech by Second Chances graduate Lauren Vannucci, an alumna of the Lowell Correctional Institution program and now founder of Figure 8 Media. Vannucci described how the program provided purpose during incarceration and transferable skills after release, underscoring the program’s emphasis on patience, communication, responsibility, and resilience.

The TRF expresses appreciation to Rood & Riddle Saratoga for hosting, as well as to the sponsors whose support made the night possible. We also thank silent-auction donors for fueling enthusiastic bidding and the catering and bar teams for their hospitality. The event would not have been possible without our volunteers for on-the-ground execution.

The record turnout carries immediate impact: additional months of hay and feed are secured, veterinary and farrier coverage will expand, and resources for Second Chances classrooms will be strengthened in the months ahead.

A photo gallery and video highlights will be shared on the TRF social channels for attendees and supporters. The TRF Backyard BBQ will return next season in Saratoga; supporters and prospective sponsors are encouraged to watch for ticket announcements and updates at TRFinc.org and across all social channels.

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]]> https://trfinc.org/trf-backyard-bbq-2025/feed/ 0 Horse Spotlight: Celestial City https://trfinc.org/celestial-city/ https://trfinc.org/celestial-city/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:28:26 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1649 Celestial City: Healing, Teaching, and Thriving at Lowell Correctional Celestial City: A Steady Light at Second Chances Lowell Celestial City arrived at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation with the résumé of a true professional and the heart of a barn favorite.…

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]]> Celestial City:
Healing, Teaching, and Thriving at Lowell Correctional

Celestial City: A Steady Light at Second Chances Lowell

Celestial City arrived at the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation with the résumé of a true professional and the heart of a barn favorite. Foaled March 1, 2019, the bay Kentucky-bred gelding is by Uncle Mo out of Lunar Evening (by Malibu Moon). On the racetrack, he made 10 starts, earning $348,420.

A New Home & A New Role

Today, Celestial City lives at TRF’s Second Chances Farm at Lowell Correctional Institution. If you spend five minutes with him, you’ll discover his trademarks: gentle eyes, a steady stride, and an enthusiastic love for treats.

For the women in our program, Celestial is both teacher and healer. Through daily care, grooming, handling, groundwork, leading, and basic horsemanship, participants learn patience, communication, and trust. Celestial meets them where they are, offering calm feedback and the kind of quiet confidence only a seasoned Thoroughbred can provide. As with all TRF Second Chances horses, the transformation flows in both directions; while Celestial gains the comfort and consistency of dignified lifetime care, the women gain new skills, a sense of responsibility, and a living example of resilience.

Why His Story Matters

Every TRF horse carries a story that ripples beyond the barn aisle. Celestial City’s path, from the speed and spotlight of the track to the thoughtful rhythm of a teaching role, perfectly illustrates the power of Second Chances. He didn’t just retire; he re-purposed. And in doing so, he helps people re-imagine what’s possible for themselves, too.

Celestial City was responsibly retired to the TRF on 4/23/23 and will remain in our care for the rest of his life. Your support ensures that his veterinary care, nutrition, and farrier work are covered, and it sustains the TRF Second Chances curriculum, which changes lives, both equine and human.

How You Can Help

If Celestial City’s story speaks to you, consider sponsoring one of our retired racehorses, supporting our Second Chances program at Lowell, or making a gift in honor of the horses who’ve given us their all.

Learn more and explore sponsorship: Sponsor a Horse

Because every horse deserves a safe place to land, and every student deserves a patient, four-legged teacher like Celestial City.

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]]> https://trfinc.org/celestial-city/feed/ 0 LALO Cocktail Event 2025 Photos https://trfinc.org/lalo-cocktail-event-2025-photos/ https://trfinc.org/lalo-cocktail-event-2025-photos/#respond Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:57:28 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1647 Enjoy the photos from our LALO Tequila Cocktail Event 2025 at the link here –> Click to see LALO 2025 Photos

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]]> Enjoy the photos from our LALO Tequila Cocktail Event 2025 at the link here –> Click to see LALO 2025 Photos

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]]> https://trfinc.org/lalo-cocktail-event-2025-photos/feed/ 0 Backyard BBQ 2025 Photos https://trfinc.org/backyard-bbq-2025-photos/ https://trfinc.org/backyard-bbq-2025-photos/#respond Thu, 21 Aug 2025 17:01:43 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1644 Enjoy the photos from our Backyard BBQ 2025 at the link here –> Click to see Backyard BBQ 2025 Photos

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]]> Enjoy the photos from our Backyard BBQ 2025 at the link here –> Click to see Backyard BBQ 2025 Photos

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]]> https://trfinc.org/backyard-bbq-2025-photos/feed/ 0 Backyard BBQ 2025 Digital Program https://trfinc.org/backyard-bbq-2025-digital-program/ https://trfinc.org/backyard-bbq-2025-digital-program/#respond Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:38:23 +0000 https://trfinc.org/?p=1642
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