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.