Post by Exceller Fund on Aug 10, 2008 16:43:28 GMT -5
Well, our press release got picked by a couple of publications, but it does not appear that the racing industry in general is paying much attention.
For those that have been loyal supporters of The Exceller Fund, this is an all too familiar refrain. TEF does seem to be invisible to the media at large even though we have had a MAJOR influence on the status of Thoroughbred rescue, adoption and retirement.
TEF helped forge alliances between other organizations. 8 years ago, NO organization was really working with anyone else. Now we see helpful alliances involving CANTER, TRF, Friends of Ferdinand and others.
TEF helped Michael Blowen and Old Friends get off the ground. We provided a lot of initial support including accepting credit card donations and helping him acquire his very first horse - Narrow Escape. We allowed him to take most of the publicity involving Rich In Dallas. We introduced him to Patricia and Myrna Van den Burg who are the people that successfully negotiated the return of Sunshine Forever and Creator from Japan.
Up until that point, a lot of peple were very skeptical that Old Friends would really be able to do anything. TEF contacted Michael about Taylor's Special after we disbursed funds to help move him off the property he was at before he was to be sold at a sherriff's auction. It is my honest opinion that had it not been for TEF, Old Friends would not be where it is today.
TEF helped the Fingerlakes Track Adoption Program get off the ground and provided the support for the trainer listings for the first two years.
CANTER and Friends of Ferdinand at least acknowledge the help we have provided them over the years.
We have answered so many calls for assistance, and we do so regardless if the horse is "famous" or not.
Right now we are trying to help the Mountaineer Racetrack start a track adoption program. It's been slow going, and honestly it would be easier to herd cats that to try and organize all the different players into a conference call!
So having said all that, here is the press release was sent out. Hopefully, everyone got this in an e-mail at the end of July. If not, send an e-mail to mail@excellerfund.org with your current e-mail address - and be SURE to check your Spam Folders! (Our updates wind up being routed to spam for some reason....)
August 1, 2008
Trainer Contessa named president of Exceller Fund
Gary Contessa, one of the nation’s leading Thoroughbred trainers, has been named president of the Exceller Fund, a non-profit organization that transitions former racehorses into new careers.
A Long Island native, Contessa began his career in the early 1970s at Belmont Park before obtaining his trainer’s license in 1985. Based year-round at the major New York tracks, Contessa currently ranks among America’s top-ten trainers.
“My whole life has been built around racehorses and I see this as an opportunity to give even more back to these wonderful animals,” Contessa said. “I have numerous retired Thoroughbreds at my farm in upstate New York and I have been a major supporter of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Equine Advocates for many years, but I want to do more. My primary focus will be raising awareness about the Exceller Fund and raising funds for the continuing care of the fund’s horses.”
The Exceller Fund (www.excellerfund.org) was formed more than ten years ago to honor Exceller, the Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred who died in a Swedish slaughterhouse in 1997 when he was deemed worthless as a breeding stallion. His accomplishments included the unique feat of defeating two Triple Crown winners—Affirmed and Seattle Slew—in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in New York.
The Exceller Fund’s mission is “providing a future beyond the finish line” for racehorses that are no longer productive at the track. Some are offered for adoption as riding horses or companions while others remain under the Exceller Fund’s care at a number of farms throughout the nation. The organization is financed through tax-deductible donations.
Contessa replaces Bonnie Mizrahi, an original member on the Exceller Fund board of directors who will maintain her position of treasurer. In other Exceller Fund news, Niki Smith has accepted the newly created position of executive director after serving as vice president of the volunteer-based organization. Billy Huntington, owner and operator of Huntington Equine in Lexington, Kentucky, has been added to the board of directors.
“I am very excited by this new development,” Mizrahi said. “I have always considered The Exceller Fund to be fans of racing who are seeking to help the horses that provided the thrills, the beauty, and the nobility that make racing the Sport of Kings. To have a major trainer such as Gary Contessa want to be the president and champion our efforts is a thrill and an honor. I believe this will signal to fans that racing does not turn a ‘blind eye’ to the horses once they are done, and I hope it will inspire others to realize that The Exceller Fund wants to work with racing to provide a ‘future beyond the finish line’ for these magnificent Thoroughbreds.”
For those that have been loyal supporters of The Exceller Fund, this is an all too familiar refrain. TEF does seem to be invisible to the media at large even though we have had a MAJOR influence on the status of Thoroughbred rescue, adoption and retirement.
TEF helped forge alliances between other organizations. 8 years ago, NO organization was really working with anyone else. Now we see helpful alliances involving CANTER, TRF, Friends of Ferdinand and others.
TEF helped Michael Blowen and Old Friends get off the ground. We provided a lot of initial support including accepting credit card donations and helping him acquire his very first horse - Narrow Escape. We allowed him to take most of the publicity involving Rich In Dallas. We introduced him to Patricia and Myrna Van den Burg who are the people that successfully negotiated the return of Sunshine Forever and Creator from Japan.
Up until that point, a lot of peple were very skeptical that Old Friends would really be able to do anything. TEF contacted Michael about Taylor's Special after we disbursed funds to help move him off the property he was at before he was to be sold at a sherriff's auction. It is my honest opinion that had it not been for TEF, Old Friends would not be where it is today.
TEF helped the Fingerlakes Track Adoption Program get off the ground and provided the support for the trainer listings for the first two years.
CANTER and Friends of Ferdinand at least acknowledge the help we have provided them over the years.
We have answered so many calls for assistance, and we do so regardless if the horse is "famous" or not.
Right now we are trying to help the Mountaineer Racetrack start a track adoption program. It's been slow going, and honestly it would be easier to herd cats that to try and organize all the different players into a conference call!
So having said all that, here is the press release was sent out. Hopefully, everyone got this in an e-mail at the end of July. If not, send an e-mail to mail@excellerfund.org with your current e-mail address - and be SURE to check your Spam Folders! (Our updates wind up being routed to spam for some reason....)
August 1, 2008
Trainer Contessa named president of Exceller Fund
Gary Contessa, one of the nation’s leading Thoroughbred trainers, has been named president of the Exceller Fund, a non-profit organization that transitions former racehorses into new careers.
A Long Island native, Contessa began his career in the early 1970s at Belmont Park before obtaining his trainer’s license in 1985. Based year-round at the major New York tracks, Contessa currently ranks among America’s top-ten trainers.
“My whole life has been built around racehorses and I see this as an opportunity to give even more back to these wonderful animals,” Contessa said. “I have numerous retired Thoroughbreds at my farm in upstate New York and I have been a major supporter of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Equine Advocates for many years, but I want to do more. My primary focus will be raising awareness about the Exceller Fund and raising funds for the continuing care of the fund’s horses.”
The Exceller Fund (www.excellerfund.org) was formed more than ten years ago to honor Exceller, the Racing Hall of Fame Thoroughbred who died in a Swedish slaughterhouse in 1997 when he was deemed worthless as a breeding stallion. His accomplishments included the unique feat of defeating two Triple Crown winners—Affirmed and Seattle Slew—in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in New York.
The Exceller Fund’s mission is “providing a future beyond the finish line” for racehorses that are no longer productive at the track. Some are offered for adoption as riding horses or companions while others remain under the Exceller Fund’s care at a number of farms throughout the nation. The organization is financed through tax-deductible donations.
Contessa replaces Bonnie Mizrahi, an original member on the Exceller Fund board of directors who will maintain her position of treasurer. In other Exceller Fund news, Niki Smith has accepted the newly created position of executive director after serving as vice president of the volunteer-based organization. Billy Huntington, owner and operator of Huntington Equine in Lexington, Kentucky, has been added to the board of directors.
“I am very excited by this new development,” Mizrahi said. “I have always considered The Exceller Fund to be fans of racing who are seeking to help the horses that provided the thrills, the beauty, and the nobility that make racing the Sport of Kings. To have a major trainer such as Gary Contessa want to be the president and champion our efforts is a thrill and an honor. I believe this will signal to fans that racing does not turn a ‘blind eye’ to the horses once they are done, and I hope it will inspire others to realize that The Exceller Fund wants to work with racing to provide a ‘future beyond the finish line’ for these magnificent Thoroughbreds.”