USTA, Museum team up to host racing breeds adoption fair

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 - by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ --- The USTA and the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame will team up to present an adoption fair, featuring race horses and greyhounds, on Saturday, October 17. The event will be held at the Museum, on 240 Main Street in Goshen, N.Y., from noon to 3 p.m.

About a dozen Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds, ready for adoption, will be housed as guests of adjacent Historic Track, located behind the Museum. The horses can be viewed by prospective adopters at the track and learn more about the groups offering them for adoption at booths in the Museum. Both the Thoroughbred and Standardbred Retirement Foundations will send horses looking for a home, along with Equine Rescue Resource, located near the Museum in neighboring Pine Bush, N.Y.

Also joining the adoption fair will be a few greyhounds seeking a permanent home through Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation, of Cross River, N.Y. Since horse owners must also have a barn cat to keep rodents out of horse’s grain, the Goshen Animal Shelter will have cats in need of a job on display for potential adopters. The greyhounds and cats will be on hand to greet prospective adopters in the Museum, as only horses will be at Historic Track. All groups will have booths at the Museum.

Those who cannot adopt a horse, dog or cat, can find out about other ways to help the equine, canine and feline adoption groups, including volunteering, providing foster care or providing a donation.

“As part of our mission to present the best about racing, we’re happy to educate visitors about the many terrific horses and dogs off the track and looking for a new job,” said Museum President Ebby Gerry. “After Saratoga County, there are more horses in Orange County than anywhere else in New York. The Museum is in a good position to help put together people looking for a horse with the right animal for them and we’re happy to provide the venue.”

There is no charge to attend the adoption fair. The Museum will donate a portion of the day’s gift shop proceeds to each of the groups in attendance.

For more information regarding the Harness Racing Museum http://www.harnessmuseum.com/