Horse Names Shed Light on Many Lives and Experiences

A few months ago there was a Facebook contest allowing horse lovers; in particular race horse lovers, to suggest what their own race horse name would be if given an opportunity to name themselves.

The idea became the book Horsenameographies "Life Stories In A Race Horse Name", published by Caballo Press. The book will be available in April, but I received my advance purchased copy yesterday. www.caballopress.com The editors have generously earmarked ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of the book to support Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue and Re Run Thoroughbred Adoption.

I was one of the fortunate ones to have my race horse name sininasugarcone added to the book (it's on page 113). After reading the entire book in one sitting this morning, I realized I short-changed myself by not really putting the full reason for the choice of my race horse name. I regret that now. I read with laughs and tears some of the names that were written. I recognized many of the authors of these "horsey names", and learned much about some that I never knew. If there is a second edition, I plan on submitting another name, and telling my story as well. Here were a few names in particular that I liked and short explaination of each as written by the contributing members.

Meet My Hero "when I took him on I was a troubled 15 year old girl, I quickly realized how much of a hero he really was to me (Heroic Sovereign)"

See You At The Wire " Life is a wonderful challenge and I compare it to a horse race"

Smilestoomuch "In a performance review for my job I was told I smile too much"

Stormy Weather " I am a former foster child, and my life has been more or less stormy weather. I've been beat down, kicked around, but I'm still standing"

Dead Reckoning " an old nautical term that means; in brief, when you've lost your way via the stars, you will make it home regardless"

PMS and a Handgun " I am a female police officer"

Inner Savvy " ...Mama finds them both, little girl gazing up into brown eyes, tall stallion staring back into hazel ones"

brokengps " I'm not sure what to do with my life and not sure where to turn next"

Silent Warrior " I stand in the gap, not at the rail"

Home Sweet Home " I came from a country with no racetrack, Romania, no jockeys, no trainers. I'm the first one to win a race outside Romania since 1945"

Allbecauseofyou " I'm a chronic loner...despite being happiest on my own, I could not have done it all alone"

Velvet Chaos " My life has been adventurous, ever changing, ever moving, sometimes wonderful sometimes not---chaotic. Yet I remain soft, giving, loving and optimistic"

and my favorite Nerve..... "I used to gallop a horse named Nerve, and no matter how much he hurt he still was happy and trudged on. I often had pain as well but more emotional pain. My story saddens most, but I use to find myself talking myself off the ledge on a daily basis. If I was famous people would pay money for my story. Needless to say, when I woke up one morning to nothing, no memories, no dog, no clothes, no nothing, only an old car to sleep in, not even an identity, all stolen and lost in a fire by a man I thought I loved. So it took a lot of Nerve for me to trudge on in life. Someday maybe I will have the Nerve to tell all".

Time to Pick a New Calendar--- Here is One I Recommend

Magic Route before and Magic Route after his arrival and return to health by Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue (photos by Laurie Taylor/TMA) from the SCTR website http://www.sctrescue.org/



Several organizations, rescue and retirement agencies (horse and otherwise) are selling calendars to support their groups.

One of the calendars that I have personally been excited to see (and purchased today) is the one offered by Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue (SCTR).



SCTR has aptly named theirs "Still Winners". The featured cover boy is Luis Especial, a personal favorite of mine while he was racing the Southern California circuit.


Luis, was purchased from an auction lot on Kentucky Derby day for the princely ransom of $ 250 after earning $ 183,000 on track. This handsome dark bay is one of several horses showcasing the love, care and bloom of horses once deemed "trash", that SCTR has recycled back to their former selves in their 2010 calendar. Luis has since been adopted by a top equestrian trainer and is going to be in for a surprise (per Caroline Betts, founder and president of Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue) when training for his next professional career beginning in early Spring.


Other horses featured include Noble Gambler, Magic Route, and Sunday Match (lovingly renamed Bam-Bam and when you see his photo, you will understand why). Magic Route was a formerly starved horse that was rescued from his owner and patiently and quickly brought to life again. The transformation bears mention and notice, but pictures tell the real story and his are a tribute to the care that a horse can find itself in when taken in by SCTR. The cost of the calendar $ 24.95 plus shipping, equals $ 27.00 and is an attractive investment for the thoroughbreds that will be helped in the coming year. (Anything beyond the $ 27.00 would be appreciated).

If you would like a new calendar that makes a difference, may The Second Race suggest this one. To order go to their website http://www.sctbrescue.org/ and click on the header "2010 Calendar!", a link to PayPal is provided. If you want to send a check instead their address is SCTR, 635 Hacienda Drive, Norco, CA 92860.

Reflections on Six Months of Following a Dream

Worchester entered retirement to CERF in November

As 2009 comes to a close, and a decade filled with impossible tragedy, economic collapse and catastrophic events draws to an end I am reminded that there is still hope and possibility.

How can I make a statement like that? Because after losing two jobs in as many years, I decided to follow my bliss, and start The Second Race which endeavors to use the administrative, marketing and managerial skills that I have developed over the past 20 years, and use them to run the rescue/retirement of race horses like a business. I do my best each day to make business decisions, not emotional ones with respect to the horses. I work to be their advocate and have developed a 10 year business plan on their behalf. In a short 6 months; our Facebook page alone has over 4,000 members. Many of those facebook "friends" have contributed to the placement or have adopted a horse offered through The Second Race. We have also helped groups outside of my own via Facebook, and raised $ 1500 as my birthday wish, for the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue (SCTR). In turn this past week, SCTR purchased two ex-race horses from a local auction lot, sparing the lives of two more horses that others deemed "throw away".

Ocean Chief, being loaded up to his new home in October.

Horses have become the silent victims of this economy. Racing has let down the very athletes that millions of dollars are wagered on each day. Breeders have suffered, and in turn broodmares; no longer of use, due to declining inventories are cast aside like three day old bread. Many race horse owners have fallen out of love with owning expensive horses, and the cost of their hobby has meant that a non performing horse, finds itself quickly in peril.

Runamuq at his new home in September, receiving the first of several equine massages, donated through the networking of Facebook.

Through the networking efforts of many, The Second Race has been able to facilitate the adoption/transfer of 30 race horses into new homes or careers since it's inception in June.
We are currently networking on behalf of 13 more, and have helped to raise the bail monies for 2 ex-race horses in WA state, that were saved from a feedlot and 1 ex-race horse in NJ.

I am proud of this accomplishment and that I took a leap of faith, when many would think it ill advised. It requires a lot of hard work behind the scenes to find a home for a horse. Posting pictures on the Internet, marketing the horse, calling upon mentors for advice, screening applicants, verifying references, arranging transportation, asking for discounted services, relying on fosters, and at times asking the very owners who no longer want their horse to castrate their charge, or pay for the transportation itself. Because we do not have our non profit status, money spent is in most cases out of pocket. Several opportunities await us in the new year when our 501 (c) 3 status is granted--(donations, services at a discount, matching funds programs through employers, lease opportunities to name a few).

I have learned that people are generally good and want to help, I see this every day. For every bad situation (and there are many) that I read about or experience each day, there is a story of inspiration and hope. So many, do so much, with so little, that they inspire me to be a better person. To be able to contribute more and to push myself to dream bigger dreams, when it would be easy to abandon them altogether.

But when you follow your bliss, and you see the fruit of your passion you just can't stop. When you look into the brown, soulful eyes of a horse that relies on you for it's literal next meal, and when you see the happiness of another upon receipt of their new friend. Well words escape you, sleepless nights don't matter, and hours spent evaporate when you hear "the horse far exceeded my expectations".

2010 will bring more stories, more worry and more importantly more horses needing homes. I am happy that I have carved out a "niche" working directly with horsemen, racetracks, lay up farms and owners. I hope that in the short time of our existence as a business; we have saved some horses from going to groups like SCTR and others.

I hope that The Second Race in the new year, will provide a voice for the voiceless, and bring a synergy that does not exist to a bigger stage for those that toil each day on behalf of the race horses in the US and internationally. I truly believe that as we harness technology, using social networking and our modern vocabulary of Twitter and blogging, and as we rethink how to support each other instead of dividing, we will start a real change in this sport, and industry.

The Second Race is poised to take on the challenge, I personally can't wait!

"Thoroughbred Not Throw Away" Campaign Launches

It is with great pleasure that my organization, The Second Race, launches it's first of several message campaigns for racing breeds and other horses. The first is dedicated to our beloved Thoroughbreds called "Thoroughbred Not Throw Away". The logos are designed to deliver a strong message slated to create a dialouge, educate, raise awareness and most importantly funds to support selected organizations and the work that The Second Race was founded upon-- Networking for Results.

Using logo tees, The Second Race will share its philosophy in an intriguing way, that Thoroughbreds have the ability to go to other occupations after their racing careers are over and should not be put in harms way or sent to slaughter. The news is filled with stories of "unwanted" horses, and thoroughbreds find themselves often misunderstood or labeled as unmanageable, The Second Race, understands that this is not the truth. Horses today run the risk of being disposed of in increasing numbers, with the purchase of a "Thoroughbred Not Throw Away" t-shirt you are not only showing your support of this noble bred but will actually facilitate a one time rescue of a Thoroughbred through a partnership with the Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue (SCTR) http://www.sctbrescue.org/ group. (With each campaign launch a designated breed and group will be chosen to support).

$ 3.00 of each shirt will always go directly to equine related charities outside of The Second Race. For our special launch The Second Race has teamed up with SCTR to literally rescue a thoroughbred off an auction lot to save it's life. Your purchase of a t-shirt will contribute to the purchase price and 6 months of the horses care (quarantine through training and adoption). We will need to have 400 shirts sold to be able to donate $ 1200.00 to SCTR for this mission (*). Won't you purchase a t-shirt today to help with this mission?! SCTR will share the photo of the horse with us, and give us a few updates throughout the 6 months while we await a happy new home for this yet chosen horse.

An order form is available by emailing thesecondrace@gmail.com or calling 626-733-3815.

Pre-website price is $ 15.00 each, and a special offering: PURCHASE THREE OR MORE SHIRTS AND YOUR SHIPPING IS FREE.

If you are on Facebook, please join the Fan Page of The Second Race to see the work we are doing on behalf of the horses.

DISCLAIMER: The funds generated by the sale of the t-shirts and monies donated are at the discretion of The Second Race solely. (*) The $ 1200 is a donation amount, pre-determined by The Second Race and SCTR to allow the rescue of (one) horse and it's care for 6 months which is the average length of time for adoption. The Second Race will not bear any responsibility for the horse that the SCTR purchases and will not have any input into the care or adoption of the horse that the funds are donated for. Anyone that purchases a t-shirt will also not have any input to the purchase, care or adoption of the horse that is chosen. SCTR is a non profit 501 (c) 3 organization, however the purchase of a t-shirt does not count toward a tax deduction to either organization. Future purchases of t-shirts beyond the initial 400 needed for this promotion will not be for SCTR or designated as such. Thoroughbred Not Throw Away is a copyrighted, registered brand of The Second Race.

"So How Long Have You Been Into Horses?"

Anyone involved with horse rescue or consumed with saving them off the track or off an auction lot, has been asked "So how long have you been into horses"? Its akin I guess to how long have you been collecting baseball cards or watching ballroom dancing?. I think you are either "into them" from your earliest memory or something comes to your attention that spurs you into action. Into horses isn't a passive past time, it's an all consuming passion, well at least for me and the numerous others I have met in the past five years.

My earliest memory of a horse in my life was a palomino pony when I was three years of age named Peanut. Peanut was never as happy to see me, as I was to see him. He was owned by my babysitter and stood under a tree often enough for me to know where he would be. No apples or any other amount of temptation made Peanut happy to see me. He bit me often, but I didn't care, I always came back for more. Its the same with rescue, no matter how many times you are thwarted or discouraged, you come back for more.

I became involved with saving horses after I read that 1986 Kentucky Derby Winner Ferdinand had been thought to have been slaughtered overseas. Up to that point I had no idea that anyone wanted horse meat for human consumption. I didn't know about the network of race horses going to slaughter in the United States for European plates. I couldn't imagine that an American icon, the horse, was treated in such a disposable manner.

I wanted to do something, but really didn't know what I could do. I only had one mission and that was to make a difference in it's life. I started by doing a search on the Internet. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the subject. I found that there were a couple retirement places for California race horses and that seemed like the perfect fit for me. I began volunteering for the Exceller Fund http://www.excellerfund.org/ However, after a bit it became apparent to me that I needed to do more. I wanted to touch the horse that I was going to sponsor. I went back to the Internet and found CERF (California Equine Retirement Foundation) in Winchester http://www.cerfhorses.org/ I was thrilled to find out that there were a couple horses available for sponsorship and that my visiting the horse and spending time with him was not only welcomed but encouraged. That was in September 2004. I have been with CERF ever since. I went into my sponsorship of Remote Controller, my handsome chestnut boy, with the gesture that I was changing his life but in retrospect he changed the trajectory of my own, and rescued me instead.