Serving the Washington Thoroughbred Industry for over 65 years

Second Chances

The Prodigious Fund

Graded stakes-placed Prodigious won or placed in half of his 52 starts over an eight-year campaign. He ended his career at Emerald Downs in 2007 running in the claiming ranks. (Photos © Reed Palmer Photography)

    Beginning with the 2008 season, owners at Emerald Downs will have the opportunity to effortlessly make contributions to accredited Thoroughbred rescue, retirement and rehabilitation facilities through a voluntary $1 per start minimum contribution from their horsemen’s bookkeeper accounts.
    All contributions to “The Prodigious Fund” will be disbursed at the end of each racing year to approved organizations. Emerald Downs will match every dollar raised by contributing owners.
    For the 2008 racing year, Emerald Downs has designated two charities to receive the proceeds: Second Chance Ranch, of Elma, and Chez Cheveaux, of Monroe.
    The Prodigious Fund is named in honor of the former racehorse that finished his career at Emerald Downs in 2007 as a 10-year-old. He raced 52 times at tracks from Emerald Downs to Del Mar. Fifteen percent of his starts were in graded stakes races, including two appearances in the Longacres Mile (G3). He ended his career in a $3,500 claiming event, but still managed to finish with a performance record of 50 percent in-the-money.
    Susie Sourwine, vice president of marketing at Emerald Downs, has been the driving force behind The Prodigious Fund. “We’ve had an amazing early response in pledges from our horsemen here,” she said.
    “Horses like Prodigious, who have raced past their ability to participate in a second career; others who need to be rescued from extremely neglectful situations, often one or two owners removed from their racetrack career; and those others just needing an expert hand to redirect them into a successful second career, deserve the financial support of the industry.”
    To be eligible to receive funds, organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) charity with a proven track record in the field for at least one year and must be Thoroughbred exclusive or dominant in their efforts.
    Second Chance Ranch (www.secondchanceranch.org) and Chez Cheveaux (www.chezchevaux.org) both have long histories of providing good homes to retired racehorses.
    “Owners and trainers at Emerald Downs are committed to finding good homes for all of the horses who leave the track and we are a valuable resource for them,” said Katie Merwick, president of Second Chance Ranch. “The Prodigious Fund will be a popular option for owners to support and honor the horses they love, all the way through retirement.”

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