Dear Thoroughbred Friends,

Saving one Thoroughbred often leads to saving another. This came true when After the Finish Line awarded their February emergency funds. Equine organizations in California, Oklahoma, New York/Kentucky and Pennsylvania came together to help Watchem Smokey and Picaso find safe homes when their racing careers were over. We couldn’t save these Thoroughbreds without your help. Your donation makes saving Thoroughbreds possible.

February emergency funds were awarded to Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program for Watchem Smokey. He raced for 8 years and earned $513k. Smokey won his first six races at Louisiana Downs with owner/trainer Cecil Borel (Calvin Borel’s brother). He was among the best young sprinters at the time and was purchased by Bobby Frankel who brought him to California. Smokey fell in a stakes race at Santa Anita because he was unable to avoid a fallen horse. He returned to racing after rehab but was never the same horse. He was claimed for $100k at Keeneland and then dropped to smaller stakes, allowance and finally claiming races. His career ended in a $4k claimer at Remington Park. Smokey was vanned off the track with a suspensory injury and was going to be euthanized. OTRP agreed to rehab and retire him. His owners pledge to support him never materialized. This classy 10 yo was ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Victor Espinoza, Edgar Prado and Julie Krone.

A friend of After the Finish Line contacted Old Friends – The Bobby Frankel Division in New York. Michael Blowen at Old Friends agreed to retire Watchem Smokey, a Bobby Frankel trained horse, at this facility. He will be leaving Oklahoma for his forever home when the weather is safe to travel.

Oklahoma Thoroughbred Retirement Program can now welcome another Oklahoma bred  named Picaso. Picaso was named the Oklahoma Bred Champion 2 yo male in 2007. He then suffered a leg injury while unloading from a trailer. More years of racing caused severe ankle and hock injuries that ended his racing career as a 4 yo. He earned $115k and last raced in a $4k claimer at Penn National.

After the Finish Line will provide emergency funds to sponsor Watchem Smokey and Picaso as well as cover the transportation expense for Smokey to get to Old Friends.

After the Finish Line is reviewing the grant applications. You will most likely never meet these horses in need. Yet as you look at the pictures in our newsletter you can see how your donations help to save and transition these Thoroughbreds off the track and into a second career.

If you know Thoroughbred ex-racehorses or broodmares at rescue organizations in need of funding assistance please contact us at dawn@afterthefinishline.org. After the Finish Line awards funding to qualified Thoroughbred rescue organizations to save horses at auctions, pay for surgery or medical expenses, provide hay and feed, pay boarding expenses, or transport a Thoroughbred to safety. 

Please join After the Finish Line’s Facebook page.

Sincerely,

Dawn Mellen, President/Founder
After the Finish Line
10153 Riverside Drive
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
www.afterthefinishline.org
dawn@afterthefinishline.org