March Update

On March 13, the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center (TRF-MMSC), located at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky will open its doors to the public for the 2010 season. The mission of the TRF-MMSC is to showcase the athleticism of the off track Thoroughbred. It takes in horses from the TRF as well as other rescue agencies, and gives them schooling for new careers before putting them up for adoption.      

To kick off the season, the TRF-MMSC is hosting a volunteer orientation from 10 to 12 with a complimentary lunch thereafter. Director, Susanna Thomas, Adoptions Coordinator, Melissa DeCarlo, and Farm Manger, Jerry Guinn, will introduce the horses, the campus, the program, and spell out all of its safety rules and needs. The TRF-MMSC relies on volunteers and will find work—from the barn to the office, for any one who is willing to help. A series of volunteer orientations will be held throughout the year.

In 2010, the TRF-MMSC is excited to build on its successful initiatives begun last year. These include the college and high school internship programs, volunteer certification, training library, and fundraising and sponsorship efforts. Most importantly, the TRF-MMSC hopes to increase its adoption numbers, from a record 31 in 2009 to over 40 in 2010.

When the doors open this Saturday, last year’s volunteers will get to see all that the TRF-MMSC has been up to during the quiet months, from redoing its publications, to reseeding its paddocks. “We are really grateful to Woodford Feed in Versailles who donated much of the seed,” said Guinn. “Reseeding, maintaining, and rotating the paddocks is the key to keeping the hay bills down, and the horses healthier.”  Guinn and spring 2010 Farm Intern, John Stork have been also working on rebuilding fences, readying all the farm equipment for a new year, and making repairs in the barn. DeCarlo has spent the winter garnering all kinds of exciting sponsorships - everything from a spectacular set of jumps from JUMP WEST, to Myler bits, to “green” carpet cleaning by MilliCare for the well trodden office. “2010 is going to be a really exciting year,” said Thomas. “With all the people coming to the Horse Park for the World Equestrian Games, we should have all kinds of opportunities to showcase the most athletic of breed, the Thoroughbred.”

BO