In Friday's TDN, we reported on the money distributed through the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation and the GoFundMe efforts which were discussed at Thursday's CHRB meeting, but two other notable fundraising efforts are worthy of mention as well.
Coolmore and Mike Repole donated two no-guarantee 2018 seasons to Uncle Mo to help the victims of the San Luis Rey Downs fire in December. Proceeds from both seasons went to the Thoroughbred Charities of America Horses First Fund in aid of the San Luis Rey Downs fire relief efforts. Juddmonte Farms and Gary Barber made the winning bids of $110,000 each ($220,000 total).
“Everyone at Coolmore has been moved by what we have seen happen in Southern California and we hope by donating this season we will be able to provide some comfort to those who need it most,” commented Dermot Ryan of Coolmore America at the time.
Close to $90,000 was collected by the Racetrack Chaplaincy of California, one of the organizations that was first on the ground at the scene to help. Those monies included a $26,000 bid on a no-guarantee season to California Chrome, donated by Taylor Made Farm and the California Chrome syndicate and purchased by Arizona's Elena Crim. “It made sense to us for California Chrome to donate to the victims in California, but overall, we just felt it was just a good thing to do,” said Duncan Taylor.
Donations to the Racetrack Chaplaincy were also spurred by a $10,000 matching grant announced in the TDN by two anonymous horsemen which far outstripped its goal.
“We have been getting donations in from all over,” said Dan Waits, Executive Director of the RCCA. “Most of the immediate needs have been met, with bedding and clothing distributed, after these workers had lost just about everything in the fire. We gave out sleeping bags and mattresses, the food needs have been met, and the supplemental needs have been met. (The RCCA's) Mark Dunn was one of the first responders who was there and they sprang into action, bought pillows, blankets, small heaters, toothbrushes. In the barns that were burned, they lost everything–car titles, passports, immigration papers. We are sitting with a surplus and we want to be good stewards. Those monies were meant for the fire relief victims. They're gathering information and ideas so they can make the wisest decisions on what to do with the remaining funds.”
Waits said that one consideration was to help burn victims to pay for what he called “sizeable balances” at local burn centers. “We feel like all the donors gave for the specific purpose of helping those fire victims,” he said. “It's going to be long-term decision on projects, as we want to make sure it goes to the fire victims. The council is gathering information and we're going to make the best decisions possible.”
Israel Vega, the board chairman of the RTCC, said that watching not just the equine industry but people from the region reach out to help was inspiring. “People from the community rolled up their sleeves, people showed up in one-horse vans, picking up the stray horses and taking them to Del Mar or taking care of them themselves. Area restaurants literally came driving through the back gates of Del Mar with boxes of sandwiches and drinks. It was just heartwarming that, tragic as the event was, it showed the best of people and they all came through together.”
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