CARMA

Billy Koch was unanimously elected board president of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), a non-profit organization that provides funding for retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred horses. Koch is founder and managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing. "Retirement of our horses is an absolute priority," said Koch. "These amazing animals are the sole reason any of us are in this game and they deserve every ounce of our support once their racing careers are over. This responsibility falls on owners, trainers, jockeys, players, ADW providers, and our racetrack partners. Organizations...

The summer fundraiser for California Retirement Management Account raised more than $125,000 to help fund its retirement and aftercare programs. CARMAthon was promoted throughout Saturday's GI TVG Pacific Classic day card at Del Mar by TVG, which created and played videos showcasing Thoroughbreds who retired through CARMA's Placement Program in their second careers as sport horses and whose on-air commentators highlighted the importance of aftercare for the sport. "The success of CARMAthon means so much to us and the horses," said Billy Koch, CARMA's Treasurer and Little Red Feather Racing...

Last year when facing a massive budget shortfall, the umbrella organization overseeing the fate of California's retired racehorses dodged a metaphorical projectile. "We were just so overwhelmed by the support we got for CARMAthon by the racing community," Lucinda Lovitt, executive director of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), said of a fundraising event held last year at Del Mar on Pacific Classic day. "Everybody on the board--especially those on the event committee--was blown away." Due to the fact that CARMA is primarily funded from purse contributions by owners, trainers...

Beginning with opening day of Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meeting Friday, Sept. 25 and running through the final day Oct. 25, fans can have their personalized cut out images appear in Santa Anita's Runhappy Winner's Circle for a donation of $200, with 100% of proceeds going to support the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) and the Permanently Disable Jockeys Fund (PDJF). Santa Anita will submit individual pictures within 48 hours of receipt. For more information on CARMA visit https://www.carma4horses.org/  and for additional information on the PDJF, visit https://pdjf.org/ For more...

Beginning Friday, Sept. 25, with a donation of $200, fans can have their cut-out images appear in Santa Anita's Runhappy winner's circle. Friday is opening day of Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meeting. The personalized cut outs will be displayed throughout the meet, which concludes Oct. 25. The donation will support California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), which provides funding for the rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement of California-based runners, and the Permanently Disable Jockeys Fund (PDJF), which provides financial assistance to jockeys who have been injured on the racetrack, with 100% of...

Celebrating its 10th year as the title sponsor of the GI TVG Pacific Classic, TVG will shine this weekend's spotlight on one of the country's leading Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), and will donate more than 5,000 face coverings to backstretch communities at its partner tracks in California, New Jersey, Kentucky and other states beginning this week, TVG announced Thursday. "As part of celebrating our 10th year as the title sponsor of the TVG Pacific Classic, we wanted to reaffirm our support of CARMA and the tremendous...

Auerbach homebred and two-time Cal-bred stakes winner Lennyfromalibu (Unusual Heat--Style of the Year, by Half a Year) passed away Tursday at his home at Tranquility Farm in California. He was 21-years-old. Winner of six of 21 starts, the chestnut gelding earned $442,165 during his career with trainer Barry Abrams. Lennyfromalibu is known as the "Godfather of CARMA" as he inspired his owner/breeder Madeline Auerbach to start the organization. After retiring from racing, Lenny spent the last 15 years living at Tranquility Farm Retirement Sanctuary.

The California Retirement Management Account, one of the sectors of horse management in the Golden State being deeply impacted by the current shutdown, will temporarily suspend the intake of new horses into the program, the non-profit announced Thursday. In a letter to California owners and trainers, CARMA said, "Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARMA Placement Program will be temporarily suspended. The program's main source of funding is through purse contributions and matching funds during live racing. During this time, we will not be accepting new horses...

Santa Anita raised nearly $13,000 for the aftercare foundation CARMA through 1,000 plush horses donated by the Mathis Brothers on opening day of the meet Dec. 28. "We are so delighted to have been a part of this year's Opening Day at Santa Anita and to raise money for such a worthy cause," said Bill Mathis, President, Mathis Brothers Furniture. "There is no greater cause in racing today than Thoroughbred Aftercare and we'd like to thank Santa Anita, CARMA and the many fans who donated on Saturday. We are proud...