philanthropy

Edited Press Release Warner C. Lusardi, the San Diego construction magnate, major philanthropist and longtime civic benefactor, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was 94. Mr. Lusardi was a devoted horse racing enthusiast and a valued member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Board of Directors, serving with distinction since 1988. Throughout his nearly four decades of service, he provided steadfast leadership, thoughtful counsel and an unwavering commitment to the success of Del Mar and the Thoroughbred racing industry. He and his father, Pete, founded Lusardi Construction in...

Woodbine Entertainment has relaunched the philanthropic initiative Woodbine Cares under a renewed banner: "For the Love of the Horse Racing Community," according to a track release Wednesday. "This refreshed focus on 'For the Love of the Horse Racing Community' reflects our organization's commitment to what matters most - the people, the horses, and the entire racing community," said Michael Copeland, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. "By concentrating our efforts on horse welfare and on those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, Woodbine Cares is helping build a vibrant and sustainable future for...

On the racetrack, Godolphin is enjoying a record-breaking season after becoming the first ownership group in history to win the G1 1,000 Guineas, G1 2,000 Guineas, GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks all in the same year. Off the racetrack, the international operation founded by Sheikh Mohammed is celebrating a banner year in a different realm of the industry. 2025 marks 10 years since the launch of Godolphin's global charitable program, which was founded with the mission of growing awareness and passion for the Thoroughbred and having a positive,...

Operation Heat Ukraine, a humanitarian effort begun by owner/breeder Earle I. Mack, who is also the former Ambassador to Finland, and former New York Governor George E. Pataki, will undertake a fourth mission to Ukraine. Mack and Pataki have already donated and delivered nearly 1,000 industrial and residential heaters benefitting over one million Ukrainian civilians. Operation Heat Ukraine is a non-profit focused on helping those suffering due to the continued Russian attacks. "As we reach the one-year mark of the war in Ukraine, it has never been more important to...

Owner, breeder, humanitarian, and philanthropist Earle Mack was bestowed with the William T. Young Humanitarian Award by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) Wednesday morning. The former U.S. Ambassador, who has been breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for nearly six decades and has had 25 black-type winners, including Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski (Affirmed) and U.S. MGISW November Snow (Storm Cat), is well known for his humanitarian work, both in the industry and in the greater world. A long-time supporter of numerous equine charities and a strong proponent of Thoroughbred...

B. Wayne Hughes, the billionaire businessman and philanthropist who resurrected Spendthrift Farm and turned it into one of the leading stallion farms in North America, died Wednesday at his residence on the farm surrounded by his family. He was 87 years old. Born Bradley Wayne Hughes on Sept. 28, 1933, in the small town of Gotebo, OK, he was known by his middle name since childhood. The son of a sharecropper who fled Oklahoma's Dust Bowl and resettled in California shortly after he was born, Hughes grew up poor in...

Edited Press Release Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today that grants totaling nearly $1,070,000 will be awarded this year. A record 92 grant applications were received earlier this year during the organization's annual grant cycle. Ultimately, 70 organizations were approved for a grant including 45 aftercare organizations, 16 backstretch and farm worker programs, five equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs and one research organization. Grant recipients from the last three years can be found on tca.org. In May, TCA's Horses First Fund made emergency grants to three backstretch...