Minnesota Racing Commission Awards $49,000 for Racehorse Repurposing and Retirement

 

 

SHAKOPEE, Minn. (October 8, 2018) – The Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC) authorized disbursement of $49,000 to three 501(c)(3) non-profit racehorse adoption, retirement and repurposing organizations at its September meeting. The recipients include Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoptions (BSCTA), This Old Horse and The Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred ExRacehorses (CANTER) Minnesota. These new funds were generated via fines assessed by the MRC and directed to a special revenue fund supporting racehorse adoption, retirement and repurposing.

 

Bowman Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption, located in Rhame, North Dakota will receive $33,000. BSCTA gives retired racehorses a safe haven for rehabilitation and a second chance in a new adoptive home. They have taken horses from off the track for the past twenty years. “This money is much appreciated. It will go a long way to help the horses. Without it I wouldn’t be able to help all the horses that I help,” said Dr. Richard Bowman, the founder of BSCTA. “We currently have over 100 horses. Twenty-four were taken in this year from Canterbury Park.” Dr. Bowman helped re-home another 20 horses in Minnesota before the Canterbury race meet finished.

 

This Old Horse, located in Hastings, Minnesota, will receive $12,500. They take aged and unwanted horses and act as a retirement refuge. The non-profit is a certified rescue that helps aid abused, abandoned and neglected horses.

 

CANTER Minnesota, located in Prior Lake, Minnesota will receive $3,500. This non-profit provides retired Thoroughbred racehorses an opportunity for a new career. CANTER Minnesota currently houses 10 Thoroughbreds from Canterbury Park. They have helped over 500 horses find new homes and careers since their start in 2009, almost all from Canterbury Park.

 

Applications for funding were reviewed by a MRC Committee consisting of three commissioners, the MRC chief veterinarian and MRC staff. Criteria for funding included documentation of 501(c)(3) status, an established board of directors, and availability of site visits performed by an equine veterinarian. Facilities were required to have adequate shelter and pasture turnout, access to clean water, and safe fencing. Preference was given to organizations that have taken or will take horses who have raced at Minnesota racetracks. The MRC commissioners approved the final decision at the commission meeting on September 20.

 

For more information on these 501(c)(3) non-profits visit their websites:

BSCTA: http://www.bowmanthoroughbredadoption.com/home.html

This Old Horse: http://www.thisoldhorse.org/

CANTER Minnesota: https://canterusa.org/minnesota/

 

The Minnesota Racing Commission was established to regulate horse racing and card playing in Minnesota; to ensure that it is conducted in the public interest, and to take all necessary steps in ensuring the integrity of racing and card playing in Minnesota thus promoting the breeding of race horses in order to stimulate agriculture and rural agribusiness. More information can be found at www.mrc.state.mn.us.