[1] Second Stride [3], a non-profit organization that provides training and placement for retired Thoroughbred ex-racehorses, is currently accepting registrants for the Second Stride 2nd Annual Charity Golf Scramble. The event will be held Monday, October 1 at Woodhaven Country Club [4], 7200 Woodhaven Road in Fern Creek.
The four-man scramble will have a shot gun start at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, October 1, with registration beginning at noon. Registration is $95 per person and includes the 18-hole green fee, cart fee, unlimited use of the practice facilities, and a catered lunch. Participants are encouraged to register by September 24. Single participants will be assigned to a four-person team. The event will include mulligans, a putting contest, and prizes for the longest drive and closest to the hole.
Racing personalities scheduled to participate in this year’s event include jockeys Brian Hernandez and John McKee, trainer Tom Drury, and Sky Chai Racing partners Dr. Harvey Diamond and Jim Shircliff, part owners of 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Hansen. Money raised at the event will go toward the care, maintenance, training, and rehabilitation of ex-racehorses as the organization seeks to find new homes for these young retirees.
Supporters are encouraged to come out, whether a golfer or not. There are other ways to help Second Stride’s 2nd Annual Golf Scramble become a success. Sponsorship, which includes verbal name recognition and name on the event banner starts at $35. Hole sponsorship begins at $125. Prize donations for the various golf contests are also welcomed.
Second Stride is a volunteer-driven organization founded in 2005 by Kim Smith, owner and operator of Moserwood Farms which is a Thoroughbred and sport horse boarding and training facility. As a trainer and bloodstock agent, Smith often found herself assisting others in finding new homes for horses coming off the racetrack and was encouraged to create the organization.
Second Stride now has two locations—the original site at Moserwood Farms and another facility in Henry County. The Moserwood location is where most of the training and rehabilitation occur while the Henry County location is primarily used as a first stop to let down a horse just coming off the racetrack.
“We get the history from the trainer or the person the horse has been with to find out all about the medical issues,” said Joan Thompson, Second Stride board member and organizer of this year’s golf scramble. “Once we think they’re ready, we bring them to Moserwood where we have an exercise rider who assesses their ability. She (the exercise rider) and the founder decide what level they think the horse could achieve—a pet, a trail riding horse or whether it could be a hunter-jumper or cross-country or whatever.”
Within 30 to 60 days the horse is ready to start its new life or career. Horses available for adoption are posted to Second Stride’s website.
As more trainers and owners have become aware of Second Stride, more horses have been brought to Moserwood to pursue second careers. Since its inception seven years ago, Second Stride has placed nearly 300 Thoroughbreds in new careers and homes. Most of the horses go on to careers in eventing, dressage, polo, pleasure animals and more.
Second Stride was featured on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), earlier this year. The video provides heartfelt comments from, among others, founder Kim Smith and Hansen owner Jim Shircliff that detail how Second Stride is answering the industry’s need for racing aftercare programs. Watch the video below.
Thompson urges any lover of horses to consider volunteering with Second Stride. No matter your skill or ability, there is something you can do.
“We’re always looking for volunteers,” Thompson said. “We do training sessions for volunteers. We look for people that want to just come in and love on the horses, walk them, groom them or even ride them (after proper training). There are also opportunities for fundraising or helping man tables at different shows.”
For more information and to sign up for the golf scramble or other volunteer opportunities, visit Second Stride’s website [3].
Photo: Courtesy Second Stride