Mother's Day for Horses

Showing Some Love to the Most Deserving Mamas in Town

Mom’s give so much and usually don’t get much in return. No fair! So we figured we’d do something about it. This Mother’s Day, we made it our mission to show our appreciation for the most deserving mamas in town, the Thoroughbred mares that make Lexington the Horse Capital of the World. And we partnered with Lane’s End Farm, home to some of the most revered stallions in the business and a one-of-kind tourist destination in its own right, to make it happen.

Sure, we could’ve handed out a few peppermints and called it a day, but that’s not our style. We went all out. We gave Angelo’s Ashes, a magnificent horse mama whose bloodline includes Secretariat and Seattle Slew, the pampering of a lifetime.

Angelo’s Ashes’ professional makeover included a relaxing bath, hair braiding, hoof picking and polishing, and a coat of luxurious glitter hoof polish. Of course, no horse “spa” day would be complete without a rejuvenating crudité platter of exotic fruits and refreshing carrot-infused water. So sooooothing.

We even treated Angelo’s Ashes to a before-and-after photoshoot fit for a celebrity before revealing her glamorous transformation to her excited foal. Isn’t she beautiful? Baby certainly thinks so.

But Seriously. Equine Aftercare is Important Stuff.

As much as we’d like to pamper every mare in the Bluegrass, we just couldn’t do it on our own. Lexington can only call itself The Horse Capital of the World because of the good work of many organizations dedicated to the care of our world-famous equine athletes after their racing careers are over.

If you’d like to support those organizations and their mission to provide a happy retirement for Thoroughbred racehorses, here’s a helpful list that includes links to donate.

Secretariat Center

Prepares off-track Thoroughbreds for successful post-track careers by rehabilitating and providing a broad-based foundation of skills to ensure a harmonious match with adopters.

https://www.secretariatcenter.org/donate

New Vocations

Offers retiring racehorses a safe haven, rehabilitation, and continued education through placement in experienced, caring homes.

https://www.newvocations.org/donate

Kentucky Equine Adoption Center

Provides humane treatment and shelter while seeking adoptive homes and providing second chances for Kentucky’s equine, regardless of breed.

https://www.kyeac.org/donate

Old Friends

A “living-history museum of horse racing,” Old Friends provides a comfortable home for over 200 former racehorses, including Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, and attracts nearly 20,000 visitors annually.

https://www.oldfriendsequine.org/how-to-help.html

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The TRF farm at Lexington’s Blackburn Correctional Complex saves Thoroughbreds no longer able to compete on the racetrack from possible neglect while teaching inmates valuable skills.

https://www.trfinc.org/farms-and-facilities/blackburn-correctional-complex/

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding.

https://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/donate/

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Mother’s Day for Horses