SRF Series Finals seen by Mounted Police

Cream Ridge, NJ – 4/23/2023 – The final of the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, (SRF) Series hit the harness racing oval this past weekend. The idea and the support by the Meadowlands and those who entered their horses is greatly appreciated by the 34-year-old organization.

Some owners, trainers and drivers of the competitors that went some great miles on Friday and Saturday night are supporters for many years. The organization was pleased to see them do well. The SRF race was written with a $200 entry fee donated to SRF directly, and the Meadowlands matched every dollar. It is the first of its kind and hopefully will grow momentum. SRF is very grateful to Jeff Gural for this outstanding support.

While this race helps SRF to care for the 520 trotters and pacers under its expense that are all in need of homes, and assists new horses, it also served to educate the racing community on the work of the organization because SRF is different from other programs.

The Newark Mounted Police Unit is made up of all and only SRF horses and their trainer and riding police officers experienced the final of the SRF Series at the Meadowlands Racetrack. They visited the grandstand, the Winner’s Circle and the paddock. They were able to engage with the racing community and get an education on what a Standardbred experiences while racing.

The share of knowledge went both ways when the first responders told stories of how cranes, sirens, traffic, crowds, trucks, and city life doesn’t affect them when at work, as well as how comical it is to see them fall asleep when under saddle! This opportunity gave owners, trainers, and drivers a chance to see SRF’s work, something that is difficult to show otherwise.

A few of the proud trotters and pacers are Real Mystical who had earnings of $371,697; Pacific Western with $242,000; YF Avenger who earned $157,693; and there is one that hasn’t been able to be identified who now owns the name “Harley”, very fitting. If only a dollar was donated for every time the officers said how much they loved their horses!

The SRF is a unique organization it is a guardian program. It respects and appreciates its donors’ reasons for supporting these horses and is committed to each horse for life. It prohibits re-homing or sale of its horses and requires a mandatory semi-annual veterinary follow-up report for life.

From the Standardbred Retirement Foundation