SRF sends out a desperate call for help

Obviously stressed, with 95 degrees of humid weather making the situation worse, four Standardbreds, one with a large infected leg, still wearing heavy road shoes, need help. The Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF) is full with 203 horses and a waiting list, but will step up and help if they receive help for them. Yankee Slammer, a 13 year old gelding with a gash on his hock and cannon bone that looks grossly infected needs veterinary care immediately. The other three look frightened and are fighting for feed, and water.

These four stand in the "kill buyer's" pen, the place they are held before shipping to Canada for slaughter. The facility SRF uses to rehabilitate and train their horses cannot accommodate these four; they need to go to another facility to quarantine and receive care, especially Yankee Slammer. One of the three mares in the group, 11 year old West River Quota, who earned $112,000., has been paid for, but she needs help for shipping, quarantine, and care. Yankee Slammer's fee is $650; and two aged mares, Triplet Tara, and Maclittlebullpass are $550. each. All four can ship together at a cost of $500.

"We have located a facility to quarantine them for just $12. a day," said Tammy Hollock. "Horses from environments like this, working as plow and workhorses, and being used for transportation come in stoic, but after a month or so become some of the nicest horses we see. They need a month or two of rest and care, by then we hope to be able to include them in our regular yearly budget and find them homes, however it is unlikely that the two older mares will find homes; we have to hope someone will offer them a place to live out their lives. The imminent concern is Yankee Slammer, he needs immediate medical attention.

"Until something can be done to keep racing's noble athletes from ending up in situations like these, all we can do is help when given the means to keep these horses from the horrific trip to slaughter," explained Judy Bokman, SRF's Executive Director. To help please contact Kate Kingsbury at 732 446 4422, send a contribution through Paypal at Admin@srfmail.com, or by credit card through SRF's website, gifts are tax deductible. These horses have until Wednesday, June 24, when they will ship in late afternoon.