Million dollar winner rescued by SRF, Burke Stable

Cream Ridge, NJ – September, 2, 2021 – Just a week ago the Standardbred Retirement Foundation, (SRF) and its supporters rescued 61 trotters and pacers from a horrific end, shipping to a Canadian slaughter house.

With so many horses being “unloaded” recently, there are now 29 new ones in trouble. Despite each one deserving of help, one stands out as he earned $943,670. Here We Go Again, a classy 14 year old had many owners, likely due to the problematic structure of claiming races.

Racing’s leading trainer, Ron Burke, only owned the gelding for just a short time. When SRF reached out to him for help, he called right back.

This winning son of Dragon Again is now in quarantine, being fed, trimmed, wormed, nursed for an injury, and prepping for retirement with Ron, possibly alongside the great Foiled Again! What a change for this horse from being tied to a tractor with a USDA tag on his back.

This year alone SRF has been able to reunite 38 horses in the same situation with their past owners who were shocked at the situation their horse was in.

Some of these folks had found good homes for their horses, but either the long term expectations failed; rehoming failed; or they were lost in the ranks of racing.

Whatever the situation was, these people with character have stepped up. In 2021 to date, SRF has helped 518 Standardbreds, getting them off the manifest to ship to their demise to safe situations. Volunteers, under SRF’s wing, drive this effort through social media on the Face Book pages Standardbred Retirement Foundation/SOSS, and SOSS Horses in Need of Homes.

The public is outraged, and not all are horse lovers, they are humans with a conscience. Racing leaders are not listening. It’s not just the public, its owners, trainers, grooms, and those in ancillary businesses who want to see something implemented that works, not just for the few that can go on to riding careers, but for all.

It was expected that the formation of the Standardbred Transition Alliance, (STA), prompted and steered by Directors of the United States Trotting Association, (USTA) would address this vile ongoing situation SRF has pleaded with them to change for 32 years. Instead, stakeholders in racing, breeding, sales, and racing businesses were appointed and still slaughter is not addressed.

STA will not accredit organizations helping Standardbreds in these dire situations, facing slaughter. It’s outrageous. It is the greatest need in racing. Displaying phots to pretend that all of these horses go on to be show jumpers, isn’t going to change the truth.

SRF raises the glass to Ron Burke, he has stepped up for every horse he owned or trained to support the entire rescue effort. More kudos to others who have done the same respectable thing.

From the Standardbred Retirement Foundation