Trainers pledge Belmont Festival earnings to support retired racehorses

Lauren Bandi, in 2021, shared a moment with a 2-year-old filly at Niall Brennan Stables in Ocala. Bandi was incarcerated at Lowell Correctional Facility from 2013-2017 and worked with horses at the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm through the Second Chances program. After she was released, she worked for Brennan for a time. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman]

The Pletcher family has a long history in the thoroughbred industry. Todd Pletcher, the son of J.J. and Joan Pletcher of Ocala, is a renowned racehorse trainer who has won numerous awards and more than 4,000 races. On June 7, five of his former assistant trainers will be ponying up some money to support the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which has a presence in Marion County.

“In a show of unity and shared purpose, a group of former Todd Pletcher assistant trainers, who have since launched their own successful careers, have pledged to donate a percentage of their earnings from the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival to support TRF,” according to a press release from the foundation.

The TRF Second Chances Farm was established at the Lowell Correctional Institution north of Ocala in 2001 in a joint effort by the TRF, the Florida Department of Corrections and Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The inmates participate in hands-on work experience with the horses and in an equine care technology vocational program.

The 157th running of the Belmont Stakes will be run on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Elmont, New York, will feature a $2 million purse. Former Todd Pletcher assistant trainers Michael McCarthy, George Weaver, Jonathan Thomas, Whit Beckman and Amelia Green have each committed a portion of their festival earnings to the TRF.

“Michael, George, Jonathan, Whit, Amelia and I all worked together for Todd, so it’s especially meaningful to receive their support now that they have established their own successful training careers,” said Maggie Sweet, executive director of the TRF, in the release. “It’s not the same rooting interest we used to share, but providing dignified lifetime care for retired racehorses is something we all strongly value.”

To learn more, visit trfinc.org