Lexington, KY — New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program has launched its 2021 Breeders Crown pledge, in which connections of Breeders Crown contenders pledge a percentage of their championship earnings to support the charity’s mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired Standardbred racehorses.

“Harness racing champions racing for yesterday’s stars is what the pledge is all about,” said Winnie Morgan Nemeth, New Vocations’ Standardbred program director.

The Breeders Crown pledge is one of the program’s largest Standardbred-focused fundraisers of the year and raised more than $10,000 in 2020. Funds raised go directly to retired racehorse care, rehab, retraining and rehoming and allowed New Vocations to place more than 100 Standardbreds in loving adoptive homes last year.

“This is an easy and effective way for racing connections to get involved and make a difference by giving back to the horses beyond the track,” Nemeth said. “It is a positive way to reinforce that aftercare is important to the harness industry.”

Owners, trainers and drivers can pledge to donate a small percentage of their horses’ earnings in the upcoming Breeders Crown — taking place Oct. 29-30 at the Meadowlands — by contacting Nemeth at 734.320.7918 or winnie@horseadoption.com or by visiting www.newvocations.org/donate.

Founded in 1992, New Vocations has grown into the largest racehorse adoption charity in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of more than 7,500 Standardbred and Thoroughbreds. With Standardbred-focused facilities in New York and Ohio, New Vocations works directly with owners and trainers around the country in need of equine aftercare options. New Vocations was one of the first organizations accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance and remains proudly accredited today. Learn more at www.newvocations.org.