PRESS RELEASE (Edited)

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is pleased to announce a generous $10,000 matching challenge from the Lavin Family Foundation in support of the organization’s 2026 Annual Appeal.

The Lavin Family Foundation was created more than 50 years ago by the family of the late Leonard Lavin, a member of the FTBOA Hall of Fame and founder of Glen Hill Farm located in Ocala, Florida.

Through June 30, every donation made to the Annual Appeal will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000, effectively doubling the impact of each gift and helping provide dignified lifetime care for retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

The matching challenge comes at a critical time as the TRF continues its mission of caring for retired racehorses while operating its nationally recognized Second Chances Program. Through this unique initiative, incarcerated individuals work with and care for retired Thoroughbreds, developing valuable vocational skills, responsibility, empathy and a renewed sense of purpose.

“The horses and people we serve are living proof that second chances work,” TRF Executive Director Maggie Sweet said. “We are deeply grateful to the Lavin Family Foundation for creating this opportunity to amplify the generosity of our supporters and help us extend our impact even further.”

The Lavin Family Foundation’s leadership gift reflects a commitment not only to the welfare of retired racehorses but also to the transformative programs that strengthen lives and communities through the human-horse connection.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.trfinc.org.

Return to the June 5 issue of Wire to Wire