Bringing spirit to those in need
Event Raises $20,000 to aid Injured and Retired Racehorses
Vancouver, BC – Platinum Trick, a thoroughbred gelding with a kind temperament, was worn out at the tender age of four and was forced to retire from racing. Agameone had the long, strong legs of a champion but she lacked the competitive spirit required to win. Thanks to the New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society, these horses are among the dozens who have been rehabilitated and now enjoy caring homes. Natalie King, a REALTOR® at Sutton Group – West Coast Realty in Vancouver, volunteered to help organize the Winners Circle Day at the Races Charity Event benefiting New Stride.
“The Winners Circle on July 15 at the Hastings Racecourse was a lot of fun and a real success for the horses,” says Natalie. “We watched races from the marquee tent, had a live jazz band, a silent auction, a great door prize and adorable wiener dog races. The event raised $20,000, which will help with the costs of rehabilitating injured and retired racehorses and finding them suitable new homes.”
This was the first Winners Circle fundraiser for New Stride. Previously, the charity relied on grants, personal donations, bake sales and 50/50 draws. As a member of the committee board responsible for organizing the event, Natalie sold tickets and helped to arrange sponsors, auction items and prizes. These included personal memorabilia donated by jockey Mario Gutierrez, who won the Kentucky Derby in May 2012. The door prize was an amazing $2,000 trip to Napa Valley wine country.
“The money we raised at this event will allow these beautiful animals to have new lives following their racecourse days. There is a rehabilitation process to turn a race horse, which is trained to bolt out of a gate, into a riding horse for a casual rider. Also, injured horses need treatment and an owner who understands their needs. New Stride helps do this thanks to many volunteers and the generosity of fellow animal lovers.”
(Pictured above: Jill Paradiso; Natalie King; Glen Todd, owner of North American Thoroughbred Horse Company; Rebecca Ayarra; Marcy Emery and Natalie Bosa.)
Sutton is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated company with more than 9,000 REALTORS® in over 200 offices nationwide. To find out more about Sutton, visit www.sutton.com. To learn more about Sutton Spirit, visit www.suttonspirit.com.
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Sutton Group Realty Services Ltd. Contact:
Mandy Siu 604-691-1610 stories@suttonspirit.com
Sutton Group – West Coast Realty Contact:
Natalie King 604-209-7172 nking@sutton.com