One of the “perks” available to me while serving time at the camp was access to a television so that I could watch the horse races on the weekends from some of my favorite locations: Saratoga and Belmont; Santa Anita and Del Mar; Tampa and Gulfstream; and Louisville and Lexington.
To see all the broadcasters, trainers and jockeys on television from where I was viewing was emotionally uplifting for me. However, to see the the wonderful equine athletes running on the tracks on any given weekend was my spiritual medicine.
Each and every horse has a story of their own and their determination to get to the Finish Line in every race was an inspiration for me to get to the Finish Line of my sentence.
Because race horses are so inspirational and because they helped me get across the Finish Line of my sentence it is a great pleasure for me to support the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and its Second Chances Program.
The TRF Second Chances Program is a unique and pioneering program where inmates from eight correctional institutes around the country build life skills while participating in a vocational training program as they provide supervised care to retired racehorses.
Prior to their release inmates at TRF-affiliated correctional institutes take part in a rigorous training program where they learn horse anatomy, how to care for injuries, equine nutrition and other aspects of horse care.
Graduates of the program receive a certification based on the level of expertise they have mastered. After their release from prison, graduates of the TRF “Second Chances Program” have gone on to careers as farriers, vet assistants and caretakers.
If you are new to horse racing or if you want to learn more about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Second Chances Program, please take the time to visit:
https://www.trfinc.org/about-the-trf/
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