👋 Hey animal lovers! Thanks for watching! 😊 Today is finally the big day, it's Derby Day! While many celebrate horse racing at Churchill Downs, we're focusing on the future of thoroughbreds after their careers. Support animal welfare and horse rescue efforts by ensuring these equine athletes find loving homes after their racing days are done. Your generosity helps provide the care they deserve!

That's right, today is our Rescued Racehorse Derby Day party at the Wild Game! If you were thinking of joining us, get your ticket at ResqRanch.org, right now! I am getting excited by all the people who have gone in the past, and who are reminding me how much fun they had and how much they are looking forward to it. That is something to be grateful for!

So today I am grateful for all the support of my friends, colleagues, and community, who see past supporting the industry, to what is most important, supporting the horses after their racing career. I know many people have mixed feelings about racing, and if so, you are exactly the person who should come to this event, we need you!

Because this isn't about exploiting horses.

How do I know and can be sure I am giving you correct information? Not only am I a veterinarian, I have a degree in Horse Racing Management, I have worked with racehorses at tracks around the world, even in Dubai, and I have held my track license since 1989. And yes, I may possibly be one of the only non-meat eating animal advocates in the world who doesn't hate horse racing.

Why, because I have seen how the horses are loved and pampered. People have shared with me images of themselves as little girls on the backside of the track, developing a life long love and connection with animals. I go to the track and I see the little children of poor means from the inner city, who this is the closest they will ever get to seeing the power, grace and beauty of magnificent horses in their young lives, and the deep impact it has on them.

And I see the horse men and women, who work tirelessly, from dusk till dawn, 7 days a week, sick with worry over the welfare of their animals, knowing their career, their families livelihoods, and the livelihoods of everyone who works for them, depends on that horse staying healthy, happy, and safe in it's job. There are always a few bad actors everywhere in the world. But in the racing world, they are actually not so often at sanctioned race tracks who operate under many safety laws, which over the past 4 years have cut horse injuries on the track, in half!

The real bad actors are those who races in secret, in undisclosed or advertised locations, like street racing gatherings. Those horses are pumped full of steroids and raced until they break, with no careful eye to watch them. Those are the people who need to be exposed and held accountable. Not the people who are trying their best to follow every rule right in front of the cameras.

So today, don't get swept away by animal rights advocates who want to paint horse racing as a simple black and white evil.

And besides that, many of the horses LOVE to race, I have seen it first hand. And if they don't, they find new homes as they are in high demand as dressage and hunter jumpers once their racing career is over.

If we don't have horse racing, we literally have less light, joy, and special moments in the world. Like my Mom who still gushes over the fact she remembers getting to pet Secretariat all those years ago. She is not even a horse racing fan, but that moment still has an impact on her. Without racing, we are removing an opportunity for people to connect in way with horses they might never have gotten to without it. We don't neccesarily need to end horse racing. We need to educate ourselves, and watch closely what is happening, and most importantly, make sure every single horse gets a great home once it's service is done. We owe them that.

And I hope Taylor Swift is listening.

A horse take anywhere from $3,000-$12,000 a year to care for, depending on it's level of care and medical needs. So it the three year old horse The Puma, racing today, and partially owned by Taylor Swift, retires today after this race, that means an average of 20-27 more years of life that horse that must be accounted for. That could easily mean a $250,000 fund to ensure the horse is cared for well for the rest of his life. I hope she will donate that to a sanctuary for the horse's care. Perhaps even this one? The Puma has a forever home here with us, if needed!

I am grateful for my years of experience on the track, all the joy it has brought me, and the fact I am well positioned to help others see what might not be so obvious. I am grateful for my friends and supporters and family coming out to help us at our event. And I am grateful our event is the best one yet, in advance!

What about you, Animal Loving Angel?

​I hope you make it the best day ever! Be grateful, smile and give yourself a High 5!

​Check out my YouTube channel for a daily "Good Morning!" from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq​