The Horse Fund Announces First Private Purchase and Retirement

Michele Pesula Kuegler

Today marks a pivotal day for The Horse Fund. Since our formation in April 2021, our goal has been to assist in the safe and secure retirement of thoroughbreds who have run for Wasabi Ventures Stables (WVS). In the past fifteen months, we have assisted in the retirement of a number of horses by making financial contributions. However, all of those retirees were still owned by WVS. Today we have made our first purchase of a former WVS horse, Mission Trail, who now is headed to retirement. 

Getting the horse

This four year old filly, Mission Trail, was claimed away from WVS in August 2021. As we do with all WVS horses, we have tracked her works, entries, and results. In the past few months it has seemed that Mission Trail has been less interested in being a racehorse. This week we presented an offer to her trainer, John McAllen, who accepted. 

With a purchase agreement in place, we planned to work with Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement for Mission Trail’s transition to post-racing life. However, before we began the paperwork for Mission Trail’s placement at Second Call, we were introduced to her breeders.

Making a plan for Mission Trail

George and Margaret Schwartz have been involved with thoroughbred racing for forty years. Their breeding program has produced not only Mission Trail, but also her dam, second dam, and third dam. With these deep family ties, they were interested in assisting in her transition to off-track life. Mission Trail will be moving to their farm in the next few days.

We have many people to thank for helping us achieve this milestone:

  • our community of supporters, who donate generously in actions and financial contributions
  • Mission Trail’s trainer, who agreed to collaborate with us on this purchase 
  • WVS assistant trainer, Grace Smith, who arranged for Mission Trail’s movement from racetrack to farm, as well as introducing us to the Schwartzes
  • the Schwartzes, who are bringing Mission Trail back to the farm on which she was born 

We are proud of what we have accomplished in the time since our inception and look forward to many more happily ever after stories for these wonderful horses.