In
1940, the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA)
was formed to better Thoroughbred racing on all levels and to represent
the interests of owners, trainers, and breeders. The organization
is also dedicated to helping retired racehorses find new careers,
and at Fairmount Park, the HBPA of Illinois has been one of CANTER's
biggest supporters. Its members have generously donated their time,
money, and resources to encourage horsemen in the racing community
to sell their retired runners through CANTER. They also coordinated
a Paddock Sale at the end of Fairmount's 2003 meet, and their combined
marketing efforts with CANTER attracted more buyers, many from outside
the racing community, giving horses no longer competitive in the racing
industry a better chance of finding homes off the track.
We'd like to thank the HBPA of Illinois for tirelessly working toward
finding new homes for these horses. We are particularly grateful to
Lanny Brooks, Executive Director, and Janice Brooks, secretary/treasurer,
who have helped market CANTER's efforts through the HBPA newsletter
and by word of mouth.
Please visit the Illinois HBPA web site at http://www.ilhbpa.com.