Kentucky Horse Farm basketball tournament
raises money for equine-related charities

By Ray Paulick
The Paulick Report

Even though the Kentucky Horse Farm basketball tournament has evolved into a contest of “who has the best ringers,” the annual event is a fun way to raise money and awareness for the charities that benefit: the Race for Education and Blue Grass Farms Charities.

The 2012, eight-team tournament concluded last Thursday night, with the talented group representing Dixiana Farm defeating Mark Toothaker Bloodstock’s team by a score of 67-52. The tournament was held at the Poole Memorial Activities Building at Southern Hills United Methodist Church in Lexington.

Dixiana, the historic farm north of Lexington owned by William Shively, was coached by farm manager Terry Arnold, whose recruiting skills may have borrowed from the time he lived at the University of Kentucky’s Wildcat Lodge. While most of the team comprised “outsiders,” broodmare manager Dermot Fagan and yearling manager Roman Malhouitre both contributed to Dixiana’s unbeaten record during this fifth annual tournament.

Dixiana gets to keep the traveling trophy for one year, but the charities are the real winners, thanks to all the participants and sponsors, including Lifeforce, an Alltech equine nutritional supplement. Other participating farms and businesses with teams in this year’s tournament were Blandford Stud, EQUUS, Keeneland, Taylor Made, Three Chimneys Farm, and WinStar Farm.

This is the Race for Education’s 10th anniversary, and the scholarship program is coming off its best fund-raising year ever, according to Elisabeth Jensen, who, along with Bill and Susan Casner, came up with the idea for the 501(c)3 organization. She serves as its president and executive director.

It has provided financial assistance to 375 young people who are now college graduates, and there are currently 200 Race for Education scholars attending various colleges, universities, and veterinary schools around the country.  In 2011, $525,000 was awarded in scholarships.

Many of those kids would otherwise not be able to afford college. Financial need is the primary criteria for Race for Education scholarships, which are awarded to the children of horse industry employees or to students seeking a career in the business. The Race for Education also teams with the American Association of Equine Practitioners in the Winner’s Circle Scholarship in awarding one grant annually to students at each of the 36 veterinary schools across North America.

What’s helped inject new enthusiasm into the Race for Education, Jensen said, are some of the graduates who serve on an Alumni Committee or Youth Advisory Board. 

Race for Education has had a very active and generous board throughout its history. Funding, 25% of which comes from the federal government’s Assets for Independence grants program, is derived largely from racehorse nominations program, where a percentage of earnings is donated. Barry Irwin, a longtime board member, pledged 2% of Animal Kingdom’s winnings from the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

Jensen is excited about the new After School Program, which started two years ago at the Belmont Childcare Association’s Anna House and expanded this year to two central Kentucky middle schools: Paris Independent and Leestown Middle School. The After School Program identifies 25 kids considered to be at-risk academically and tutors and mentors them. Guest speakers, like Kentucky State Rep. Carl Rollins or young Lexington entrepreneur Peyton Fouts, founder of Ouibox.com, have been brought in to inspire the kids to achieve.

“One thing we’ve learned is just because you write them a check doesn’t mean all these kids are ready for college,” Jensen said. “This is a way of reaching out to them and getting them better prepared.”

Horses make up Kentucky’s signature industry, and basketball its most popular human sport. Putting the two together has proven a win-win combination for a program that should make all of us proud.

See KyForward’s most recent story about Race for Education by clicking here.

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