By Bloodhorse.com
BONSALL, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2017) — The California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation has set up the website cthfcares.org to accept donations to help people and horses affected by the Southern California fire that destroyed much of the San Luis Rey training center.
Cliff Goodrich, executive director of the CTHF, which runs the Noble Threewitt Health Center on the Santa Anita Park backstretch, is coordinating funds to that website so that CTHF can help get money to those most in need. Many grooms who work at San Luis Rey lost everything in the fire, even as they risked their lives to save the horses.
“When something like this happens, everybody pulls together and wants to help however they can,” said Goodrich, “whether it’s hospitalization costs, blankets, or temporary housing. Our part in this is that people can donate at the site. The home page has information on what to do to donate.”
The donations to the CTHF website for the fire victims are tax-deductible.
Many organizations are stepping in to help. The Southern California Equine Foundation, which runs the equine hospitals at Santa Anita and Del Mar, is taking two vehicles full of supplies and clothing to Del Mar Friday, Dec. 8. Karen Klawitter of the SCEF was on the phone gathering donated veterinary supplies before driving to Del Mar with the first wave of donations.
“People need clothes and sleeping bags,” Klawitter said. “We are taking a van down later today, and anyone who wants to donate can stop by the equine hospital. We made an announcement over the loudspeaker in the backstretch already.”
Klawitter said that several veterinary supply companies donated supplies to help the evacuated horses, including Patterson Veterinary, Victor Medical Company, Henry Schein Animal Health, and MWI Animal Health.
Thoroughbred Charities of America also had boots on the ground, as board member Bing Bush worked to gather needed supplies and assist at Del Mar. Donations to TCA’s Horses First Fund go toward emergency relief.
The Stronach Group, in conjunction with Santa Anita Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, has established a GoFundMe account page to help pay for hospital and rehabilitative costs incurred by those injured in the Dec. 7 devastating Lilac Fire, which engulfed San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in northern San Diego County.
Additionally, Santa Anita is now in the process of collecting clothing items for the dozens of stable workers who were forced to flee yesterday’s flames.
The fire, fueled by fierce Santa Ana winds, was first reported at approximately 11:30 a.m. PT near Interstate 15 and state Route 76, to the east of San Luis Rey Downs. The resulting conflagration at the training center, which housed nearly 500 Thoroughbreds, has resulted in numerous injuries, equine and human, as well as an undetermined number of equine deaths.
Clothing items, as well as bedding and blankets for displaced workers, can be left at Santa Anita’s association gate, accessible via Gate 8 off of Baldwin Avenue.
For those wishing to donate to TSG’s GoFundMe account to benefit those impacted by yesterday’s fire at San Luis Rey Downs Training Center, please visit santaanita.com and click on the pop-up or visit the donation site at: https://www.gofundme.com/thoroughbredcare.