Harrah’s Hoosier Park set to host Second Annual Empire of Hope Event

The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) elected its 2025-2026 officers during their annual board meeting, held February 2 in Westerville, Ohio. Don Marean, longtime USTA director and chairman of district 9, was re-elected President for a second term; David Reid and Moira Fanning were both re-elected Vice Presidents; Renee Mancino was reelected as Treasurer and Dr. Andy Roberts was newly elected to the office of Secretary, replacing Elizabeth Caldwell who stepped down after serving 2 three-year terms on the board. The STA committees continue their work this week as they conclude their final accreditation and grant determinations. The board has approved up to $250,000 in grant money to be disseminated to STA Accredited Organizations in 2025. The mission of the STA is to award grants to approved 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train and re-home Standardbreds.

Laurelville, OH – The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) has issued $100,000 in grant awards to STA Accredited Aftercare Organizations that are actively transitioning Standardbreds into well-qualified homes. The award recipients are Futures For Standardbreds (ME); Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (OH); New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program (OH, NY, KY); Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program (NY) and Sunshine Horses (NY). “It’s our board’s mission to raise and distribute funds for Standardbred aftercare.” said STA President Don Marean. “Since 2020 we’ve issued $625,000 to accredited programs. We’re looking forward to growing those distributions and to increasing the number of facilities that meet accreditation standards in 2025 and beyond.” Contributions to the STA’s 2025 Grant Awards can be made here: https://www.standardbredtransition.org/donate

Laurelville, OH – The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) welcomes Linda Bédard to her first term as a Director of the STA Board. The Registrar of Standardbred Canada since 2012, Bédard has a deep understanding of the industry and a strong background in equine welfare. She’s actively participated as a delegate to both the World Trotting Conference’s Health and Welfare Committee and their Breeding Committee, since 2015. Additionally, she’s had involvement in many other welfare related committees and initiatives, including her position on the Equine Guelph Advisory Council. Bédard holds the honor of being the trainer of the first ever Canadian bred mare to reach one-million dollars in earnings, Tricky Tooshie, now in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. She joins fellow Canadian, Alison Moore, DVM who was named to the STA Board in early 2023. Last year the STA distributed $200,000 in award monies to accredited organizations.

Laurelville, OH– Standardbred Transition Alliance is proud to announce that its strong financial health and ongoing accountability and transparency has earned a Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, with an overall score of 98%. This rating designates Standardbred Transition Alliance as an official “Give with Confidence” charity, indicating that our organization is using its donations effectively based on Charity Navigator’s criteria. Charity Navigator is America’s largest and most-utilized independent charity evaluator. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually. Charity Navigator analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons. Currently, nonprofits can earn scores for the Impact & Results, Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, and Leadership & Adaptability beacons. “We are delighted to provide Standardbred Transition Alliance with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, President and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that Standardbred Transition Alliance is able to accomplish in the years ahead.” “Our Four-Star Charity Navigator status is further validation that our supporters can trust our commitment to good governance and financial health,” said STA President, Don Marean. “We hope that it will introduce our work to new supporters who can help us advance our mission to inspect, accredit and award grants to 501(c)3 accredited organizations rehoming Standardbreds.” Standardbred Transition Alliance’s rating and other information about charitable giving are available free of charge on charitynavigator.org. ***  A rating by Charity Navigator enables organizations to help more people turn their values, passions and beliefs into meaningful change and impact. Charity Navigator provides the data, ratings and advice that cut through the noise, making it easy to make informed choices that turn intent into action. Because whether it’s money, time, expertise, information or material goods, there are more ways not just to believe, but to act.

March 6, 2024 -- Laurelville, OH – The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) is pleased to announce the successful accreditation of five aftercare organizations for 2024. Through accreditation each of these 501c3 non-profit charities became eligible for 2024 grant funding, including a first round of grant awards totaling $100,000 issued today. The STA Accredited Aftercare Organizations have successfully met or exceeded all application criteria and have adhered to the STA Best Practices guidelines. Applying organizations must demonstrate that they are fiscally sound, with competent staff and a rigorous screening process in place to ensure that Standardbreds being rehomed through their organization have the best chance at a quality career once they retire from racing. “We are proud and grateful of the many individuals working tirelessly to build a structured and nationally supported approach to Standardbred aftercare.” said STA President, Don Marean. “We’re now entering our fifth year of accreditation and have issued $525,000 in financial grants that reward sustainable systems.” The 2024 STA Accredited Aftercare Organizations are Future for Standardbreds (ME), Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (OH), New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program (FL, KY, LA, NY, OH, PA), Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program (NY), and Sunshine Horses (NY). Additional details can be found here . The STA Board made their accreditation recommendations at its February annual meeting. Also in that meeting a new slate of officers was elected, with Don Marean replacing David Reid as President, a position he’d held since the program’s inception. Reid remains an officer, joining Moria Fanning and Renee Mancino as Vice Presidents. Elizabeth Caldwell was elected Secretary and Renee Mancino was elected Treasurer. The STA is supported by equine enthusiasts from every facet of harness racing, including trainers, owners, breeders, racetracks, sales companies, and others. To learn how you can support the STA click here .

Laurelville, OH – The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) has issued $100,000 in Fall Grant Awards to STA Accredited Aftercare Organizations that are actively transitioning Standardbreds into well-qualified homes. The combined total of all awards issued in 2023 was $200,000. “The STA continues to increase the amounts awarded to our accredited facilities,” said STA President David Reid. “It’s our Board’s mission to raise and distribute funds for Standardbred aftercare. Over the last three years we’ve issued $425,000 to accredited programs. We’re looking forward to growing those distributions and also to increasing the number of facilities that meet accreditation standards in 2024 and beyond. The award recipients are Futures For Standardbreds (ME); Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary (OH); New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program (OH, NY, KY); Purple Haze Standardbred Adoption Program (NY) and Sunshine Horses (NY). Contributions to the STA’s 2024 Grant Awards can be made here: https://www.standardbredtransition.org/donate

Five equine charities have been awarded funds for 2023

Laurelville, OH – The Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA) welcomes three new directors to first terms on the Board of Directors. Chris Antonacci, Dr. Alison Moore and Dr. Andy Roberts will be joining the full board at next week’s Spring meeting for the consideration of 2023 accredited aftercare organizations and their corresponding grant awards. Chris Antonacci is an attorney actively involved in the management of his family’s Lindy Farms of Connecticut and other businesses as in-house counsel. He’s a director of the U.S. Trotting Association and has been licensed as a groom, driver, trainer and owner across many racing jurisdictions. Dr. Alison Moore is an equine internist and sports medicine specialist who has been involved in the Ontario Standardbred industry over the years as a veterinarian, owner, breeder and groom. She is presently a member of the Ontario Association of Equine Practitioners Executive and Racing Committees, the American Association of Equine Practitioners Racing Ccommittee and the North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians. Dr. Andy Roberts is a racetrack veterinarian based in the Midwest. He’s worked for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission at Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Turfway Park and Ellis Park racetracks. A member and past president of the Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners and a board member of the North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians, Dr. Roberts is currently a director of the U.S. Trotting Association. He’s been licensed as a trainer and driver for more than 30 years. “Accreditation is the cornerstone of the STA’s work,” said David Reid, STA president. “Integrity and transparency are important components of the evaluation process. Antonacci’s business and legal background, combined with the vast veterinary and board experience of Dr. Moore and Dr. Roberts, will help the STA continue building Standardbred aftercare organizations that can be counted on by our industry stakeholders and participants.” Last year the STA distributed $125,000 in award monies to accredited organizations. To learn more about the Standardbred Transition Alliance click here . *** The STA is an industry-led charitable 501(c)(3) organization established in 2018 to advance the scope of Standardbred aftercare. The STA mission is to inspect, accredit and award grants to approved organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train and rehome Standardbred horses. www.standardbredtransition.org

Yonkers, NY — At the May 6 Board of Directors meeting, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York (SOA) unanimously approved the motion made by director Ray Schnittker to donate $7,500 to the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA). The STA is a non-profit organization with Federal 501(c) (3) status whose mission is to accredit, inspect and award grants to approved organizations that acquire, rehabilitate, train and re-home Standardbreds. SOA President Joe Faraldo said, “Our action today is in furtherance of our collective belief that the best way to ensure that we are funding the best possible aftercare facilities is to donate either to the STA or directly to STA-accredited entities. We are happy to help and make this donation with full confidence that the funding will be used appropriately.” STA President David Reid stated, “On behalf of our entire board, we sincerely appreciate the SOA of New York’s support and generous donation to the STA, which will help fund our accredited facilities to provide aftercare.” Funding for the STA is generated across the spectrum of the Standardbred industry, including regulatory agencies, horsemen’s groups, tracks, sales companies, farms, and individuals who participate as trainers, drivers, owners, and breeders. The STA provides partial funding to groups serving Standardbreds, ensuring donor confidence by examining the equine care and business practices of groups applying for accreditation.  It is expected that the accreditation process will also assist groups in developing sustainable policies and programs.