TRF mare to appear at Keeneland breakfast
Representatives from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) and Ivory Lady, one of the horses rescued by the organization, are scheduled to appear at Keeneland during the Lexington track's "Breakfast with the Works" program on April 15, the day of the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
Ivory Lady, an 18-year-old Sir Ivor mare, will be handled at Keeneland by her Blackburn Correctional facility caretakers. The Blackburn facility currently houses approximately 70 retired racehorses, some of which are being rehabilitated in preparation for private adoption.
"We chose Ivory Lady for this event because she is so calm and gentle. She will be a great horse for kids to get close to," said Melissa Klick, TRF's horse placement coordinator based in Lexington.
The TRF bought Ivory Lady for $600 at the Keeneland January mixed sale; as a three-year-old, she was sold for $400,000. She "represents so much of what TRF is about," said Monique Koehler, chairman and founder of the organization. "Ivory Lady is well bred and had plenty of bold black type on her catalog page, but she had trouble carrying foals and was no longer useful to someone. She was going to fall through the cracks if we didn't save her."
Ivory Lady has produced three winners from five foals to race.