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Samantha Smith, the director of marketing and communications for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since February 2023, can never remember a time when horses were not a part of her life. The native of Syracuse, N.Y., attended a horse camp as a young child, received her first riding horse when she was in middle school, and competed in hunter/jumper classes. She also received some early exposure to racing through her father who owns Standardbreds.

As Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm exits its 20th anniversary year, founder Michael Blowen has announced he will be stepping down as president of the facility he created in Georgetown, Ky., in 2003.

However, while he won’t be running the farm on a daily basis anymore, he will still be greeting visitors, giving tours, and other things as needed.

Owner Mike Repole has pledged support to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance through a matching campaign throughout January. In honor of registered Thoroughbreds’ birthdays, Repole will match donations up to $100,000, presenting a unique opportunity for the racing community and charitable donors to make a meaningful impact for retired racehorses. The matching initiative begins Jan. 1 and extends through Jan. 31.

The upcoming New Year’s Day holiday weekend marks an uptick in horse racing coverage on TV and radio as several prominent tracks including Oaklawn Park showcase important races heading into 2024.

One of the most inspiring stories in racing history involves the late Cody Dorman and his namesake, Cody’s Wish.

Dorman was born with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects many body parts and can dramatically shorten life expectancy. He was unable to walk or speak and used subtle head movements to communicate on a tablet.

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