Truro charities to get donated winnings from race horse owner

A five-year-old mare named Barona Lilac is attracting a new audience to harness racing in Truro, thanks to a new program that donates her winnings to local non-profit groups.

Cheering for Charity was launched at the Truro Racetrack this season with help from Meridian Farms in Milton, P.E.I.

Robyn Crowe, executive director of the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Council, says they couldn't have done it without the owner.

"Bill Andrew contacted us last year and asked if we were interested in doing the charity program," she said.

"I touched base with him over the winter and said 'You know, if you're still interested, we are,' and next thing she was on the truck and on her way here." 

Andrew runs a similar program at his barns in P.E.I. and Alberta.

No horsing around

In Truro, eight charities have been selected to get Lilac's monthly winnings. 

"We got a list of all the different non-profits in our area and went through to see where the areas of need were and selected some really good charities, and the only thing they have to do is come out and cheer her on every time she races," Crowe said.

The donation will always be $1,000. When Lilac makes more, the extra money goes into a pot for the next month. If she doesn't meet the target, Meridian Farms will chip in the rest.

Lilac's owners also cover the mare's expenses while she's in Truro.

"Horses, as everyone knows, is not a cheap hobby," said Crowe.

"Race horses, even though they do earn money, there are costs associated with them as far as, you know, vet work, routine shoeing, things like that. It adds up. So, I mean it's a huge contribution to the industry what they're doing, that's for sure."

$1,000 goes a long way

Maggie's Place, a resource centre for families in Truro, received the cheque for Lilac's winnings in June.
 
"A thousand dollars is a lot of money for a non-profit, to be honest," said Linda Legere, executive director of Maggie's Place.

"I mean, we can do a lot with $1,000. We can offer a couple of programs with $1,000, and the impact of that could be hundreds of families as a result of that money. So, it means a lot."

Crowe points out that while it does help local groups, the charity program also introduces harness racing to people who otherwise wouldn't bother exploring.

"We get a lot of new faces out to the track and we do a lot of different activities with them," she said.

"For example, we had horseshoe decorating for Maggie's Place for all of the kids so they could take their own horseshoe home on the first Sunday that Lilac raced for Maggie's Place. We do barn tours with the groups so they can get a behind-the-scenes look as to how everything works."

The Truro Boys and Girls Club will be the charity cheering for Lilac in July.

The program runs until December.