CARMA's 5th Annual CARMAthon Raises More Than $179,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare
This year’s CARMAthon, the annual summer fundraiser spearheaded by CARMA (California Retirement Management Account), and featured on FanDuel TV throughout the day last Saturday from Del Mar racetrack, continued to build on its legacy of supporting Thoroughbred aftercare. Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors and the hard work of the FanDuel TV hosts and reporters, the event raised more than $179,000 to fund essential aftercare programs for retired Thoroughbred racehorses, including grants for more than 20 Aftercare Charity Partners across California and the nation.
CARMAthon received extensive coverage on FanDuel TV, with dedicated segments highlighting the significance of Thoroughbred aftercare throughout the event. The collaboration brought Thoroughbred aftercare to the forefront of the racing world, with on-air personalities passionately discussing the impact of aftercare on the industry. The broadcast also featured exclusive interviews with trainers, backstretch workers, and advocates, who shared their personal stories and emphasized the importance of ensuring a dignified second chapter for every retired racehorse.
"We're ecstatic about the incredible support for this year's CARMAthon and even more excited to see our outreach expanding to new audiences," said Billy Koch, President of CARMA and Founder and Managing Partner of Little Red Feather Racing. "Our recently launched children's book, What Horses Do After Racing, has created a new path for spreading awareness about aftercare. By combining this educational resource with the impact of CARMAthon, we've been able to engage with families and young horse lovers, inspiring the next generation to have a deep appreciation for these equine athletes."
In the lead-up to the event, social media platforms buzzed with excitement, with posts across X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook helping to raise awareness and drive early donations. The enthusiasm was palpable, and once CARMAthon kicked off, contributions streamed in steadily, demonstrating the deep-rooted commitment within the racing community to equine aftercare.
“This year, the racing industry and aftercare programs have faced unprecedented challenges, from increasing operational costs to the growing need for more comprehensive care as more horses retire,” said Lucinda Lovitt, Executive Director of CARMA. “Despite these obstacles, the response from our supporters has been overwhelming. The dedication to ensuring a safe and fulfilling second chapter for these horses has never been stronger. Every donation, no matter the size, plays a crucial role in sustaining our Aftercare Charity Partners, who are working tirelessly to meet these rising demands. We are profoundly grateful for the unwavering support that allows us to continue this vital work.”
The list of CARMAthon donors this year include:
$10,000 +
Nick Alexander, Tom Bachman, Del Mar, FanDuel TV, Marsha Naify, Mickey Segal, Samantha Siegel, Mark Stanton, and Bill & Margie Strauss.
$1000-$9999
Andrew Aquino, Jill & Bob Baffert, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Eclipse Blue Moon Aftercare, Joel and Cathy Eichenberger, Danny Eplin, John Foster, Rick Gold, Yvonne Petrunin, Amy Rushall, Mark Stanton, and Santa Anita Park.
$101-$999
Michael Arena, Rick Barker, Kathleen Berkey, Judith and Alexandra Campbell, Kingfisher Farms, Barrie and Vaughan Grant, Tyler Harringer, Dennis Hughes, Lee Kleinmaier III, Lisa Kruse, William Lee, John Lovett, David Lovitt, Carina Lovitt Luyties, Thomas Metzger, Herb Moniz, Rick Palmer, Flavien Prat, Jay Privman, Ken Ramirez, Marla Shontere, John Sondereker, Eric Sparks, Gregory Stewart, Roger Straus, Jeffrey Ward, and Donald Westphal.
$0-$100
Thomas Abdouch, Lourdes Abellera, Ron Alexander, Eddie Alvarado, David Bailie, Lisa Beattie, Andrew Beaulieu, Kyle Bennett, Sandra Benowitz, James R Bickhart Jr, Justin Biebighauser, Larry Blair, Jerome Bordenave, Melinda Bowen, Thomas Brase, Caton Bredar, Brent Brown, Joseph Brunner, Teri Buccola, Donald Bucholtz, Bing Bush, Joe Cannizzo, Jasen Carr, Jeffrey Carucci, Carole Champ, Phil and Kelly Cipolla, Chris Coder, Anna Cottle, Leslie Crane, Keith Crasnick, Cathy Crutcher, Marcy Cunningham, Jolene Danner, Marsha Davis, Louis Dodson, Patrick Doherty, A Downhower, Rachel Farris, Fordell Fierce, Peter Finch, Darcy Frank, Fredrick (Rick) Fruhling, Fredrick Fruhling, Daniel Furie, Jay Garcia, John Gaspar, Peter Gillis, Liza Giustizia, Kathleen Gordon, David and Susan Hall, Mark Halling, Andrew Hart, Joe Hasson, Laura Herlovich, Donald Italia, Mary Alice Kier, Scott Kosche, Andrew Kramer, Jon Lindo, Colin Long, Richard Lovell, Lucinda Lovitt, Stephanie Luyties, Janice MacKenzie, Ryan McMaster, Terrence McNicholas, Henry Mendoza, Sarah Michalek, Dirk Morrison, Norman Moser, Peter Moulson, Mary Lee Nadon, Chelsea Nash, Doug Nixon, Randy Politte, Julie Posner, Rita Pugh, Craig Robinson, Ceil Rock, Sharla Sanders, Serena Sandino, Alayne Saturday, Frank Scatoni, Sandra Scott, Jacob Shepard, Kathy Smith, Art Spencer, Sandy Spencer, Paul Steffen, Delaina Stenchever, Tj Stroben, Brianne Sweeney, Michael Tocicki, Judy Treuge, Paul Untalan, Linda Villalobos, Dan Vitalo, James Walters, Lisa Ward, Susan Ward, Jerry Weseloh, Kathryn Whelan, Kelly Wilden, Barbara J Wynne, Amy Zimmerman, and Iris and Jack Zook.