User:Exceller Fund/sandbox

''' Who Is The Exceller Fund? '''

The Exceller Fund was formed in September 1997, three months after the news of Exceller's untimely death in a Swedish slaughterhouse was made known in an article in the Daily Racing Forum by Mike Mullaney.

The Exceller Fund was started among a group of racing fans who “posted” on the original Blood-Horse Forum. These racing fans sought to start something that would achieve at least two goals: Keep the name of Exceller alive, a horse often overlooked and forgotten among the decade of superstar champions, and try to save other Thoroughbreds from meeting his same fate. The Blood-Horse Forum is long gone, but The Exceller Fund, and the racing fans who formed it, continue.

Initially, The Exceller Fund was started when Barbara Kraus asked if others on the Blood-Horse Forum would join with her to sponsor Thoroughbreds at the United Pegasus Foundation in Southern California. At that time, twelve people signed up for the sponsorships. The group decided to call itself The Exceller Fund, in honor of Exceller.

The Exceller Fund’s first horse was a Thoroughbred named Elite Power, whose racing career was cut short by a fractured sesamoid. With his modest pedigree and race record, he had no value and ended up in a California feedlot, the last stop before the slaughterhouse. He was purchased by United Pegasus and sponsored by The Exceller Fund until he was adopted to a woman in Virginia where he enjoyed a new career as a lower level dressage horse. He remained with his adopter until he passed away.

Word about The Exceller Fund spread and in 2001 the organization officially became a registered 501(c)3 charity. Its members come from all parts of the country. They are a diverse group, bound together by their love of horses and their commitment to saving as many at-risk Thoroughbreds as possible. Members contribute a minimum of $15.00 per month. These contributions are tax deductible.

In 2003, Barbara Kraus stepped down as President and the task fell to Bonnie Mizrahi, one of the original board members. Bonnie served as President from May 2003 to August 2008 and stepped down in order to welcome leading NY-based trainer Gary Contessa as President and Nicole Smith as Executive Director. Gary brings a new industry focus to The Exceller Fund and Nicole has extensive experience in rescue and adoptions, as well as working in the Thoroughbred industry. Nicole initially joined The Exceller Fund's board of directors in 2007 and served as Vice President prior to accepting the position of Executive Director.

The Exceller Fund is run 100% by volunteers, and the officers and board members cover the majority of the administrative costs either out of pocket or by making donations to cover these specific expenses. The Exceller Fund strives to minimize administrative costs and maximize funds going to care for the horses. Quality of care is the highest priority, whether a horse is a permanent resident or has been adopted. Adopted horses are tracked throughout their lifetime once placed in order to ensure their lifetime safety.

As of 2013, The Exceller Fund has 50 horses and continues to support 4 horses with United Pegasus. The Exceller Fund does not have a facility of its own and is dependent on private facilities nationwide to care for the horses in the organization's program.

What does The Exceller Fund Do?

The Exceller Fund acquires Thoroughbred horses that might be at risk for slaughter and works to provide a future beyond the finish line once they have completed their racing careers. In addition to transitioning potential adoptable horses into second careers, sanctuary is provided for those horses in need of retirement. The Exceller Fund also works to facilitate the placement of Thoroughbreds with other equine organizations nationwide in order to save as many Thoroughbreds as possible.

Thoroughbreds are welcomed into the program regardless of their adoption potential, which may take several months to determine as the horses go through the “let down"/evaluation process. Many of these horses remain with The Exceller Fund for their lifetime.  Racing Warriors, horses that have spent years on the track, have become a major focus for The Exceller Fund because they often have limited adoption opportunities due to age and athletic “wear and tear”.