A growing list of prominent racehorse owners and trainers are pledging a percentage of their purse earnings from the 2015 Breeders’ Cup World Championships in an effort to step up and offer support for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

This is the sixth consecutive year New Vocations, the nation’s largest racehorse adoption program, has asked owners and trainers of Breeders’ Cup contenders to pledge a percentage of their earnings in support of the program; proceeds will help the program continue to provide a safety-net for retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses through rehabilitation, education, and horse placement in qualified, caring homes.

36 championship contenders have owners and/or trainers supporting this year’s pledge, including Zayat Racing Stables, owner of Breeders’ Cup Classic contender and Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah. The pledge has raised nearly $270,000 in the past five years.

“I am happy to pledge my support to New Vocations aftercare efforts,” said Barbara Banke, owner of Stonestreet Stables. “The program has done a wonderful job retraining and rehoming many of Stonestreet’s retired racehorses, giving me great joy knowing they are able to excel in second careers.”

New Vocations will continue to seek pledges from additional owners and trainers until Oct. 30.

“We feel honored and very blessed to have so many owners and trainers participating in this year’s campaign,” said New Vocations Program Director Anna Ford. “The number of horses needing our services continues to grow and the funds raised will help us serve more horses. It’s fairly simple: The more money we raise, the more horses we can take into the program.”