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Auctions, Awards, Benefits

Equine Advocates Awards Dinner & Charity Auction Brings Horse Welfare to the Forefront in Saratoga Springs

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Assemblyman Jim Tedisco and Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable with Equine Advocates Founder Susan Wagner. Photos – Glenn Davenport.

Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco Honored

Saratoga Springs, NY. August 2, 2013 – Equine Advocates, a non-profit equine protection organization and sanctuary in Chatham, New York, hosted their twelfth annual benefit dinner on Thursday, August 1st at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco were honored for their work to ban horse slaughter and dedication to the protection of all equines. Saratoga’s Julie and Sonny Bonacio of Bonacio Construction presented Knowlton with the 2013 Safe Home Equine Protection Award. Assemblyman Tedisco was honored with the 2013 Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award, presented by News10’s popular animal-loving Chief Meteorologist and host of “The Pet Connection” Steve Caporizzo and Herbert and Ellen Moelis, founders of Thoroughbred Charities of America.

“Our industry seems to be missing two words. Those words are ‘owner responsibility,’” said Herbert Moelis while presenting the award to Assemblyman Tedisco. “Fortunately we have two words added to our industry also. Those are ‘Equine Advocates.’”

Co-chaired by Julie Bonacio and Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth, the theme for the evening was “New York, New York!” The night celebrated 150 years of racing in Saratoga, ten years since Funny Cide became the first NY-bred racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby, and 17 years of Equine Advocates rescuing horses in need. Cathy Grier, a.k.a. NYC Subway Girl, performed, and guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a delicious gourmet dinner provided by Mazzone Hospitality. Silent and live auctions raised money to support Equine Advocates’ mission to rescue horses from neglect, abuse, and slaughter. Popular auction items included the Ultimate Kentucky Derby Experience for Four, the Harbour Town Golf Vacation for Six in Hilton Head, South Carolina, a Tiffany & Co. 18k white gold and diamond horseshoe pendant, an original painting of Funny Cide by Katie Upton, and more.

Ellen and Herbert Moelis, Assemblyman Tedisco, and Susan Wagner
Ellen and Herbert Moelis, Assemblyman Tedisco, and Susan Wagner

“We are thankful to everyone who helped make this year’s event so successful,” said Equine Advocates Founder and President Susan Wagner. “This was our twelfth annual benefit dinner and the twelfth one held in Saratoga Springs. We continue to host the event here each year because the town centers around horses, reflecting our shared dedication to and reverence of these inspirational animals.”

About Equine Advocates: Equine Advocates is a national, non-profit equine protection organization and sanctuary based in Chatham, NY.  Founded in 1996, Equine Advocates has helped and rescued thousands of equines from slaughter, abuse and neglect. The sanctuary is home to eighty-three remarkable equines, including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. More information and the organization’s Open Day Schedule for visits can be found at www.equineadvocates.org.

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Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable and Assemblyman Jim Tedisco to Be Honored by Equine Advocates

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Equine Advocates Founder and President Susan Wagner with Assemblyman Jim Tedisco. Photo credit – Sue McDonough.

Twelfth Annual Awards Dinner & Charity Auction in Saratoga Springs, Co-Chaired by Bebe Neuwirth and Julie Bonacio

Saratoga Springs, NY (June 11, 2013) – Many organizations will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of racing in Saratoga Springs. When determining which events to attend during a packed summer racing season, choose an event that gives a voice to the wonderful animals without whom this anniversary would not occur. On August 1, 2013, Equine Advocates will host its Twelfth Annual Awards Dinner & Charity Auction to be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

“In this historic year of celebrations for Saratoga Springs, horses and racing, we are delighted to honor two outstanding individuals who have each made history on their own,” said Susan Wagner, President & Founder of Equine Advocates. “It has been ten years since Jack Knowlton and Sackatoga Stable’s Funny Cide became the first New York Bred to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Since then, Jack Knowlton has become a strong voice against equine abuse and slaughter. Assemblyman Jim Tedisco has dedicated his life to the protection of animals and now is fighting for the passage of legislation to ban the slaughter of equines in New York State, which will have national implications as we move forward in passing a federal ban.”

Jack Knowlton will receive the 2013 Safe Home Equine Protection Award.  He has been the Operating Manager of Sackatoga Stable since 1995, serving as the racing manager for their Thoroughbreds, including 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide. Mr. Knowlton served on New York State’s Task Force on Retired Race Horses from 2008 through 2011, when the task force issued its recommendations.

“I am honored to receive Equine Advocates’ 2013 Safe Home Protection Award. As a long time race horse owner, both Standardbred and Thoroughbred, I am dedicated to the cause of preventing the slaughter of these wonderful equine athletes and securing suitable second careers or homes for them following retirement,” said Mr. Knowlton.

Assemblyman Tedisco is being honored for his humanitarian work, legislative efforts and strong public stance against animal abuse, and will be awarded the Ellen & Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award. He wrote Buster’s Bill and worked tirelessly to get it voted into law by the New York State Legislature in 1999. The act amended the Agriculture and Markets Law, in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals. He is an active co-sponsor of AO3905, which would ban the slaughter of equines in and from New York State.

“It’s truly an honor to receive the prestigious Equine Advocates 2013 Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award. Horses are athletes and companions. They work the farm and provide therapeutic services to veterans and people with disabilities.  Horses carried American soldiers into battle and helped build this country.  It’s unpatriotic to allow our horses to be sent abroad to be inhumanely slaughtered and turned into food,” said Assemblyman Tedisco. “Moreover, this is a public safety issue as there’s no guarantee horse meat — which is not fit for human consumption — will not end up in the U.S. food supply.  I will continue to advocate for passage of legislation to ban the slaughter of horses both here in New York State and across the nation.”

EquineAdvocatesLogoThe event will be co-chaired by Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth and Saratoga’s own Julie Bonacio, who, along with her husband, Sonny, owns Bonacio Construction. Equine Advocates honored Ms. Neuwirth in 2009, and Ms. Bonacio received a special award in 2011.

General tickets are $250 per person. Tickets at front tier tables are $500 per person. For more information, please call (518) 245-1599.

Equine Advocates is a national, non-profit equine protection organization and sanctuary based in Chatham, NY.  Founded in 1996, Equine Advocates has helped and rescued thousands of equines from slaughter, abuse and neglect. The sanctuary is home to eighty-three remarkable equines, including horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. For more information and to view the organization’s Open Day Schedule for visits, please go to: www.equineadvocates.org.

Equine Advocates – P.O. Box 354 – Chatham, NY 12037
Website: www.equineadvocates.org – Email: info@equineadvocates.org

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Robert Redford Calls for an End to Horse Slaughter

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April 22, 2013 – Robert Redford has come out strongly and publicly against the slaughter of America’s wild and domestic equines. In a letter to Equine Advocates President, Susan Wagner, the legendary and award-winning actor, director, environmentalist and founder of the Sundance Film Festival spells out the reasons why he feels horse slaughter is wrong and has no place in American culture. The letter was written to bring attention to the horse slaughter issue and the 2013 Annual American Equine Summit which Equine Advocates is hosting on April 27th and April 28th in Chatham, NY. In the United States, special interests have been trying to resurrect the horse slaughter industry in an attempt to export horsemeat for people in other countries to eat, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans are strongly opposed to it and find the practice repulsive. For most Americans, humane euthanasia (a lethal injection as administered by a licensed veterinarian) is the culturally acceptable way to put sporting, recreational and companion animals down, just as we do for our dogs and cats.

We at Equine Advocates wish to thank Robert Redford for speaking out at this very crucial and important time. As far as we are concerned, he is not only one of our finest actors and directors, but a truly great American. Here is his poignant and heartfelt letter which will also be read aloud at the 2013 American Equine Summit.

©2012 Equine Advocates, Inc.