HVAF receives donation from racing season

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Jan. 24, 2022) – As the racing season came to a close Thursday, Nov. 11, a special promotion was added to the program with the spotlight placed on Veteran’s Day. Several unique contests and fundraisers were held with all proceeds earmarked to Helping Veterans and Families, Inc. (HVAF), located in downtown Indianapolis. As a result of the day’s activities, a total of $8,718.20 was raised for the cause.

The Veteran’s Day Handicapping Challenge placed 20 handicappers from across North America into a contest on the afternoon’s Pick 5. Each handicapper began with a bankroll of $250 earmarked for HVAF. Also, each handicapper received $250 to place their own personal wager on the Pick 5, which began with a seed of $50,000. Ellis Starr, Equibase, Dan Tordjman, America’s Best Racing, and Jimmy McNerney, Track Announcer, each hit the wager at $953 for a total of $2,860. In addition, Starr and Tordjman gave a portion of their personal wager ($213) with McNerney giving all his personal wager to the cause ($953).

“We wanted to do something to honor the many men and women who have served this country on Veteran’s Day, and by getting 20 handicappers involved across the U.S., we were able to bring a lot of awareness to the event, plus raise money for a very worthy cause,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “It was a great way to complete what was already a historical season for racing in Indiana, and we thank the generosity of all the handicappers for donating their time to participate in what we hope can become an annual event.”

All money collected will go directly to HVAF, which is the largest non-profit for veterans in the state. The facility assists over 1,300 unique veterans with close to 400 individuals moving through their facility on a monthly basis. Services provided include housing assistance, clothing pantry, food pantry, legal aid, therapy, job training, and assistance with obtaining jobs.

HVAF also has 17 housing properties scattered throughout the Indianapolis area. On any given night, they have 160 veterans in one of their beds. HVAF offers a mix of transitional and permanent supportive housing at those properties. They also recently obtained a grant to begin Vetworks, a three-step workforce development program with the first class of 12 graduating and moving into their chosen career field.

“First of all, thank you for choosing to support HVAF and the many programs we offer,” said Ashlee Walls, Vice President of Advancement at HVAF. “With this donation, we will be able to serve nearly 400 homeless and at-risk veterans per month with life changing services. Without supporters like Horseshoe Indianapolis, we would not be able to fulfill these services.”

One of the biggest supporters on Veteran’s Day was Trainer Tom Amoss, who won the $75,000 Salute the Heroes Stakes with Spa City. Amoss immediately called in and donated his trainer’s percentage from the race to HVAF in the amount of $4,500. This money, coupled with the other donations, catapulted the amount to more than $8,700.

“Tom (Amoss) is known for his charitable giving in horse racing, and this isn’t the first time he has stepped up to help a worthy cause at our facility,” added Halstrom. “It was a very welcome gesture and nearly doubled our donation to HVAF.”

HVAF has ongoing needs for donations, from hygiene items such as razors and dental products to peanut butter, canned meat, and other non-perishable items for the food pantry. For more information about the programs and services provided by HVAF, visit their website at www.hvaf.org.

The 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is set to resume Tuesday, April 19 and run through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Racing will be held Monday through Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. with Thursday racing beginning at 3:30 p.m. A total of 12 Saturday racing programs will be held in 2022. For more information on events and racing, go to www.indianagrand.com.

Photo: From left, Andrea Carlile, Community Engagement Coordinator at HVAF, Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, and Ashlee Walls, Vice President of Advancement for HVAF.