Contacts:
Our Mims Retirement Haven - Jeanne Mirabito, Owner/president, jeanne@ourmims.com (859) 227-6304, or Cheryl Bellucci, Promotions and Fundraising, cheryl@ourmims.com (937) 376-5597, The Exceller Fund - Melissa Miller, Vice President and Director of Public Relations, mmiller997@aol.com, melissa.miller@excellerfund.org (859) 224-9448, Columbia Basin Equine Rescue – Wendy De Graaf, Volunteer wendy@columbiabasinequinerescue.org

July 10, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ONE LUCKY MARE, THREE DEDICATED RESCUE GROUPS

Three equine rescue/retirement groups joined together to provide a well-deserved retirement to a daughter of 1979 Belmont winner Coastal. The three organizations, Our Mims Retirement Haven, The Exceller Fund, and Columbia Basin Equine Rescue, combined forces to save this lovely mare from the cruel fate of slaughter, and to provide her with a permanent and safe retirement.

Hana Bride, a 1982 filly out of Sue me Not by Coastal, produced 7 foals, and was originally rescued from the Washington feed lot by Sam Milbredt of Columbia Basin Equine Rescue (CBER) in December 2004, just a few days before she was scheduled to be shipped to a slaughterhouse in Canada. No one showed any interest in providing a home for this sweet and lovely mare, and CBER did not have a permanent place for her.

At that time, Hana was underweight and ill, so she was placed in temporary foster care with Pam Beale with assistance from Beata Sczcesna. CBER contacted The Exceller Fund (TEF) regarding Hana's situation and asked TEF to help find a permanent home. The Exceller Fund contacted Jeanne Mirabito of Our Mims Retirement Haven (OMRH) in Paris, Kentucky. When Jeanne heard the plight of this old mare, she immediately agreed to hold a stall space for her. However, OMRH did not have the funds to provide transport from Washington to Kentucky. At that time, Hana was not strong enough to withstand the long journey. She was lovingly cared for by Pam Beale for a few months to help put weight on her and get her strength back.

Pam Beale recalls this about Hana “The first time I saw her I thought she was a lot younger than she really is. I mean she looks like she’s only 12 to 15 or so. I enjoyed watching her take off every morning and run the entire perimeter of the fields jumping tumbleweeds like she was on a foxhunt. Her grace in movement makes it crystal clear why Thoroughbreds are the epitome of beauty and speed. She loved to run.”

The Exceller Fund then launched a campaign to raise the money to pay for her transport to her new home at OMRH. TEF conducted two eBay auctions, and a generous purchase of a Richard Stone Reeves print of Exceller helped raise the rest of the necessary funds. Joan Darbee, the newest Exceller Fund board member, helped coordinate the transportation between Washington and Kentucky. Cheryl Bellucci of OMRH kept up on the correspondence to assure a smooth transition. On June 1, 2005, Hana walked onto the trailer to go to her new home.

On June 5, 2005, Hana Bride arrived at Our Mims Retirement Haven. According to Jeanne, this is the first slaughter-rescue mare to find a permanent home at OMRH. Hana Bride has settled in very well at OMRH. Jeanne welcomes visitors to come and see her.

Sadly, however, many older broodmares end up at auctions where the only buyers are middlemen for the slaughterhouses. It is hoped that Hana Bride can serve as an inspiration to others to help provide well deserved homes to the older broodmares whose labors literally help keep the Thoroughbred industry alive.

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About Our Mims Retirement Haven

The Our Mims Retirement Haven is NOT a non profit organization but instead it is comprised of two dedicated families, the Mirabitos and the Belluccis who have organized and support retired mares through hard work and sales in honor of the great mare Our Mims. The mares come to the haven located near Paris, Kentucky, to live out their days in dignity and grace. Check out the website www.ourmims.org for more information.

About The Columbia Basin Equine Rescue

Columbia Basin Equine Rescue is located near Yakima, Washington. Their goal is to rescue slaughter-bound horses that still have quality of life. They focus on industry used and unwanted horses that are safe, sound or serviceably sound and useable with a future in an equine relationship either for pleasure, competition or companionship.

About The Exceller Fund – Who We Are

The Exceller Fund was formed back in 1997 following the news of the tragic death of the champion racehorse Exceller in a slaughterhouse. The Exceller Fund consists of people who are racing fans and horse lovers who want to make a difference. While the cost to support one horse may be too much for a single person, by combining our resources, we are able to help many horses. The Exceller Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is 100% managed and run by volunteers, which keeps our administrative costs below 3%. Over 96% of the funds raised are used to care for our horses.

The Exceller Fund – What We Do

The Exceller Fund is unique in that we do not own a facility of our own. We work together with other organizations such as ReRun, EPONA, CANTER, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and others that can provide the day to day care and handling these horses need. We pay for the monthly expenses of horses that we have acquired either by direct purchase or donation until that horse is adopted. Some of our horses may not find an adoptive home due to their age or injury, and we have committed to provide for these horses for the rest of their lives.

The Exceller Fund also assists other organizations with their rescue, rehabilitation, adoption, and retirement efforts. We have purchased horses at feedlots and donated them to other organizations that are able to care for them, and we collaborate with other groups when the need is great.

More information about The Exceller Fund is available at http://www.excellerfund.org