Retirement Foundation Launches Hay & Feed Drive
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's 2026 drive seeks donations to feed its herd of nearly 350 retired racehorses, with every gift matched up to $100,000.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Large Animals
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation launched its 2026 Hay & Feed Drive, which includes a $100,000 matching gift from Peggy and Richard Santulli. Every donation to the drive is matched dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.
Why it matters
Maintaining a reliable supply of quality hay and feed is a significant ongoing expense for the foundation, which cares for retired Thoroughbreds across the United States. Donor support is critical to the herd's well-being.
The herd of nearly 350 retired Thoroughbreds consumes about 12,000 pounds of hay every day, or roughly 4.3 million pounds annually. Each horse eats about 3,150 pounds of grain a year, totaling roughly 1.1 million pounds across the herd.
The players
Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
The nation's oldest and largest organization dedicated to the lifetime care of retired Thoroughbreds, which runs the drive to feed its herd of nearly 350 horses.
Peggy and Richard Santulli
Donors who provided the $100,000 matching gift that backs every contribution to the 2026 Hay & Feed Drive.
The details
Donations to the 2026 Hay & Feed Drive are matched dollar for dollar, up to $100,000, through a gift from Peggy and Richard Santulli. Every horse in the herd receives an individualized feeding plan.
Timeline
The 2026 Hay & Feed Drive launched on November 4, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's lifetime-care model for retired racehorses frames the herd's feed needs as a continuing obligation rather than a one-time rescue cost. Matched giving extends that model by linking the recurring expense of hay and grain to donor support.
Donations of any size are matched dollar for dollar up to $100,000, so a contribution to the drive effectively doubles its feed-funding value. Readers can give through the foundation's website to help cover hay and grain for the herd.
The takeaway
Retired racehorses depend on steady, costly feed, and matched giving can meaningfully stretch a donor's contribution. Supporters who give during the drive can double their impact up to the $100,000 match limit.
Further reading
Explore more Large Animals coverage for context on the care of retired racehorses across the United States.
More information
Donations to the TRF 2026 Hay & Feed Drive donation page support the foundation's herd of retired Thoroughbreds.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blood Horse Interactive.
