As of Oct. 26, the Keeneland Foundation, in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), Thoroughbred Charities of America, Starquine, and the Casner Family Foundation, raised more than $1.03 million for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

Bill Casner, TOBA chairman and WinStar Farm co-owner, challenged the Thoroughbred industry by offering to match any donation (up to $1 million) during the September Thoroughbred yearling sale at Keeneland. During the sale, the Keeneland Foundation collected more than $518,000.

Casner’s challenge encouraged several of the horse industry’s giants to donate. “We got a number of calls from some of the larger donors asking how we planned to distribute the funds, and all mentioned that the Casner challenge had motivated them to give more and to choose this particular vehicle,” said Fran Taylor, executive director of the Keeneland Foundation.

Starquine, the largest contributor, gave more than $142,000 in proceeds from its online stallion season auction. Other major contributions included $100,000 from Thoroughbred racehorse owners Bob and Beverly Lewis; $57,412 from Keeneland and its employees; $50,000 from Louisiana horseman Thad Ackel; $50,000 from Thoroughbred Charities of America; $25,000 from Taylor Made Farm; and $13,027 from TOBA