Our Mims Retirement Haven was awarded a grant of $1,000 from the Thoroughbred Charities of America. The grant will help the Haven repair fencing and expand the pasture for its mares.

Haven Farm Owner and Manager Jeanne Mirabito remarked, "Every dollar means so much to us, here at the Haven. This grant will go a very long way to help the grand dams of the racing industry."

"Rescues are having it tough in recent months," said Cheryl Bellucci, Director of Fund Raising and Promotion for OMRH. "In these economic times, donations are down but requests for our services and Haven expenses are up. That means we are scrambling to make sure our ladies are adequately fed, shod, and medically taken care of. The grant from TCA means we can mend some fencing as well."

Our Mims Retirement Haven was created in 2004 to take in retired Thoroughbred broodmares. Named after Our Mims, the 1977 3-Year-Old Eclipse Champion, OMRH current houses eleven ladies, including Iza Valentine (1985 California Broodmare of the Year), Jamra (full sister to Clever Trick), Timeless Sue (great granddam of 2008 Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon), Hana Bride (daughter of Coastal), Alabama Nana (ran in the 1985 Breeders Cup Distaff), Little Miss Porter, Australian-born Princess Royale, Bel's Startlet (California stakes winner), Cruella (dam of Diazo), Blue Viking, and Smokie's Love (retired hunter/jumper). Bar Hopper, a Quarter Horse gelding, also shares the ladies' pasture.

OMRH became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2006. Featured in Barbara Livingston's "More Old Friends," the Haven specializes in "restoring health and spirit in aged mares."

The Haven is supported through donations, eBay auctions, and its online shop. OMRH is currently holding a building fund drive to complete rennovations to its main barn.

Thoroughbred Charities of America is a fund raising organization which follows a "United Way" method by providing the Thoroughbred Industry and supporters a way to give to one entity, which then distributes annual grants to hundreds of non-profits within our mission. TCA has granted more than $15 million over the past 18 years, to over 200 organizations in 35 states. In addition to regular donations, TCA also maintains an endowment fund, which will ensure continuity of the annual funding so vital to their grantees.

Contact:

Our Mims Retirement Haven:
www.OurMims.org
Jeanne Mirabito - Farm Owner & Manager: (859) 227-6304 jeanne@ourmims.org
Cheryl Bellucci - Director of Fund Raising & Promotion: (937) 776-1904 cheryl@ourmims.org

Thoroughbred Charities of America
www.thoroughbredcharities.org

Our Mims Retirement Haven and My Racing Heart, a Louisville Thoroughbred Club Foundation, are joining together to honor mothers everywhere!

In honor of Our Mims, Calumet's 1977 Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, and the other beautiful mares of Our Mims Retirement Haven, OMRH is teaming up with My Racing Heart and the Louisville Thoroughbred Club to hold the very first MOMMATHON.

Life at the Haven is pretty good for the ladies who live there. Iza Valentine, Jamra, Timeless Sue, Hana Bride, Princess Royale, Little Miss Porter, Bel's Starlet, Cruella, and Blue Viking are constantly showered with all the love, attention, proper care, and carrots they need. But their barn could use paint and the fencing needs updating.

While honoring your special mom with flowers, lunches, and spa treatments, don't forget the moms, grandmoms, and great grandmoms of Our Mims! You can help out by making a donation for MOMMATHON '08 at EADS HARDWARE in Paris, Kentucky. All funds collected at the store will go toward the purchase of items to be used to "fix up around the Haven." Ask for Ed, Scott, or Matthew at EADS, and please refer to the OUR MIMS account #579.

We'll be painting and fixing up very soon, so make your donations today!

Here's how to contact the store:
Eads Hardware:
301 Commerce Dr # 1
Paris, KY 40361
(859) 987-6630

We have a new arrival at Our Mims Retirement Haven.

"Misty" is a 41 year old (no, that is not a typo, she is really forty-one) Tennesee Walker/Saddlebred owned by Joe and Lynne Rice of Lexington, KY. Misty had been boarded by a lady for the last 23 years but the woman's health prohibted her from getting to the barn enough times per day for Misty's health so arrangements were made for the old gal to come to OMRH.

Of course, we have several obstacles to overcome. First and foremost, we were all worried about the trailer ride. Misty loaded and traveled well. She also likes her new stall. But, a change of this magnitude will be hard on her. We will have to see how she handles it. Misty is blind in her left eye and has no teeth.

Upon her arrival, we placed Misty in her stall. Then, all the ladies, one by one, came to say hello. Misty enjoyed the company of the others mares but our resident geldings were greeted with a spirited squeal and a strike, followed by a display most people only see in younger mares! Can you believe that at 41 Misty is still showing signs of cycling?

Misty spent the afternoon in her stall then at sunset we moved her to the small lot near the pasture so she would have a chance to greet people, I mean horses, over the safety fence before we let her out into the elder's pasture.

Wish us luck! We will need all we can get through the next few weeks and the upcoming winter.

Exactly So died at the Our Mims Retirement Haven on July 26th, 2005. The Irish-born daughter of Caro out of Exactitude was one of five mares donated to OMRH last November by Olin Gentry and John Gaines. The mare had been having problems with the heat and was found in her stall by Farm Owner and President, Jeanne Mirabito. Exactly So was 28.

Said Mirabito: "The hardest part about being a Hospice for Horses is losing these grand old gals. Every time we bring a mare home, I know how limited our time with them will be. That knowledge never seems to make a difference at times like these. Exactly So was a sweet, gentle mare with a spunky sort of attitude. I never knew just what she might do. I will miss her terribly."

Exactly So will be buried at Our Mims Retirement Haven. Former house ladies Hope of Glory, Taba, and My Turbulent Miss are buried at OMRH. Former house lady Sugar and Spice is buried at the Calumet equine cemetery across from her half-sister, Our Mims.

Our Mims Retirement Haven was started in 2004 by Jeanne Mirabito as a tribute to the 1977 Eclipse award winning 3yo Filly, Our Mims. Adopted by Mirabito through ReRun in the late nineties, Our Mims died in 2003 at the age of 29. Not a non-profit organization, OMRH supports itself through horse boarding and merchandise and memorabilia sales on eBay and its website www.OurMims.org.

Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, KY is happy to announce the arrival of a new house lady: Alabama Nana. The mare arrived at OMRH on Sunday, July 24th, 2005.

From a connection set up by Exceller Fund member Joan Darbee, the mare came from Rowland Farm in Lexington. Explained Rowland Farm owner and donator Henry Waits, "Alabama Nana was being boarded on my farm by her owner, my friend Dr. Howard Baker who developed the pedigree. Dr. Baker asked me if I'd like to have her in her later years to try to get a filly from her, which would have made a nice addition to my broodmare herd. But she never produced for me. OMRH was very anxious to have her to go along with their other aging top broodmares. I knew she would be well taken care of there and be appreciated for her accomplishments. Alabama Nana achieved success on the track as well as through her pedigree through Hall Of Famer, Serena's Song." (The grand dam of Serena's Song's is the dam of Alabama Nana.)

Added Darbee: "Alabama Nana is a lovely older mare who certainly made her mark in the Thoroughbred horse racing world many years ago. I am delighted that Henry Wait was willing to send this deserving mare to retire at OMRH now that her career as a broodmare has ended."

A 1981 foal of Image Intensifier by Thatching, Alabama Nana had quite the racing career in the mid-eighties. Owned by Leonard D. Mathis and trained by Hall of Fame Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Alabama Nana had several notable graded stakes wins, including the 1985 Grade 3 First Flight Handicap at Aqueduct, the 1985 Grade 2 Genuine Risk Stakes and the 1985 Grade 3 Leixable Stakes (now known as the Nobel Damsel Handicap) at Belmont. She also captured the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel and the Firenze Stakes at Aqueduct. Her career didn't stop at the East Coast; Alabama Nana won the Grade 3 Silver Belles Handicap at Hollywood Park. She was also Grade 1 Stakes-placed. Her most notable Grade 1 race was the 1985 Breeder's Cup Distaff where she finished fourth under Jacinto Vasquez. Her career winnings totaled $427,989.

As a broodmare, Alabama Nana has produced foals by several notable stallions, including a 1990 foal by Fappiano (Moment of Crisis), a 1996 foal by Housebuster (Pembina), and three foals by Blushing John.

OMRH Farm owner and President Jeanne Mirabito remarked, "Alabama Nana is beautiful. Our new lady has a lovely disposition and is already bonding with her new friends. It is an honor to have her here."

In addition to the arrival of Alabama Nana, OMRH also announces the association of volunteer Alicia Brown, a high school senior at Bourbon County High in Paris, KY. Brown is enrolled in an Equine Co-Op class with Mr. Doug Ashcraft as a supervisor. She will be working with Alabama Nana and the other mares at OMRH to not only earn class credits but also to learn more about equine care.

Alabama Nana joins current OMRH house ladies Iza Valentine (dam of Fran's Valentine, grand dam of With Anticipation), Jamra (full sister to Clever Trick), Timeless Sue (grand dam of Bourbon Belle), and Hana Bride (recently acquired through the Exceller Fund). Former house ladies Hope of Glory, Taba, My Turbulent Miss, and Exactly So are buried at OMRH. Former house lady Sugar and Spice is buried at the Calumet equine cemetery across from her half-sister, Our Mims.

Our Mims Retirement Haven was started in 2004 by Jeanne Mirabito as a tribute to the 1977 Eclipse award winning 3yo Filly, Our Mims. Adopted by Mirabito through ReRun in the late nineties, Our Mims died in 2003 at the age of 29. Not a non-profit organization, OMRH supports itself through horse boarding and merchandise and memorabilia sales on eBay and its website www.OurMims.org.

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.

My Turbulent Miss (My Dad George x Turbulent Miss) has died at Our Mims Retirement Haven. Farm owner, Jeanne Mirabito, found the mare early Friday morning (13 May 2005) in one of the farm’s paddocks. The mare was 29. She will be buried at the farm.

"Our girl died peacefully in her sleep lying in her favorite napping place. We'll miss her terribly but we are proud to have known her," said Mirabito. "She will be laid to rest next to her best friend, Taba."

Unraced in her own career, My Turbulent Miss produced 15 foals of which 14 raced. Thirteen were winners, including the 1996 stallion Exploit (Storm Cat) and the 1986 stallion Prized (Kris S.). My Turbulent Miss was donated to OMRH by Olin Gentry in November of 2004. She came to the farm along with four other mares from Mr. Gentry’s and John Gaines’ farm.

OMRH is named after the 1977 champion 3-year-old filly, Our Mims, who resided on the farm from Feb. 9, 2000 until the time of her death Dec. 9, 2003. Jeanne Mirabito adopted the mare through ReRun, a Kentucky-based Thoroughbred adoption group. Our Mims was 26 at the time of her adoption. She was Calumet Farm's first Eclipse winner and a half-sister to Alydar out of Sweet Tooth.

Our Mims Retirement Haven has marked its first anniversary. Sugar and Spice (half-sister to Our Mims) was OMRH’s first official resident, also donated to OMRH by Olin Gentry, and arrived in May of 2004. Our Mims Retirement Haven has recently acquired Timeless Sue, grand dam of Bourbon Belle. OMRH is also the home of Iza Valentine (dam of Fran’s Valentine, grand dam of With Anticipation), Exactly So (Ire), and Jamra (full sister to Clever Trick). Taba, one of the mares donated by Mr. Gaines, died at OMRH this past February.

Hugh Griffin, of New Buffalo, Michigan has been named Our Mims Retirement Haven's 2005 Owner of the year. "Every horse should be lucky enough to have an owner like Hugh," explained Jeanne Mirabito, Owner and President of OMRH. "He has faithfully supported his old equine buddies across many miles and without complaint."

Our Mims Retirement Haven, an equine retirement facility in Paris, Kentucky, specializing in restoring health and spirit to aged broodmares is NOT a nonprofit organization but funded both through boarding and the generous support of horse fans. Cheryl Bellucci, Director of Fundraising and Promotions, keeps ongoing auctions on eBay offering various memorabilia sure to please any horse enthusiast. Among items that can be purchased are photos by John Bellucci, Barbara Livingston and Sue Rosenbach as well as the halters belonging to not only the ladies at OMRH but several of their offspring, too. Bellucci and Mirabito teamed together to support elderly mares after the death of 1977 three year old filly champion, Our Mims, who was adopted by Mirabito and resided on the farm through her final years.

"The idea is that these wonderful older mares can continue to support themselves, not through producing foals, but through their fans," said Mirabito. "They still have a viable place in the horse industry."

Griffin has had horses retired at the farm for several years. On April 27, 2002 Griffin brought two of his retired hunt seat mounts, Wilhelm, a Hanoverian/thoroughbred also known as the "Gentle Giant" and a beautiful Thoroughbred mare named Smokies Love, to the farm. Wilhelm passed away nearly a year later but Smokie is still going strong at a healthy 26 years old. "There has never been a moment that Griffin did not have the best interest of his horses at heart. He didn't forget them just because they could no longer serve him," said Mirabito. "This is exactly the kind of owner we at OMRH would like to applaud."

Griffin is humble about his dedication to the horses and quickly insists his care is only the return of a favor as the horses have served him so well. "I figure, they have carried me for twenty years," said Griffin. "They always brought me home alive."

Griffin became a horse lover twenty years ago after being introduced to the wonderful world of horses by his wife, Mary Ann. Over the years, he has become an avid hunt seat enthusiast. One of their first horses, an Appaloosa named Chief, had the distinct honor of working in the movie business with Sam Elliot in a Christmas movie called "Prancer." Chief is now thirty years old and as of April 21st of this year he too, became a resident at OMRH with his best buddy, a 25-year-old quarter horse named Barhopper. The two geldings joined great mares such as My Turbulent Miss, Iza Valentine, Exactly So, and Jamra as part of OMRH family.

Griffin, an appellate lawyer with the Lord Bissell Law Firm in Chicago, Illinois, was awarded a plaque and OMRH's deepest respect.

Taba, Argentina's 1975 Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, has died at Our Mims Retirement Haven. She was discovered by the farm's owner, Jeanne Mirabito, in one of the paddocks Friday afternoon.

Taba was the dam of 1986 Champion Older Male Turkoman and the great grand dam of 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given. The daughter of Table Play and full sister to Argentine Triple Crown winner Telescopio, Taba won the Polla de Potrancas (Arg-G1) (Argentine One Thousand Guineas) in 1976.

The mare was donated from Olin Gentry's farm in November of last year along with My Turbulent Miss, Iza Valentine, and Jamra. Said Mirabito, "Even though Taba was well advanced in years, this is devastating. We had become so fond of this wonderful mare. She was only with us a short time but she had already become one of the family."

Taba was buried at Our Mims Retirement Haven. She was 32.