Grace’s Story
What does a former school teacher have in common with racehorses? A fan of horse racing and a love for racehorses – that’s Grace Belcuore, the founder of California Equine Retirement Foundation (CERF). CERF was born in September of 1986 and the foundation’s goal is a simple one – give former racehorses a happy place to retire, or find them a new job and new life. Making this work has been the challenge for Grace and the people who have joined her noble cause.
Grace is pictured with Handsome One after finishing an Equine Expression. Equine Expression prints are original art works by the resident horses. Each one includes a copy of their race record, a picture of the horse with the painting and a clipping of their tail or mane. The prints are used as fundraisers throughout the year.
A challenge, yes, but not without rewards. Since its inception, CERF has “rehabilitated” more than 300 thoroughbreds and today runs at maximum capacity with some 70 to 75 resident horses. CERF supports its resident horses on public and private donations, and is unique in that 100% of the money donated to the organization goes directly for the horses’ support.
Grace has been a long time friend of FCP. Over the years, FCP has been involved in CERF expansions with mare motels, freestanding shelters, pasture shelters, pipe corrals, stall mats and feeders – making CERF a happy home for ex-racehorses.
If there is any doubt about Grace’s love for what she does, visit with her for just a few moments and you will see in her eyes and hear from her heart how she cares for each of her residents. When she bid farewell to Bedouin, an 18-year resident of CERF, Grace spoke of the “love, the trust and the friendship that I was blessed to have with Bedouin. His loss is extremely personal to me. I must thank Bed, as I called him, for the 18 years he was one of us here at CERF and for the 25 years God put him on this earth to delight and please his fans, as he came down that stretch from behind to cross that finish line in front – ahead of everyone – in racing, in retirement and in life.”
CERF’s resident horses enjoy leisure and companionship at the ranch’s facility in Winchester, California. Visit their website at www.cerfhorses.org.