More News

Looking to save retired racehorses from slaughter, an Upper Marlboro woman has turned her local farm into a safe haven where horses can stay until they are matched with a new owner.

Kim Clark, 46, an exercise rider and trainer, opened the Leighton Farm along Molly Berry Road in November 2007 as an alternative route for retired race horses that would otherwise go to slaughter upon retirement.

Despite the satisfaction of her work, Clark's organization has been difficult to keep afloat financially — last year she spent $47,500 of her own money to place horses.

She is hoping grants and community outreach will help connect more of the horses with new homes and bring in money. Clark will visit Laurel Park this weekend — where the annual Maryland Million race will be held — to talk to owners who plan to retire their horses soon.

"My biggest fear is that the money-making side will take me away from what I came here to do," Clark said. "I just can't afford to keep paying for it."

After missing the deadline for grants last year while awaiting the nonprofit status she earned in the spring, Clark is hoping she will be able to apply for more grants this year — and do more to save horses — with the help of volunteer Bernadette Kilcer.

Kilcer, 33, of Brandywine volunteers at the farm for about 40 hours each week, on top of her government day job. She said the satisfaction in the job is worth all the lost time and money.

"[Clark's] main goal is to find suitable homes for these horses and work with the horsemen," Kilcer said.

In 2007, Clark had needed to place five of her own racehorses in homes and turned to the Web for a quick turnover. After putting pictures online, she managed to place her horses into homes within eight days and realized that she could easily aid others looking for a home for their retired racehorses.

Now, nearly two years later, Clark has helped place nearly 250 horses by matching owners and interested parties.

Some horses stay at the farm awaiting a match, while others are housed at the track. Photos and videos of all horses are posted on Clark's Web site, www.leightonfarm.com.

The stables at Leighton Farm can hold up to 14 horses, and Clark has a perpetual waiting list. Some horses stay for just a few days, while others stay for weeks or months until she finds the right match.

Former jockey J.K. Adams of Upper Marlboro, who has worked at the farm since 2005, met Clark 25 years ago at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

When horses are done racing, they still have a purpose, Adams explained, adding the slaughter should never be the answer.

"They just need a new job," Adams said. "They need to be somebody's pet."