SRF names Humanity awards

The Standardbred Retirement Foundation announced today that Peter Kleinhans and his farm manager, Randy McCown, and Lisa Staten will share the SRF Humanity Award presented annually to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated exceptional care and compassion for Standardbred horses. The award is given in honor of the memory of trainer and owner James E. Burke, who had a lifelong love of and passion for Standardbreds.

In June of 2006, the Foundation received a call about five Standardbreds headed for a slaughter auction in Pennsylvania, and reached out to their network of supporters to purchase the “Pennsylvania Five” as the horses came to be known. Two were eventually adopted, but three were unadoptable due to chronic injuries and would join the growing herd of horses supported by SRF for life. Kleinhans and McCown stepped forward to offer permanent homes for all three, sparing SRF significant expense and making room in the SRF program for the next equine hardship cases. For opening their homes and hearts to SRF horses in need, the Foundation is proud to bestow the 2006 SRF Humanity Award on Kleinhans and McCown.

Like many Standardbred trainers and owners, in October of 2006, Lisa Staten found herself in the unenviable position of owning a horse that was just too slow, Elite Soul Man. “He wasn’t physically able to go fast miles,” said Staten, of the gelding who’d raced 122 times, never once for her. For three months, Staten cared for the 7-year-old gelding, while trying to find a home for him. Finally, Staten saw a brochure in the race office at Rosecroft Raceway, seeking horses to be donated to the Caisson Unit of the Old Guard at Fort Myer, Va., just 10 minutes from Rosecroft.

Staten called Chief Warrant Officer Jeremy Light to offer Elite Soul Man for the job, for which 20 other horses had also been offered. Light came to Rosecroft to inspect Elite Soul Man and picked him up to begin his training on Jan. 11, after he was chosen over for the job. Staten was elated at his good fortune and relieved that he'd found, as Light told her, "a home for life." "This is the first time a horse has left my barn that I didn't cry, because I knew he was going to such a good place."

The Caisson Unit consists of dozens of horses and soldiers who perform a highly visible, honorable task, carrying deceased members of the military to their final resting place in Arlington National Cemetery. Horses in the unit must be black or gray geldings, possess unflappable manners and a handsome appearance. They undergo nearly a year's training before their first "mission" (funeral).

Elite Soul Man serves as second in command to perhaps the most visible Standardbred in the country–Sgt. York, aka Allaboard Jules, who serves his country as the "riderless horse" in the Caisson Platoon. Sgt. York served in that position for the funeral of the late President Ronald Reagan and appeared on national television, as well as virtually every newspaper in the country and much of the world. Elite Soul Man will serve as back up to Sgt.York and eventually be the lead horse when Sgt.York retires.

Staten's steadfast refusal to throw away one horse and her determination to find an alternative career for a race-weary pacer, who never earned a dime for her, provides the world with a Standardbred ambassador that might ultimately save the lives of many others through his role in the Caisson Platoon. For that, she has also been named a recipient of the 2006 SRF Humanity Award.

The award will be presented at the annual U.S. Harness Writers Association’s annual “Night Of Stars” awards banquet on Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City. (SRF)

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