Equine Advocates 16th Annual Awards Dinner + Charity Auction this Thursday
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Actress, author and humanitarian, Cornelia Guest will honored by Equine Advocates with the Safe Home Equine Protection Award for her rescue of slaughter-bound equines and her work and outspoken views to end horse slaughter. This event, which will be held on Thursday, August 3rd at Saratoga’s historic Canfield Casino marks the sixteenth year of Equine Advocates’ annual Saratoga gala and will be co-chaired by Saratoga’s Julie Bonacio and Monika Cronin.
Ms. Guest, the Twin Peaks actress who spent many of her summers as a child in Saratoga, is the daughter of the late polo champion, Winston Frederick Churchill Guest and the late socialite, Lucy, “C.Z.” Douglas Cochran. An accomplished equestrian from a very young age, Cornelia recently established the Artemis Farm Rescue in New York State where she provides sanctuary for the horses and donkeys she saves.
“Equine Advocates does such incredible inspiring work and it’s such an honor to get an award from them,” said Ms.Guest. “As a young child I always had such empathy and devotion to any and all animals, but especially my beloved horses. I’ve dedicated my adult life to rescuing and working with them and I truly believe in living a cruelty-free life. Horses have given me such joy throughout the years and even now, with my work rescuing equines, I’ve had the opportunity to give back to the animals I’ve always loved so much.”
Also being honored is Jeff Gural, a driving force in keeping trainers suspected of using illegal performance enhancing drugs and dealers trying to sell horses to slaughter out of his three racetracks, The Meadowlands, Vernon Downs and Tioga Downs. He will receive the Moelis Equine Savior Award from 2002 honorees Herb and Ellen Moelis who co-founded the Thoroughbred Charities of America with the late Allaire du Pont.
Congressman Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, who served in the House of Representatives from 1995 – 2016 will receive a Special Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless work and dedication to the protection of horses. He has been a staunch opponent of horse slaughter and all forms of equine cruelty – personally and throughout his years in Congress where he fought hard to prevent equine abuse.
The evening includes a cocktail hour, silent and live auctions, gourmet dinner by Mazzone Hospitality, award presentations and a performance by the popular country band, Skeeter Creek. The live auction will include many exciting and unique items including authentic halters worn by champions California Chrome and Arrogate.
General tickets are $250 per person. For more information, call (518) 392-0175.
