A loser on the racetrack becomes a winner in life

Eliza Devino, of Millstone, rides Native Hawaiian, a thoroughbred she adopted through ReRun, a nonprofit that helps find retired racehorses second careers and homes. MILLSTONE- Although he descended fromsuch thoroughbred luminaries asMan O'War, Native Dancer and Bold Ruler, Native Hawaiian was never much of a racehorse.

The thoroughbred raced more than 25 times between the ages of 2 and 5 but never won a race. Two second-place finishes brought his total career earnings to $6,000.

Despite not having much success on the track, Native Hawaiian, unlike many other former racehorses, could still be considered lucky. "Nathan," as he is nowknown, got the chance to have a second career and home with owner Eliza Davino.

As a volunteer for ReRun Inc., a nonprofit organization that finds homes for former racehorses, Davino wants people to know that horses like Nathan make excellent sport and pleasure mounts after their racing days are over.

Davino has had the chestnut gelding since hewas 5 years old and shewas 13. She trained the now 18-year-old Nathan for eventing and has shown him in hunter/jumper shows.

Davino, 26, grew up in Monroe and moved toMillstonewith her family 10 years ago. Her father, Joe Davino, has standardbred harness racing horses, but she has always preferred thoroughbreds.

Davino gained experience in the thoroughbred breeding industry working with Upper Freehold trainer Cynthia Reese.

"They're beautiful, elegant and graceful," she said of her favorite breed. "The ultimate to me."

She continued, "If you can ride a thoroughbred, you can ride."

Davino said thoroughbreds are spirited and never give up.

"They will keep going," she said. "I like their drive and willingness. I like to ride a fun horse."

Davino became a ReRun volunteer to "help find these nice horses new homes."

According to Davino, thoroughbreds are an excellent choice for young riders willing to retrain the horses away from the racetrack and into the show ring.

Founded in Kentucky in 1996 by Shon Wiley and Lori Neagle, ReRun has placed 500 horses in newhomes since its inception. The organization began its New Jersey chapter in 1998.

Helmetta's Laurie Lane, president of ReRun's New Jersey chapter, said, "Thoroughbreds are not just for anybody. They're an intelligent, sensitive breed. If you can deal with that, they're the best."

Those interested in adopting a horse through ReRun must fill out an application and provide references as well as photographs of the stable where the horse would be kept, according to Lane. Applicants can choose to adopt a horse from the organization's New Jersey, New York or Kentucky chapters, she said.

Once ReRun approves an adoption, adopters must sign a two-year agreement, which in essence places the new owner on probation.

If the owner provides ReRunwith the required veterinarian reports on time and the reports show that the horse is being well cared for, the organization will then legally sign the horse over to the adopter, according to Lane.

ReRun also asks its adopters to contact the organization if they ever decide to sell a horse after the probationary period. While the organization formerly precluded the sale of horses adopted through its program, it has changed its policy, she said. However, ReRun continues to encourage adopters to put horses back into the program rather than sell them, she said.

Besides horses previously adopted from ReRun, the organization only accepts thoroughbreds directly from racetracks into its program, Lane said.

Lane said that shewould like to seemore education at the racetracks in order to save more horses fromthe grueling trips they endure in crowded trailers to slaughter at Canadian andMexican meat plants.

"People on the racetrack are good people," she said, adding that many trainers and owners are unaware that sending a horse to auction could potentially mean sending it to a kill pen.

"A lot of [new] people are in the game now," she said. "It's like the stock market."

Many new owners and trainers don't have farms for their former racehorses, she said.

"Rescue groups can only do somuch," she said, adding that humane euthanization is another alternative to slaughter.

Lane said ReRun needs a farmof its own because it currently boards at several local facilities, including Lumberjack and Perfenick farms in Cookstown.

She said the organization also needs experienced volunteers for hands-on helpwith its horses and for other activities. ReRun especially needs professional trainers to help retrain ex-racers, she said.

The organization will have a booth with adoption information and merchandise at Rick's Saddle Shop in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold onMarch 8-9.

The nonprofit will also hold its annual horse showat theHorse Park ofNewJersey in Upper Freehold on Sept. 27. For the first time, ReRunwill host non-thoroughbreds in the show, which will also offer open classes.

Having additional breeds at the show will help ReRun raise money and awareness, Lane said.

"Many of our volunteers also own other breeds and would like to compete," she said.

With an American warmblood named Grayson that she rescued from a local auction, Davino is one of those volunteers.

Formore information, visit ReRun'sWeb site at www.rerun.org.