Ginny Iverson, After the Track Executive Director

Ginny Iverson and KeyLo tackle the water in a summer clinic! Courtesy photo.

Editor’s note: After the Track is connected to Charlotte through its formal agreement with Champlain Valley Union High School to provide internships and other opportunities for students who want to work with horses. To date it has served six CVU students, and the number grows every year.

After the Track, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring, retraining and rehoming thoroughbred ex-racehorses, will host “Greens & Roses: A Kentucky Derby Party and Golf Tournament” at Cedar Knoll Country Club on Saturday, May 6.

The signature event will kick off with a 9-hole golf tournament at 2:00 p.m., followed by games, contests, a buffet dinner, wagering, a silent auction and other festivities. A 6:30 p.m. viewing of the 143rd Kentucky Derby will lead into a family-friendly concert with local band, The Growlers.

Golfers who try their luck at a hole-in-one have the chance to win a 2017 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Other prizes from community businesses will be awarded to golfers, contest winners and game participants.

All ticket fees are tax-deductible donations to After the Track. Golfers can register in foursomes for $250, or individually for $75. Party passes are $25, with children 12 and under only $5. Concert-only attendees can get a rocking evening for $8.

“Greens & Roses” is the second Kentucky Derby fundraiser held by After the Track and is a centerpiece of the organization’s fundraising endeavors. The proceeds will go toward the care and retraining of the off-the-track thoroughbreds at the Hinesburg-based facility.

Off-the-track thoroughbreds often face very uncertain futures when their racing careers are over. Nearly 30,000 thoroughbreds are born every year for racing, but only 20 make it into the gate at the Kentucky Derby. What happens to the others? That’s where we come in to help give these horses the best chance at future success.

Funds raised will also benefit the Educational Outreach program, which offers internships in horsemanship, farm management and business innovations. The program is unique among thoroughbred aftercare organizations.

Visit After the Track for more information. Tickets can be purchased on EventBrite.