The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced that its subsidiary, NTRA Charities, has established the Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research. The
Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research will replace the NTRA Charities – Barbaro Memorial Fund and become the primary fundraising arm of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance for equine health and safety research.

"The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance is proud to be a part of Barbaro’s enduring legacy on behalf of all Thoroughbreds," said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA. "We especially appreciate the support of Roy and Gretchen Jackson in the creation of this new fund."

"As a fundamental building block of scientific advancement, research will always be a pillar of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance," said Mike Ziegler, the Alliance’s Executive Director. "The
Barbaro Fund for Equine Health and Safety Research will provide critical support on countless fronts affecting the Thoroughbred athlete."

Since its inception in 2007, The NTRA Charities - Barbaro Memorial Fund disbursed almost $400,000 in support of scientific conferences, research programs and a half-dozen research projects, all focused on finding a cure for laminitis, the painful and often fatal hoof disease that plagued Barbaro for so much of his recuperative period following his injury in the Preakness Stakes.

Formed in 1999 as a subsidiary of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), NTRA Charities is a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) public charity whose mission is to promote and support charities in or related to the Thoroughbred industry. For more information contact Peggy Hendershot, NTRA Charities executive director, at (800) 792-6872 or visit NTRACharities.org.