Barry Irwin and Victoria McCullough Honored at Equine Advocates Awards
Barry Irwin and Victoria McCullough were honored at the Equine Advocates' 13th Annual Awards Dinner and Charity Auction on July 25, 2014, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Their contributions to equine protection have made significant impacts in the industry.
Equine Advocates is a national non-profit equine protection organization founded by Susan Wagner in 1996. Their mission is to rescue, protect, and prevent the abuse of horses through education, investigation, rescue operations, and the operation of a horse sanctuary for slaughter-bound, abused, and neglected horses.
In a release, the organization announced that Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, which raced Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, will receive the Ellen and Herbert Moelis Equine Savior Award for his work to ban the use of race-day medications in horses.
“Barry Irwin has been a positive force in our industry for many years,” Ellen and Herb Moelis said in a joint statement. “Team Valor, which Barry founded, has been at the pinnacle of our industry. He has managed the career of one of the most interesting horses of our time—Animal Kingdom. His passion for the integrity of our sport has been exemplary.”
The Moelis's co-founded the Thoroughbred Charities of America with the late Allaire du Pont and were honored by Equine Advocates in 2002 for their strong support of equine rescue.
Victoria McCullough, owner of Chesapeake Petroleum, will receive the Safe Home Equine Protection Award for her work to end the slaughter of America’s horses. Her meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and other members of the executive branch led to the addition of language defunding horse slaughter in the United States to the 2014 Omnibus Bill.
“If anyone deserves to be honored for outstanding achievements to protect horses, it is Victoria McCullough,” said Equine Advocates president Susan Wagner. “She has accomplished what no one has ever done by gaining the support of the administration against horse slaughter. Victoria gathered the science and the facts to prove how slaughtering horses for food is unethical because it is toxic and a serious threat to human health and food safety. Thanks to Victoria’s continuing dedication and generosity, I believe we are now on our way to reaching the ultimate goal of a permanent federal ban of horse slaughter.”
Tickets for the event were $250 per person, including cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing. All proceeds from this event benefited Equine Advocates Horse Rescue, sanctuary, and humane education programs.
Originally Posted By Sporting Post