Page 26 - April 2017 Thoroughbred Highlight

Care
“Feed, Clothe, Visit,
Counsel, Care”. This is our
vision statement for the
Race Track Chaplaincy of
Canada, based at Woodbine. We’ve been covering what each of these words mean to our Chaplaincy and what they mean to horse people God has asked us to care for.
Care takes on many meanings, especially in the way it’s used in speech. “I Care, We Care, Home Care, Health Care, Skin Care, Take Care”. These can be positive, yet care can be ipped around in an extremely negative way- “I Don’t Care, I Could Care Less, Who Cares?” The racing industry, including our own LongRun has done a fabulous job of providing aftercare programs for retired thoroughbred race horses. Google “thoroughbreds after racing”, as I did, and you have a plethora of programs doing brilliant work in caring for racing retirees. But there is a tsunami coming.
Horse racing is home to an aging population of horse care people and racing is not or could “care” not to be equipped to look after these people in
their waning years. I have been involved in the lives
of several trainers who at one point dominated the racing scene, only to nd themselves penniless
and wanting in their nal days. What most people don’t realize is there is no long term health care or senior’s home program with empty beds or rooms
just waiting for people when they become seniors or unable to fend for themselves. In some cases, people, especially trainers, have squandered whatever income they’ve earned or haven’t put away money for the future.
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, Jesus tells a parable of what caring for each other is truly like:
25Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26Jesus answered him, “What is written in Moses’ Teachings? What do you read there?” 27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
Race Track Chaplaincy of Canada
Chapel Services every Tuesday
throughout the racing season
strength, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.’” 28Jesus told him, “You’re right! Do this, and life will be yours.” 29But the man
wanted to justify his question. So he asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
30Jesus replied, “A man went from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way robbers stripped him, beat him, and left him for dead. 31”By chance, a priest was traveling along that road. When he saw the man, he went around him and continued on his way. 32Then a Levite came to that place. When he saw the man, he, too, went around him and continued on his
way. 33”But a Samaritan, as he was traveling along, came across the man. When the Samaritan saw him, he felt sorry for the man, 34went to him, and cleaned and bandaged his wounds. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. He told the innkeeper, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than that, I’ll pay you on my return trip.’ 36”Of these three men, who do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by robbers?” 37The expert said, “The one who was kind enough to help him.” Jesus told him, “Go and imitate his example!”
Jesus said to “Love God and love each other”. I’m currently aware of a horse person who is a groom, while not in a position of money or title, is caring for
a trainer who had what most would call a successful career. But time and dementia have whittled away
at the mind and body of this once-great trainer. The trainer is fortunate to have someone who cares- we are shocked and saddened when we hear of the status of those who we only see years removed from their prime. It has taken many years, phone calls and effort to nally nd the appropriate care for the trainer. This is a rare case; most often people in need don’t have a person to care for them. The caregiver is “The one who was kind enough to help him.” Now, more than ever, we should imitate their example.
Chaplain Shawn Kennedy
905-713-4783 chaplainshawn@hotmail.com www.rtccanada.com www.facebook.com/woodbinechaplaincy Twitter: chaplainshawn@rtccanada
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 26 - April 2017