Friends of Twilight

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

-Dr Margaret Mead

Click here to see the fabulous horseshoes
that the Friends of Twilight create!

Friends of Twilight
(Left to Right: Jean, Lynne, LaNell, Susan, Elaine, and Carole)

Two horses at the extreme ends of the racing spectrum started it all: Smarty Jones and Stop the Nonsense. While Smarty brought me and most of those in Friends of Twilight to horseracing, it was Stop the Nonsense that personally led me to MidAtlantic and horse rescue.

A trainer at Philly Park (renamed Parx) named Dee Curry allowed me, a recently retired high-school English teacher, to volunteer and get hands-on experience. Nonny (Stop the Nonsense) burrowed into my soul and my psyche. She ran 48 races and won about $30,000. At the end of her career, this low-level claimer was running in $4000 claiming races at Penn National. At the end, she was more important to me than Smarty because I had walked her, groomed her, showered her with peppermints, and she knew she had stolen my heart. At the end, all I cared about was her safety. At the end, while safe, she was taken from me.

My love for the endangered horse had been born! Broken hearted, I needed a new place for my passion. I turned to MidAtlantic and saved my first horse with Beverly Strauss’s assistance on July 31, 2006 from the New Holland PA Livestock Auction. His name was El Gato Olivo. Like Nonny, he had run about the lowest-level possible. What satisfaction I felt knowing that I had done some small deed that led him to a new and wonderful life in Virginia!

One day over lunch with two friends and fellow-racing fans, Jean Fritz and Carole Basile, I told the story of El Gato Olivo. They wanted to help as well. I thought to myself, I cannot afford to save a horse every month-- but if a group of us agrees to put in the cost of a monthly lunch with friends, perhaps the group can save a few each year. From that idea, Friends of Twilight was born! We selected the name Twilight in honor of my great-grandfather’s best race horse in England during the 1940s. We wanted to buy Twilight years for all horses and decided it was an appropriate name.

We now number 18 people in 7 states and are growing! We have paid to rescue over 75 horses with funds collected by the group, including 10 that have been saved by individual members.

While we are not officially a non-profit, we work under the umbrella of MidAtlantic. We collect money which is held in a separate savings account in Jean’s, Carole’s and my names. Our revenue comes from our members’ monthly pledges, and money made from decorating and selling used horseshoes from Philadelphia Park race horses. Thus far, the horseshoes have brought in over $25,000! When we have raised enough funds to rescue, we buy slaughter-bound horses for MAHR. Our members are given tax donation acknowledgements directly from MidAtlantic.

That’s our story. For a few dollars a month, you can join us and help make a difference for some very needy and deserving thoroughbreds. If interested, contact me, Susan at sekearney@comcast.net

The fabulous Friends of Twilight in action!
(Left to Right: Elaine, LaNell, and Nancy)

Click here to see the fabulous horseshoes
that the fabulous Friends of Twilight create!

MidAtlantic Horse Rescue horses saved thanks to donations from Friends of Twilight:

El Gato Olivo (Susan), 7-31-06
Miss Rather, 10-2-06
Swooshell, 10-2-06
Crouching Tiger (Jean), 10-2-06
Lodovico, 11-20-06
Dukes Mixture (Jean), 11-27-06
Morriston Chief, 11-27-06
Last Angel, 11-27-06
Bold Mandate (Lori), 11-27-06
Mattsbrotherrobert (for Angel Acres), 1-29-07
Aaron's Rocky (Fox Hill Farms from auction) 3-19-07
Keys to Astro (Fox Hill Farms from auction) 3-19-07
Nickname (Shelley and Mr. Boxcar), 4-30-07
R.K's Boy, 5-21-07
Gentleman's Bet, 5-28-07
Civil Hero, 6-4-07
Dreamy Mover (Jean) (to Akindale Farm) 6-4-07
War Maji (to Akindale Farm,) 6-4-07
Dixie Avenue (to Akindale Farm, Bought out of NY feedlot)
Dixie Rap (Bought out of NY feedlot), 6-14-07
Friend's Case, 6-18-07

City's Big Boy, 6-18-07

Essa's Aim, 7-30-07

Connie Med 9-10-07

Bourbon Gingerbear 9-17-07

What's Your Wish (Shelley and Mr. Boxcar) 10-1-07

Final Nickle 10-29-07

Mount Washington (Shelley and Mr. Boxcar) 11-5-07

Calabria Rose 11-07

Snowanna Run (Doreen Kearney and family in honor/memory of cousin Roy Stevens,  from Devon, England) 12-31-07

Sneakylove 12-31-07

Watch the Move (Dee Curry) 1-7-08

Arrearments (Jean) 1-08

Susie's Prospect (Dee)3-08

Queen of Honey (Lori M) 3-08

Donnabella 5-08

Sweet Mercy 5-08

Countless Gold 3-08
Golden Golden 5-08

Nancy Now (Jean) 6-08

King Carlos 6-08 (Jean, In loving memory of Hank)
Mister Hennessy 9-08

Son of Man 9-08

Cobble Creek 9-08
Tommy O'Dea 10-08
Jack and Jill 2-09
War Bandit 3-09

Prize 4-09

Kentucky Wild Man 5-09

BuckMountainCreek 7-09

Alfie 7-09

Frank 9-09

Ditto 9-09 (Shelley & Mr Boxcar, Horses Helping Horses)

Phunny 9-09 (Lori M)

Manhasset Bay Cat 10-09

Dubai 10-09

Western Express 10-09

Dashboard Drummer (part of a nationwide effort) 3-09

Buddatown 5-10

Bixby 7-10

Twisted Wit (part of a nationwide effort) 7-10

Galloping Chief 9-10

Tactical Lover 10-10 (euthanized 12/22/10, sadly missed)

Rocky Blue 10-10 (Jean and Janice)

Ayudame 1-11

Tougher 1-11

Fritz 1-11 (Jean)
True Seattle 2-11
War Action 2-11
My ExGirlfriend 3-11
Minny Behr 3-11
Chester 4-11
Passion 5-11
JR 5-11
Cox's Pet (to Angel Acres) 5-11

Forrest 7-11

Wellington 7-11

Luke 11-11

Three Piece 11-11

Lincolnshire 11-11

Raymond 11-11 (to Canter MidAtlantic)

No Time for Love 11-11 (to Canter MidAtlantic)

Solidify 12-11

Bonaparte JR 12-11

Great Composer 1-12

Diamond 1-12

Gameboye 1-12 (Jean)

Play It Out 5-12
Ard Righ 6-12
Lookin at Her 7-12
Phantom F Four 7-12

Handle Gently 10-12

PO Box 407
Chesapeake City, MD 21915

For information call: 302-376-7297
or Email: Bev@MidAtlanticHorseRescue.org
MidAtlantic Horse Rescue is
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
©2002-2013 MidAtlantic Horse Rescue

MidAtlantic Horse Rescue is a Federal 501(c)3 organization, that buys slaughter
bound ex-racehorses and adopts them into good homes as pleasure and sport horses.