Pictured above: Members of our girls teen mentoring program enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
It has been a busy month and we thank all of our volunteers and supporters for making possible all of our Thanksgiving preparation, celebration, and service.

Pictured above, our volunteers who packed and distributed food for approximately 300 families at Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack. Thank you to all of the groups and individuals who collected food including: Faith Bible Church of New Hyde Park, Salem Assembly of God - Elmont, Calgary AG Church of Franklin Square, NY Logos Korean Presbyterian Church, Legacy Center, The Bridge Church of Malverne, Garden City Service League, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church of West Hempstead, St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of India Queens, the LIJ Cardiology Team, St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Levittown, the Kiwanis Club of Ridgewood 3-2-1, New Hyde Park Memorial Key Club, and Centerpoint Church. Thank you to everyone who made a financial contribution to make this possible including the partners of West Point Thoroughbreds and the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation.
Pictured above: Our families receive food for their Thanksgiving dinners from NY Chaplaincy board member Kathy Theroux-Reynolds and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation Executive Director Shannon Kelly.
Pictured above, food donations from, top: St. Thomas Orthodox Church of Levittown, and Faith Bible Church of New Hyde Park.
TEEN MENTORING
Our girls teen mentoring program resumed their Thanksgiving tradition this year of enjoying a pre-Thanksgiving meal together. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, especially the National Charity League of Garden City whose members helped with the preparation, decorated the room, and served our teens as well as all of you whose support makes this group possible.
THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON ON THE TRACK
The holidays can be a challenging time for those who live and work on the track, many of whom are separated from their families and missing their home countries. With your help the NY Chaplaincy strives to share God's love and reassure all we serve that they are not alone. Thanks to our partners the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association for sponsoring the Thanksgiving luncheon at Belmont Park. Thanks to Will Alempijevic, NYTHA's Executive Director, for helping us to raffle off bicycles to two lucky winners.
WOMEN'S PROGRAMMING
There is nothing like getting out of town to gain a fresh perspective and grow closer to God and to friends both old and new. The NY Chaplaincy, in partnership with the Bridge Church of Malverne, conducted a women's retreat this month which was very well received and appreciated by all participants.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
We were delighted to be able to host this month the T.C. Williams Youth Sports Camp, which holds mini days camps to foster inclusion for all kids. Their mission is to build and fine tune skills, sportsmanship, character, confidence, resilience and community through sports, education and mentoring programs. It was our pleasure to host and interact with this wonderful group.
BREEDERS' CUP
Chaplain Humberto was honored to once again serve as the Chaplain of the Breeders' Cup, which was held this year at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, CA. Pictured below, scenes from the Breeders' Cup including the presentation of the "Best Turned Out" awards which honor outstanding grooms and hot walkers.
Irad Ortiz, the NY Chaplaincy's 2020 Champions Talk Honoree, gives a thumbs up to Chaplain Humberto en route to receiving his Fourth Consecutive Shoemaker award, which is presented to the most outstanding jockey of the Breeders' Cup. Congratulations, Irad!
Trainer and NY Chaplaincy supporter Christophe Clemente, with his wife Valerie and daughter Charlotte celebrate the victory of Pizza Bianca in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Race. Congratulations!
It's always a pleasure to run into friend of the backstretch John Hendrickson!
The team of Todd Pletcher trainee "LIfe is Good", Martin, Juan, and Isabel, celebrate their victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Juan celebrates his "Best Turned Out" award with presenter Frankie Delgado.
The NY Race Track Chaplaincy is once again offering the opportunity to our supporters to participate in our Sponsor-A-Family Program. Our Program provides food and gifts to the neediest of our backstretch families during the Christmas season. Sponsors provide brand new winter clothing for the children, a new toy for each child, and a grocery store gift card for the family's Christmas dinner (additional gifts are welcome, such as clothing for the parents). You may CLICK HERE for information on sponsoring a family or donating toward this program.
IN THE NEWS.......

This fascinating article written by Claire Crosby sheds a well-deserved light on the work of the grooms of the elite horses who competed in the Breeders' Cup. Of course, without the effort of the grooms and other members of the backstretch community, Thoroughbred racing would not be possible. Thank you, Claire and BloodHorse magazine for this fabulous essay, presented in full at this Link.
ELiTE Grooms: Caring for BC Classic Contenders
Story by Claire Crosby Photo Credit: Skip Dickstein
Upcoming Dates:

Christmas:

Family Christmas Carnival: Tuesday, December 14th 6 PM Clubhouse

Sponsor a Family Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 22nd 6 PM Clubhouse

Sponsor a Family Saratoga Christmas Party: December 7th 5:30 PM Longfellows Restaurant
NY Race Track Chaplaincy