Welcome to Bethlehem Farm & the Center for Women in Racing

A place where broken lives and broken horses meet to find rest for the weary, hope for the hopeless and love for the broken hearted.

The Mission of Bethlehem Farm and the Center for Women in Racing is to provide a place of healing for women in the racing industry who struggle with physical, emotional and spiritual problems.

Special Events: A Banner Year

Horses and the Hearts of Women

Our fundraising series featuring significant women in the racing industry, held its third event in June by honoring Jane Beshear, First Lady of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, following Gretchen Jackson, owner of Barbaro, in 2008 and Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, in 2009. The 2010 event was held at Bethlehem Farm, and attended by Governor Steve Beshear and many honored guests who love and support the First Lady and her work on behalf of the horse industry of Kentucky. Mrs. Beshear spoke of her love of horses as a young girl, and how that love has followed her into the public arena as First Lady. With regard to horse racing, Mrs. Beshear founded “Horses and Hope” and Pink Ribbon Stable with a focus on breast cancer awareness and treatment for women who work on the racetracks of Kentucky. Retired and renowned second leading female jockey of all time, Patricia Cooksey, Kentucky Racing Commission, was present to make introductions and emphasize the need for services to women in racing and on the farms of Kentucky and around the world.

Donning her pink “Barbaro” 2006 Kentucky Derby silk scarf, Mrs. Beshear was serenaded by Tennessee singer, Templeton Thompson, with a special song “Girls
and Horses” which brought the dinner guests to their feet with applause. A pink halter, designed by Quillin Leather and Tack of Paris, Kentucky, was presented to the First Lady with her favorite horse on the silver halter plate: Magic.
The magical evening including a presentation on the life-sized Barbaro Memorial by sculptor Alexa King and closing with a moving testimony to the call of God on his life by retired jockey, Otto Thorwarth, who stars as jockey Ron Turcotte in the newly released Disney film, Secretariat.

World Games, Festivals and Awards Dinners...

The 2010 FEI/Alltech World Equestrian Games and the Secretariat Festival, honoring Bourbon County’s most famous legacy to horseracing, gave
Center for Women in Racing an opportunity to showcase our work with women and Thoroughbreds. “Women and Thoroughbreds”, a photographic exhibit by renowned photographer Jeff Rogers, was on display at the Center for Women in Racing throughout the Fall. The official Churchill Downs/Kentucky Derby silk scarves were introduced as being available to raise money and support for women and horses through the Center for Women in Racing. First Lady Jane Beshear presented HRH Princess Haya al Hussein the Barbaro 2006 Kentucky Derby silk scarf as the official gift from Kentucky for her work as President of the 2010 FEI/Alltech World Equestrian Games. Our special scarves were then featured in two major events: RaceTrack Chaplaincy of America White Horse Awards at Churchill Downs during the 2010 Breeders Cup; and at the 2010 Annual Awards Dinner for the Paris/Bourbon County Chamber of Commerce. Our Founder, Sandra White, co-hosted the Breeders Cup event with Hall of Fame Jockey, Pat Day, and hosted the Chamber event as President proclaiming “2010: Year of the Horse” for Paris/Bourbon County. Ms. White received the 2010 Community Service Award for her work on behalf of the people and horses of racing in her hometown and beyond.