NYRA organized a retirement ceremony on Wood Memorial Day for Cool N Collective, a 13 year old gelding who ran 81 times in his career. Cool N Collective (owned by Michael Repole of Repole Stable, NYRA's leading owner) will be retiring to Old Friends near Saratoga. NYRA donated $10,000 to Old Friends, $2500 to the Exceller Fund and $2500 to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Michael Repole matched these funds to each organization for a total distribution of $15,000 from NYRA and $15,000 from Repole Stable. The check presentation in the winner's circle (following Cool N Collective's retirement parade on track) included NYRA President and CEO, Charles Hayward, the entire Repole clan, Michael Blowen from Old Friends, Diana Pikulski from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Joel Einhorn representing the Exceller Fund.
