Penn National teams up with the ‘Painting Racehorse’ for equine aftercare

Penn National teams up with the ‘Painting Racehorse’ for
equine aftercare

Metro Meteor is helping other racehorses after they leave the track (www.paintedbymetro.com) Metro Meteor, known as the Painting Racehorse, will partner with Penn National on June 1 to help raise awareness for equine aftercare efforts through a variety of means, including donations and on-track informational booths. His visit will be one of the many events planned for the biggest night in the track’s 40-year history, with the live racing card headlined by the inaugural running of the $500,000 Penn Mile, the richest race ever run in Central Pennsylvania. The one-mile turf stakes for three-year olds is expected to attract some of the best sophomore grass runners in the nation. As part of the day’s activities, Penn National will be donating a total of $10,000 to three equine aftercare organizations – CANTER of Pennsylvania, New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and ReRun Inc. All three organizations will be on-track at Penn National on June 1 to share information on their programs and collect donations. During the races on June 1, Metro Meteor will take up residence in a portable stall on the Penn National apron area, and 50 of his “Metro Mini” paintings will be available for purchase, with all the proceeds going to benefit New Vocations. Fans will be able to see him, and it is also possible that he will put paintbrush to canvas and display his artistic flair at some point during the evening.

Metro Meteor is an amazing 10-year-old gelding who has
become a sensation by virtue of his artistic prowess. After earning nearly
$300,000 on the track and finishing his racing career in 2009 at Penn National
for Renpher Stables, Metro was adopted by Ron and Wendy Krajewski.

After two years as a riding horse, knee problems surfaced
for Metro that ended his career as a riding horse. However, Ron Krajewski was amazingly
able to teach Metro to paint by holding a brush in his mouth, and the rest was
history.

To date, Metro’s paintings have sold for more than $32,000,
with half of the proceeds going to benefit New Vocations. Metro has developed a
huge fan following and was recently the focus of a TV story that appeared on the
“TODAY Show.” More information on Metro is available at
his official website.

“It seemed natural to tie in the biggest night of racing in
our track’s history with the important initiative of raising awareness for
equine aftercare efforts,” said Dan Silver, director of racing operations at Penn National.

“I’d like to thank Ron and Wendy Krajewski for bringing their incredible artist on track, in addition to CANTER
of Pennsylvania, New Vocations and ReRun for being part of what will be an
incredible evening.”

The racing action on June 1 features the inaugural running
of the $500,000 Penn Mile for three-year-olds on the turf anchoring a card that will
also include the $250,000 Mountainview Handicap for three-year-olds and up going 1 1/8
miles on the main track, the $150,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup for
three-year-olds and up going five furlongs on the turf, the $50,000 Penn Dash for
three-year-olds and up going five furlongs, and a pair of $60,000 six furlong dirt
sprints for Pennsylvania-bred or Pennsylvania-sired horses. It will be the
richest day of racing in the 40-year history of Penn National.

Post time will be 6 p.m. (EDT), with an All-Stakes Early
Pick 4, and the Penn Mile is scheduled as the 4TH race on the card with an
approximate 7:49 p.m. post.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com