Two online auctions benefiting Thoroughbred aftercare organizations are currently open this week–visit these for some unique and rare Christmas gifts, the proceeds of which will support several retirement charities.

After the Finish Line is holding its 6th Annual Auction of 60 Breeders’ Cup hats, plus other racing memorabilia. Hat listings include 2021 runners Hot Rod Charlie, Life Is Good and Aloha West, among others, as well as previous years’ entrants such as Zenyatta, Songbird and Ghostzapper. Other racing items consist of artwork, saddlecloths and several collectable Oak Tree Racing Association beer steins!

The following charities have chosen hats and will benefit from auction sale proceeds: Beyond the Roses Equine Rescue and Retirement, CARMA, Florida TRAC, Old Friends, Racing for Home, Retired Racehorse Project, Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption & Retirement, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Turning for Home. Visit this link for the eBay auction that will end this Sunday, December 12 at 7 pm. EST.

An anonymous donor has dedicated the proceeds of an auction of historical horse racing memorabilia to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The collection is assumed to be the largest of its kind in the world of autographed Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont programs. For the Derby, those signed by the winning jockey include all years from 1970–2021 with some available from select years during the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s; additionally, some programs include signatures from all participating riders.

The Preakness and Belmont programs run from 1977–2018, each signed by the winning rider, and a special lot consists of signed programs from Secretariat’s Triple Crown victory. Finally, the auction includes a few other rare and remarkable artifacts, including Seabiscuit’s 1940 Santa Anita Handicap shoe, a lock of hair from Secretariat’s mane and a 19th-century Jerome Park pull toy. Visit this auction here that ends on Saturday, December 11 at 10 p.m. EST, and read more about the background of the auction here on the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s website.