In 2015, friends, family, and fellow horse enthusiasts came together to fund the emergency medical bills of a young Thoroughbred foal that was struggling to survive after being born at the University of Maryland’s campus farm.  Upon seeing her lying in the straw gasping for breath and flailing, students and staff rushed to give her oxygen and called on a nearby veterinarian to help stabilize her.  They soon transported her along with her dam an hour away to the veterinary medical school in Leesburg, VA to receive emergency medical care.  She faced an uphill battle as her small dark brown body convulsed with multiple seizures after arrival.  Each day, she fought harder and harder to overcome her condition, supported by dedicated veterinarians who wouldn’t give up on her.  After a difficult but successful ten days of treatment, she was able to return to the campus farm to begin her rehabilitation period.  She was weak, and still carried the shaved mark on her neck where an indwelling catheter once had been to receive the emergency medications.  It was then that the equine students in the animal science major took over her round the clock care.  Because the filly never learned to suckle on her own, students made fresh warm milk replacer throughout the day and night and fed it to her in a bucket.  With each passing day, the filly grew stronger and stronger.  She even began to buck and throw her head about when she saw her bucket of warm milk being brought to her in the stall.  Later that summer, she had her own graduation when she and her dam joined the rest of the herd on pasture.  The students watched in amazement as she raced around the field playing with the other foals.    

The filly, now called Maryland’s Miracle, was eventually sold as a racing prospect with guarded hopes that someday she might become a racehorse.  Five years later, we are happy to report that not only did she make it to the racetrack, but she has raced successfully in Maryland and Delaware for the past three years.  Her career includes 19 races with a win and several showings for total earnings of $28,063.  In her last race, the Maryland Million Turf Distaff Starter Handicap on the famed Maryland Million day, she gave the alumni watching a thrill as they saw her try to take on the field. Although she finished 7th, each time this little filly races, it’s like she comes in 1st in the hearts of the students who raised her.  

The story of Maryland’s Miracle isn’t over.  We will continue to follow her as she eventually transitions out of racing and into a new career.  We eagerly look forward to finding out what the future holds for her.  One thing is for sure, none of this would have been possible without your generosity and confidence in our students.  With sincere appreciation and gratitude, thank you! 

You can view Maryland’s Miracle winning a race in July 2019 here.

We deeply appreciate the contributions of all our donors who have so quickly and enthusiastically responded to our call to help our program!

Dr. Carolyn Karlson was our first generous donor who agreed to give $5,000 to the Fearless Foaling project IF we could raise at least another $5,000 to support the emergency veterinary expenses and daily care for "Maryland's Miracle" and "Blazing Terp" which totaled $10,000 this year.

Because of YOU, our generous supporters, we did just that!

Now that we will be able to ensure that we can cover our emergency expenses this year, we want to ensure a sustainable future for the foaling program. We are extending our goal to $15,000. These additional funds will enable the foaling program to provide an enhanced student experience as we support our first Warmblood/ Thoroughbred foal. Please share the news about our project with as many people as possible and help us toward this second major benchmark! 

go.umd.edu/fearlessfoaling