The FTHA and 1/ST RACING partnered to sponsor Backstretch BBQs at Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows earlier this month. More than 300 members of the Backstretch Community at each track enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the fixings, with Pastor Tom LaPointe and Chaplain Guillermo Fernandez of His Place Ministries once again organizing the events, with an assist from FTHA Special Projects Coordinator Herb Oster. There were also bicycle and microwave giveaways for those on hand.
“We had a great turn-out for this year’s BBQs,” Oster said. “It means a lot to us to be able to put together a fun afternoon for the people who work so hard each and every day. These events, along with our free dental and eyecare programs for backstretch workers, the FTHA’s Kent Stirling Scholarship Program, and the many other initiatives the horsemen’s association and the racetrack provide, are all ways we are working to improve the quality of life for our community.”