I’m a little late in wishing Evening Attire a happy 17th birthday–the big day was Valentine’s Day, two days before his namesake race was scheduled to be run.

Bad weather scuttled that, so the Evening Attire–formerly the Aqueduct Handicap, which this guy won in 2002–is being run today.

And in his honor, his retirement home, Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue in Pawling, New York, has launched a winter grain drive. These cold temperatures mean our equine friends need more calories to keep them warm, and your donation will help provide much-needed grain for Evening Attire and his fellow Akindale retirees like Hotstufanthensome, Stud Muffin, Unbridled Danger, and Tacticianor (Evening Attire’s half-brother).

Donations of any amount are welcome; if you donate $20, Akindale will send you a set of trading cards featuring the farm’s well-known retirees.

Last year, Akindale went through nine trailer loads of grain, and no doubt they’ll need more than that to get through this year’s harsh winter.

PayPal and credit card donations can be made here–and Evening Attire and his buddies say, “Thank you!”

Photo courtesy of Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue