As Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, heads to Churchill Downs as one of the favorites for the 150th Kentucky Derby, McCarthy is using the moment to spotlight something often overlooked: what happens after the race is over.
McCarthy has pledged to donate a portion of any Derby winnings to Win Place Home, a 501(c)(3) aftercare organization based in Southern California that retrains and rehomes off-track Thoroughbreds. The pledge is just the latest in a long history of support—McCarthy has donated more horses to Win Place Home than any other trainer and consistently ensures those horses arrive with financial support from their owners to secure a strong start to life after racing.
"Michael McCarthy has always gone above and beyond for the horses," said CJ Wilson, Founder of Win Place Home. "His Derby pledge is incredibly generous, but honestly, it's not out of character—it's just who he is. He truly cares about where his horses go next, and we're proud to be a part of that journey."
Most recently, McCarthy entrusted Win Place Home with Demystify, a young filly who arrived with owner-backed funding and has already begun her second career journey under the program's careful guidance. It's just one of over 130 horses the organization has taken in since its founding—and one of dozens who have come directly from McCarthy's barn.
Win Place Home staff were in attendance for Journalism's Santa Anita Derby win and plan to cheer on the colt from California this Saturday. "Whether he wins or not," said Wilson, "Michael's already won in our book."
