Seawolf Stables Created to Bring Racehorses
to the Rescue of Athletic Scholarship Fund
 Faced
with the daunting task of raising athletic scholarship funds to
a minimum of $250,000 by the 2005-06 academic year, the Sonoma State
University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics came up with
a unique plan. Racehorses.
It was only last week that the idea to sell 100 shares at $1,000
in each of two colts, of which half of each sold share is used as
a tax-deductible donation to the Sonoma State University Student-Athlete
Scholarship Fund. The horses will be owned by a corporation to be
called Seawolf Stables.
Several days after an article was published in the local daily newspaper,
reservations for shares in the two horses have already been sold
out, leaving a waiting list of over 100 people and the department
in the process of acquiring a third horse.
The idea was hatched by Russ Gardiner, SSU’s volunteer assistant
athletic director for marketing and development.
The two horses, Seawolf and Sonoma Slew, were selected by Tom Bachman,
owner of Pegasus Ranch in Petaluma. Bachman is responsible for the
care and training of the colts. Seawolf, named for the school’s
mascot, is the offspring of Swiss Yodeler and My Thellie. Sonoma
Slew, is the ‘grandson’ of the great Seattle Slew and is the offspring
of Slewledo and Distant Love.
The anticipated first race for the horses will be at the Sonoma
County Fair in July of 2004. They will race in the future at Bay
Meadows, Golden Gate Fields and other California tracks.
The horses are available for viewing from 5-7:30 p.m. on Sunday,
Nov.16 at SSU in conjunction with Swirl & Swish, a wine/food
tasting and auction event hosted by the Department of Intercollegiate
Athletics and the Wine Business program of the School of Business
and Economics.
For further information, contact SSU Athletic Director, Bill Fusco,
(707) 664-2639. For information on the Seawolf Stables and purchasing
shares, phone (707) 664-2521.
NOTE: Digital photos of the horses are available upon request.
ABOVE, Seawolf, a Thoroughbred who will race with Sonoma Slew
for the SSU athletic scholarship fund. (Photo by Sandy Destiny)
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