FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 19, 2009

2nd ANNUAL PET FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK AT ROCKINGHAM PARK ON JULY 4TH WEEKEND

SALEM, NH-- Rockingham Park will hold the 2nd Annual Pet Food Drive over the July 4th holiday weekend to help those in need keep their beloved companion animals from going hungry, and all donations will benefit the New Hampshire Food Bank again this year.

Food pantries in the Granite State and all over the country are experiencing a significant increase in demand for pet food while their supplies and donations continue to dwindle in the tough economy. Not only are people have a difficult time feeding their families, but their pets are having to do without as well. Requests for pet food at the outlets of the New Hampshire Food Bank are common and the need is growing.

“Although our mission here at the New Hampshire Food Bank is to end hunger for men, women and children; we need to realize that people aren't the only ones that are affected by the economic downturn,” said Melanie Gosselin, Executive Director at the New Hampshire Food Bank. “Families have been forced to give up the pets they love because they cannot afford to feed them. This event will help provide pet owners with the food and supplies needed to keep pets in their homes, rather than relinquishing them to shelters.”

The need has become so great that many people are forced to make the heart-breaking decision to surrender their beloved household pets because they can no longer afford basic dog or cat food. With shelters and animal welfare agencies already overburdened and under funded, the situation is dire.

All of those wishing to help may drop off non-perishable bags and cans of pet food in the Clubhouse and grandstand lobbies at Rockingham Park on Friday, July 3rd through Sunday, July 5th from 11:30 AM to 5 PM. Collection bins will be marked.

Last year, 3,000 pounds of pet food were collected in the three-day drive at Rockingham Park and organizers were thrilled and heartened by the outpouring of generosity and compassion. All segments of the community came together and filled the collection bins, and it is hoped that the response will be even greater this year.

"We are all animal lovers at Rockingham," said Lynne Snierson, the track's director of communications and marketing. "We hope to help provide some relief in what has become a crisis situation so that those in need can keep their pets, who are their best friends, in their homes."

Rockingham Park will also provide the opportunity for racehorse and greyhound retirement foundations and the Salem Animal Rescue League to be on hand at the track on Saturday and Sunday so that interested people may learn more about adopting dogs and cats or racing animals after their careers on the track are completed.

Rockingham Park, which has been a fixture in New Hampshire and the Salem community for 103 years, is the only horse racing track in the Granite State. Rockingham has conducted live Thoroughbred and standardbred meets throughout its history and is currently racing harness horses four days per week through August 30th. The track also offers full card Thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound simulcasting plus charitable poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and bingo seven days per week.