Louisville, KY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/06/2016 -- As the world gears up for the first leg of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, True.Ink is saddling up to make its own mark in horseracing history. The online adventure magazine's True Stables has brought the first-ever crowdfunding campaign to buy a racehorse to Louisville, Kentucky in conjunction with the 142nd Kentucky Derby.

"It may be the 142nd Run for the Roses, but it's the inaugural running of The People's Horse," says Geoffrey Gray, a bestselling author, longtime journalist and founder of True.Ink. "We're thrilled that so many of our new friends in the Horse Capital of the World have supported our project and signed on as members of True Stables."

True's one-of-a-kind project is designed to give the public the experience of what it's like to be a racehorse owner, and the True team is catching the attention of racegoers in the 'Ville by traveling with a life-sized fiberglass horse, which was transported by horse carrier from New York. Fans have submitted hundred of horse names for The People's Horse by penning them directly onto the steed statue. The horse has found a part-time home outside of the world famous Wagner's, a Louisville establishment popular with both racing fans and industry veterans.

Since its launch last week, the campaign has recruited more than 200 backers from diverse backgrounds across the country, raising nearly $22,000. Those contributing $100 gain the title of Founding Stablemate, with perks like barn visits with The People's Horse, helping to choose its trainer, and getting access to exclusive race day parties.

"For the first time in horse racing, we're building a stable for everyone to share," says Gray. "We're taking the old Sport of Kings and making us all Kings of the Track."

You can follow The People's Horse and its Derby adventures on Snapchat (true.ink), Twitter (@truedotink), or Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/truedotink/).

The People's Horse Crowdfunding Campaign on Indiegogo - http://bit.ly/23ZrvwZ

About Tue.Ink
Inspired by the classic pulp magazines of the 1940's, True.Ink celebrates expertise, individualism and adventure. Founded by Geoffrey Gray, the bestselling author and documentary producer, the magazine is designed to designed to a place where great adventure stories come alive through interactive tales and live experiences.

True.Ink soft-launched last year, with an exclusive video featuring Patriots quarterback Tom Brady discussing his secret recipe for pancakes, and a profile of legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach, who broke down the danger of love and romance in the ring.

True also revealed tips on running with the bulls in Pamplona, making beer from rotten-smelling fruit, methods to craft a house-boat from scratch, among others. Along with monthly-family style dinners and other special events, the magazine has been racing General Patton's old schooner boat to Havana and plans to head to Mongolia later this year to search for Genghis Khan's missing tomb.

For now, they are starting with a horse. The People's Horse.