2023 MAGAZINE LASTING LEGACY: The importance of succession planning ENSURING HORSES STAY RETIRED FROM RACING: Due diligence to protect OTTBs BIG ANNIVERSARY: TAA celebrates 10 years of supporting Thoroughbreds Pictured: Almanaar (GB), a 2012 MGSW earner of $900,349, in his second career with trainer Tim Brock. Photo Credit: Jen Halliwell
Starlight and StarLadies Racing would like to thank New Vocations for turning the following Starlight/StarLadies alumni into wonderful riding horses Castle and Key with Jessica Shannon Suzie Hayes with Light Off Brynn Pennington with Sophiery Honest Money with his brother Rambo & Owner Leandra Cooper Tilt with Rebecca Mullaney Bourbonrox with Tara Haywood Contact: Donna Barton Brothers at [email protected] for more information about the partnerships Starlight Racing starlightracing.com starladiesracing.com StarLadies Racing Bourbonrox Castle and Key Caribbean Kid Coach Vinny Dark Pool Drunk Logic Flatterful Harlan’s iStation Honest Money Klatter Lawn Man Light Off Masterofintention Mo Stealthy Monopolist Ranger Up Recur Rune Salmanazar Sam P Seitz Sophiery Sumner Tierra Verde Tilt Vinny White Shoes Walden Pond
Boarding Breaking & Training Layups Sales Prep & Consignments Sales Representation Welcome As the TAA heads into its second decade, President Jeff Bloom wants to see the Thoroughbred industry secure permanent funding for aftercare. Page 4 How to contribute Individuals and organizations have a number of ways to help provide care for ex-racehorses. Page 6 Ensuring horses stay retired from racing With protocols in place, there are ways to prevent a retired horse from going back to the racetrack or going to slaughter. Page 8 The lasting legacy of John Hettinger How he formalized a succession plan to transition a large portion of his farm to be a sanctuary and adoption facility for retired racehorses. Page 10 Celebrating 10 years of service to aftercare The TAA looks forward to its second decade of supporting aftercare for the Thoroughbred racing industry. Page 14 Industry stakeholders Funding of the TAA comes from a broad and diverse group of supporters, from owners, breeders, trainers, racetracks, sales companies, horsemens’ groups, and fans. Page 18 Where TAA-accredited organizations are located The TAA’s 81 accredited organizations are located across North America. Page 21 The TAA in action TAA representatives and supporters were present at numerous events around the country in a busy year for the organization. Page 22 CONTENTS TAA MAGAZINE PRODUCTION Alexandra Kokka Catherine Flowers 821 Corporate Dr. Lexington, KY 40503 Phone: (859) 224-2756 Email: [email protected] The TAA magazine was produced in its entirety by contributions from sponsors and advertisers and was published by Daily Racing Form. EDITORIAL Mark Simon, Senior Editor SPONSORSHIP Lara Levine, DRF Breeding Director of Sales & Sponsorships Robert Forbeck, SVP, National Adv. Director Cover photo: Jen Halliwell
PAGE 2 DAILY RACING FORM CONTENTS TAA-ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS ACTT Naturally..............................................................................24 After The Homestretch ..................................................................25 After the Races ..............................................................................26 Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue...................................................27 Beyond The Roses Equine Rescue & Retirement.........................28 Blue Bloods....................................................................................29 Bright Futures Farm .....................................................................30 Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses......................................31 CANTER California........................................................................32 CANTER Kentucky.........................................................................33 CANTER Michigan ........................................................................34 Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare..............................................35 Center for Racehorse Retraining...................................................36 Central Kentucky Riding for Hope................................................37 Circle A Home for Horses.............................................................38 Days End Farm Horse Rescue......................................................39 Down the Stretch Ranch................................................................40 Equestrian Inc................................................................................41 Equine Advocates..........................................................................42 Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation....................................43 Equine Rescue of Aiken.................................................................44 Final Furlong .................................................................................45 Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program..........................46 Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Program ............................................................47 Friends of Ferdinand .....................................................................48 Galloping Out.................................................................................49 Glen Ellen Vocational Academy....................................................50 Harmony and Hope Horse Haven ................................................51 Healing Arenas..............................................................................52 Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue..................................................53 Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds....................................54 Hope After Racing .........................................................................55 Hope for Horses.............................................................................56 Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue......................................................57 Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation..........................................58 Illinois Equine Humane Center .....................................................59 James River Horse Foundation.....................................................60 Kentucky Equine Adoption Center................................................61 Life Horse.......................................................................................62 Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester.........63 LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers .......................................64 LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society ..............................65 Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue......................................................66 MidAtlantic Horse Rescue............................................................67 Mitchell Farm.................................................................................68 NEER North....................................................................................69 New Beginnings Thoroughbreds..................................................70 New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society...............................71 New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.............................72 Old Friends ...................................................................................73 Our Mims Retirement Haven ........................................................74 Out Side In .....................................................................................75 R.A.C.E. Fund ................................................................................76 Racing for Home............................................................................77 Redwings Horse Sanctuary..........................................................78 Remember Me Rescue..................................................................79 ReRun.............................................................................................80 RVR Horse Rescue........................................................................81 Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation...................................82 Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement.................83 Second Chance Thoroughbreds...................................................84 Second Stride................................................................................85 Second Wind Thoroughbred Project............................................86 Secretariat Center..........................................................................87 South Florida SPCA ......................................................................88 Square Peg Foundation.................................................................89 Susan S. Donaldson Foundation..................................................90 The Exceller Fund .........................................................................91 The Foxie G Foundation................................................................92 Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga...................................................93 This Old Horse...............................................................................94 Thoroughbred Athletes.................................................................95 Thoroughbred Placement Resources...........................................96 Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation ........................................97 Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa.............................................98 Thoroughbred Retirement, Rehabilitation, and Careers..............99 Tranquility Farm ..........................................................................100 United Pegasus Foundation........................................................101 Virginia Thoroughbred Project ...................................................102 War Horses at Rose Bower..........................................................103 Win Place Home..........................................................................104 Suzie Picou-Oldham EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Jeff Bloom, President Jimmy Bell, Past President Craig Bandoroff, Vice President Madeline Auerbach, Vice President Walter S. Robertson, Jr., Secretary Melissa Hicks, Treasurer Aidan Butler Terry Finley Stacie Clark Rogers, Operations Consultant TAA STAFF Catherine Flowers, Office Manager [email protected] Katie Hayslip, Finance Manager [email protected] Alexandra Kokka, Communications and Marketing Manager [email protected] Suzie Picou-Oldham, Inspections Administrator [email protected] Emily Dresen, Funding & Events Manager [email protected] Jen Halliwell, Social Media Specialist [email protected] Matthew Thacker, Director of Financial Development [email protected] Janice Towles, Accreditation & Grants Manager [email protected] BOARD OF DIRECTORS Madeline Auerbach Craig Bandoroff Laura Barillaro Price Bell Dr. Jeff Berk Jeff Bloom Simon Bray Donna Brothers Boyd Browning Aidan Butler Tom Cannell Dr. Bonnie Comerford Jack Damico Joe De Francis Terry Finley Georganne Hale Melissa Hicks John Keitt Chip McGaughey Josh Rubinstein Richard Schosberg Mark Simendinger Tom Ventura Ric Waldman
Representing owners and breeders on a number of national and international organizations and committees. TOBA supports collaboration between all stakeholders to protect first and foremost, our equine athletes and jockeys who compete at racetracks across the United States, as well as ensuring the economic interests of all Thoroughbred owners. The primary advocate for the rights of owners and breeders
PAGE 4 DAILY RACING FORM Welcome There is an old saying attributed to Warren Buffet, numerous politicians, and rural Africa: “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Looking back on the past 10 years since the inception of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and the generous funding provided by the Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, it is clear our industry has come a long way in its support of Thoroughbred aftercare, but we still have a very long way to go. I am in awe of the exceptional work that has been done by TAA’s incredible staff (and many volunteers), working tirelessly to establish itself as the gold standard in aftercare. The leadership of my dedicated predecessors, Jack Wolf, Jimmy Bell, John Phillips, and Mike Meuser and all the past and current board members have provided an extraordinary launching pad and path for a viable aftercare solution at the TAA. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants. As the only industry body that accredits aftercare organizations, the TAA has helped secure a new career and/or safe home for more than 15,000 horses at more than 80 accredited organizations throughout North America. The “accreditation” is not a mere hollow designation. By thoroughly investigating the background of the participating partners, the TAA can assure every cooperating partner and contributor that the horses in our charge are receiving topnotch attention and care. There are countless feel-good stories of retired racehorses changing the lives of individuals from all walks of life. There are just as many success stories of retired racehorses taking on new and productive careers in other equine activities such as polo, show jumping, and so on. But we also have numerous horses that simply require a safe sanctuary and the ability to thrive in an open pasture due to physical infirmaries. Safe and healthy retirement from racing is not only the “right” thing to do, but also the obligation of all industry participants. Our industry simply cannot afford any more negative off-the-track horse-related circumstances. We are currently experiencing unprecedented severe outside pressures to shore up several key issues that have long been ignored; equally important is the issue of organized aftercare. The TAA literally built from scratch and perfected the only accreditation program in our industry. This ensures aftercare facilities are in complete compliance with our rigid policies. This grueling process requires enormous amounts of time and expertise to oversee. We are grateful for the wonderful support we continue to receive from our original funding partners in addition to the many racetracks, sales companies, farms, horsemen’s groups, horseplayers, and many other funding providers. I am proud to say that the TAA has granted more than $28 million to accredited organizations since its founding in 2012. As the TAA looks to the future, and as the industry’s solution to Thoroughbred aftercare, we still have a lot of work to do. One of the future goals for our organization should be a way to secure permanent funding. I welcome all ideas or suggestions as it relates to the critical need of funding this aspect of our industry, and I sincerely thank you all for the past support and more importantly, your continued support of a sustainable aftercare future. We can accomplish this together. Jeff Bloom President, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
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TAP INTO THE BEST OF THE DRF DATABASE WITH A SUBSCRIPTION TO DRF+ PRO Features 16 essential tools & handicapping reports! DRF GamePlan Beyer Speed Figures of the Week Trainer & Jockey Standings Key Race Report and more DRF TicketMaker Beyer Pars Winners’ Book Stakes Review Positive ROI Report Debut Reports Subscribe today at DRF.com/Plus Learn more: ONLINE Donate online using TAA’s secure online giving platform, at www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/donation_now. DIRECT Mail a check to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, 821 Corporate Dr., Lexington, KY 40503. RECURRING DONATION Set up a monthly recurring donation at the link above, by selecting the Recurring Donation button at the top of the page. IN HONOR/IN MEMORY OF Donate online in memory of or in honor of a loved one at the link above, by checking the box to dedicate your gift. PLANNED GIVING Include TAA in your will or trust to leave a future legacy gift to the TAA. TRAINERS Enroll in the TAA Trainer Funding Program by pledging an annual per-win contribution. SPONSORSHIP Sponsor a TAA event, promotional item, or a TAA race presentation at eligible participating racetracks. CONTRIBUTE TO AN ENDOWMENT Help TAA grow in long-term financial sustainability and demonstrate the industry’s commitment to aftercare in perpetuity. TRANSFER STOCKS Transfer publicly traded appreciated securities or donate closely-held stock to the TAA. For more information, visit the TAA website at www.thoroughbredaftercare. org/donate or contact the TAA office directly at (859) 224-2756. How to contribute to the TAA ThoroughbredAftercareAlliance @TBaftercare @TBaftercare
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PAGE 8 DAILY RACING FORM Ensuring horses stay retired from racing By Alexandra Kokka If you own a Thoroughbred in training, you most likely have heard of the many aftercare options available to you and your racing community. With 81 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations across North America and many supporting triage programs at major racetracks, the transfer of a retiring Thoroughbred can be seamless. One concern in this process is ensuring a retired horse will not be entered in a race under new connections. Often a retired horse will be transferred from the track to a trainer or an organization, but the foal certificate is left active. This misstep is a liability for the racing connections, but more importantly, it can be a threat to the horse’s safety. There are protocols in place to prevent this from happening. All TAA-accredited organizations have an adoption contract, which states the horse is being sold as “Not for racing.” However, the process that officially ensures the horse’s Jockey Club certificate will be made inactive for racing must be filed through The Jockey Club’s Registry Office. Jockey Club registrar Rick Bailey explained the “Sold as Retired From Racing” process, which notifies North American racetracks of the retired status for Thoroughbreds. “If an owner wishes to mark their certificates as ‘Retired From Racing,’ there’s a process to do that for Thoroughbreds that are registered with The Jockey Club,” Bailey said. “It involves returning the completed form, which includes the notarized signature of both parties, photographs so that we can verify the identity of the horse, and The Jockey Club Certificate of Foal Registration to our office so that it can be recorded and stamped accordingly.” All of the necessary information and the “Sold as Retired From Racing” form are readily available online at www.registry. jockeyclub.com/registry. “Some tracks are more aware of the retired process than others – certainly the aftercare organizations are much more aware and a good number of the ‘Retired From Racing’ horses that we receive are from aftercare facilities,” Bailey said. A seasoned veteran of the “Sold as Retired From Racing” process, TAAaccredited Second Stride executive director Kim Smith shares her perspective as an aftercare facility taking in recently retired Thoroughbreds who still need their TJC papers to be stamped as inactive. “Second Stride transitioned 143 Thoroughbred sport horses to new homes last year for many types of post-racing uses and jobs,” Smith said. “We received foal certificates from the donating connections either digitally or in hard copy for approximately 40 percent of the horses.” Protocols in place, move to digital certificates should ease process Coady Photography When a horse such as My Boy Jack is retired from racing, there are safeguards in place to ensure the horse does not return to competing at the track.
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 9 TAA-accredited organizations such as Second Stride sometimes face a challenge in tracking down the Certificate of Foal Registration. “Often the papers are at a racetrack already closed for the meet. They’re left behind or transferred to the next track,” Smith said. “We often hear they were left in a van driver’s glove box. “So far this year we have had four out of 20 horses arrive with foal papers and a notarized form ready for executing to The Jockey Club ‘Sold as Retired From Racing’ database,” Smith said. “This year we started sending The Jockey Club ‘Sold as Retired From Racing’ form link to all our donors. We ask it be executed upon entry.” With the introduction of digital certificates, beginning with the 2018 foal crop, thankfully this issue is on the decline as Thoroughbreds with paper certificates age out of racing. Aside from the ‘Sold as Retired From Racing’ form, TAA-accredited organizations take additional precautions to provide a safety net for horses adopted from their organization. “We provide strict ‘No Race’ language in our adoption contracts,” Smith said. “Second Stride places our horses in the Equibase Virtual Stable Mail to be notified if a horse has published works or races. We then can proactively try and find out what is going on for any alerts. Usually it is a name similar to that of another horse currently working. “This past Thanksgiving morning we had 2018 Kentucky Derby runner My Boy Jack show up with a published work. He was transitioned through our program and his adopter actually allows us to use him as an ambassador horse on tours, so we knew right where he was. We were able to reassure the prior connections that he was well and grazing on the farm.” Many TAA-accredited organizations also are careful to safeguard their adopted horses from going to slaughter by having clear language in their adoption contracts. Furthermore, the adopter agrees to include the same “No race or slaughter” language in any future sale contracts. “The adopted horse is placed with a lifetime ‘Not for race or slaughter use’ clause,” Smith said. “The adopter agrees that neither they, nor any future person or owner, shall race or slaughter the adopted horse, sell the adopted horse for race or slaughter use, or cause the horse to become available for purchase at an auction that could place the horse at risk of slaughter or race use.” While it is trickier to reclaim an OTTB at-risk of slaughter, Smith’s team has a solid plan in place if an adopted horse shows up on the track. “The ‘Bat’ phone starts ringing,” she said. “We would immediately notify the stewards of the related tracks, the track ownership, the track vets, and The Jockey Club. We can readily provide our paperwork and vet work to establish the situation and request the horse be put on the steward’s/track’s ‘No race’ list. We can also request that our attorney submit a ‘cease and desist’ letter to the person(s) in question, as well as to the other related parties. Our contract language also has provisions for return of the horse to Second Stride, and legal work can be started for that as well.” While TAA-accredited organizations do their best to provide a safety net for our industry’s athletes with or without the “Sold as Retired From Racing” form, the nonprofits end up spending considerable time, money, and resources that could otherwise go toward caring for more horses. “We find horsemen and owners are making a mental shift on handling aftercare needs and are understanding the need to formalize a procedure flow for their horses’ post-racing needs,” Smith said. “Using a TAA-accredited program is a great first step for horsemen, as most of these programs are set up to help them through the system and keep the horse’s best interest at heart. They organize optimal contracts, complete the safety paperwork, follow up with the horse in its new home, and give feedback to the prior connections. “It takes a complicated web of multiple contacts to keep a transitioned horse as safe as it can be. For most race stables it would be very difficult to keep up with all of those post-race needs adequately. We hope we are a valuable tool they choose to use.” In the 10 years since the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was established, more than 13,700 retired Thoroughbreds have been affected by TAA-accredited organizations. In that same time frame, 4,653 Thoroughbreds have been recorded as retired from racing. Ultimately, the best way to ensure your retired Thoroughbred never makes another start is to complete the “Sold as Retired From Racing” process. Second Stride received a surprise in the fall of 2021 when My Boy Jack showed up in a published workout, but the organization knew that information to be in error.
PAGE 10 DAILY RACING FORM Lasting legacy By Alexandra Kokka Few in racing can say they have accomplished more for retired racehorses than the late John Hettinger. After nearly two decades working abroad – first in corporate sales and marketing, then in real-estate development where he ultimately made his fortune – Hettinger and his wife, Betty, returned in 1973 to take over Akindale Farm for John’s father. Located just north of New York City, Hettinger transformed the 55-acre farm into an 800-acre Thoroughbred breeding and racing operation complete with a training track, shed rows, turnout paddocks, and more. The Yale University graduate campaigned numerous homebred multiple graded stakes winners. However, more notable than his influence as a breeder were his contributions to the sport as a whole. “John was essentially a white knight in 1991 when he and his family became the largest shareholders in Fasig-Tipton as it underwent restructuring,” said FasigTipton president and CEO Boyd Browning. “John, as a human being, a shareholder, and a board member had more integrity and understanding of what’s best for the industry than most. He was an exceptional person of unbelievable character, of unbelievable guidance, and always wanted to make sure things were done the right way. He was a fantastic human being and a major influence on Fasig-Tipton and me personally.” Two years before Hettinger’s death in 2008, he transitioned 200 acres of Akindale Farm to be a sanctuary and an adoption facility for retired racehorses and formalized a succession plan to ensure its continued operation long after his life. “He didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk,” Browning said. “During his planning for when he passed away, it was important for John to make sure that Akindale was utilized for retired horses. John also provided financial support for the aftercare program after he had passed. He was a true believer who took action to support what he believed and what he said.” Thanks to such planning, Hettinger’s intuitive vision and unwavering devotion to off-the-track Thoroughbreds live on as hallmarks of Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue. Hettinger was awarded a Special Eclipse Award in 2000 and eventually was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 for his numerous initiatives to support aftercare organizations and the off-track Thoroughbreds they serve. In 2000 he spearheaded the National Thoroughbred Racing Association’s inception of the Racehorse Adoption Referral John Hettinger and the importance of succession planning Skip Dickstein Before his death, John Hettinger formalized a succession plan to transition 200 acres of Akindale Farm to be a sanctuary and an adoption facility for retired racehorses.
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 11 Program, and in 2001 he founded Blue Horse Charities. “I think John was the godfather; the person who really took the torch and raised the bar in terms of the industry’s understanding of aftercare,” Browning said. “He was a very vocal opponent of slaughter in the United States. He cared deeply about horses and was a founding father of the aftercare movement.” Over the past decade, the racing industry has faced many challenges, especially those relating to the welfare and aftercare of its equine athletes. The development of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in 2012 is one of the industry’s leading achievements and is a testament to the shared desire to ensure a safety net. For industry participants interested in moving these efforts forward, a detailed succession plan is a vital component. It’s a requirement of TAAaccredited charities. “The main reason we ask for proof of a succession plan is, we want to make sure that the horses have someone who can take care of them if the person who oversees the organization is gone – whether through sickness, death, or whatever the circumstance – if it means they have to be off for a certain period of time,” said Janice Towles, TAA’s accreditation and grants manager. “At the end of the day, you definitely want to make sure that someone else knows what’s going on besides the main person.” Towles said such planning is especially important with smaller operations. “What we’ve found is that a lot of these operations are a one-person show and everything that they knew, they had in their head,” Towles said. “Unfortunately, if they weren’t there or an emergency broke out, they took that information with them. The biggest thing is that the organization does not become awash because nobody knows the operational side of things if the head or the founder is not there.” In general, there are a few key components for consideration when composing a comprehensive succession plan for an aftercare charity – defined roles for all staff, board members, and volunteers; short-term versus long-term absences; planned versus unplanned absences; and loss of a facility. Chain-of-command succession, cross-training staff, and maintaining an up-to-date, detailed operational guidebook are considered TAA best practices. Located in Greenwich, N.Y., ACTT Naturally was founded in 2013 by lifelong animal advocate and exercise rider Valerie Buck. Despite having a comprehensive background working with Thoroughbreds, Buck hadn’t yet considered the necessity of a succession plan prior to applying for TAA accreditation. “When I was filling out the accreditation application for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, they wanted a plan of succession, and I had to Google what a plan of succession was,” Buck recalled. “I applied for accreditation in 2019, so that’s when I put our first succession plan together.” Having realized the toll her absence could have on the horses in her care, Buck and the ACTT Naturally team worked quickly to develop a plan. Thankfully, the organization already had the necessary reliable partners, and now everyone knows what the plan of succession is, should it ever be needed. “It’s not like you can just close the shades for a while and walk away. [ACTT Naturally] is a constant living, breathing machine, and the animals need to be cared for daily,” Buck said. “If something happens to me, there needs to be a plan to keep this organization going to continue rescuing horses. We sat down with the board and some of our core volunteers and put together a plan to make sure that if something ever happened that these horses are safe.” In this age, many horses live upward of 25 years. The residents of TAA-accredited Our Mims Retirement Haven had more than modern medicine to keep them bright-eyed and bushy tailed well into their golden years – they had Jeanne Mirabito. Mirabito’s dedication to aftercare was unwavering for 13 Suzie Picou-Oldham Plans call for Our Mims Retirement Haven, founded by the late Jeanne Mirabito, to continue as long as the board can recruit someone to lead the farm.
PAGE 12 DAILY RACING FORM years, before her death in August 2020. “She put her whole self into building the facility and was successful at keeping these mares alive for so long that she always realized that if something happened to her, there were going to be some healthy horses that still had a lot of life left,” recalled current Our Mims president Peter Mirabito about his late wife’s thoughts on a succession plan. “She wanted to make sure that at least the herd that was there would be taken care of until they no longer needed care. I have a stable job and I guess back then we felt more bulletproof than we do now, so that seemed reasonable. She had slowly and effectively increased the funding for the haven over the years. It seemed like something that was going to be pretty doable.” Initially, Jeanne and Peter had an agreement that if anything ever happened to either of them, the other would maintain the nonprofit until the passing of the last sanctuary resident. If anything ever happened to Peter, he had set up the insurance so that the farm would be paid off and Jeanne would have the means to do as she pleased. In Jeanne’s case, that likely would have been to continue caring for retired broodmares for years to come. “That was before Jeanne was ever sick and then when she got sick we already had that sort of thing in mind and she went about doing things that raised even more money in her last year,” Mirabito said. “We doubled the amount of money that had come in during her last year, then we started thinking longer term than just the horses that were there. We started to think about what we could do to set the facility up so that it can run even after I’m done being the overseer – it has a place here forever as far as I’m concerned.” Those who visit Our Mims can see Jeanne Mirabito’s life’s work represented in the face of every mare at the central Kentucky farm. Her vivacious devotion to the “ladies” of Our Mims lives on thanks to her dedicated husband, staff, and board of directors. “The succession plan is all about how the officer ranks would change if something happened to me,” Mirabito explained. “The long-term succession plan is that the property will always be Our Mims Retirement Haven for as long as we have a board that can recruit someone to work at the facility and make sure that the bills are paid. My goal now is to keep Jeanne’s promise to Our Mims and that Jeanne’s work to draw attention to the retirement needs of Thoroughbred mares is never forgotten. But, if something happens to me, then I’m trying to get things put in place so that the farm is taken care of.” Thoroughbred aftercare organizations must rely upon more than the actions of one person, but rather the collective dedication of many, inspired by a shared mission to care for retired racehorses. It’s crucial that aftercare charities have detailed procedures for the future of their organization and the future of their horses. Identifying succession roles and educating all members of the organization can be the difference between restructuring and ruin. Looking back, one hopes Hettinger would be proud to be a part of the industry’s TAAaccredited aftercare organizations, which today serves thousands of horses.
PAGE 14 DAILY RACING FORM By Alexandra Kokka In 2022, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance celebrated 10 years of service since being established by the industry – an anniversary that offers racing an opportunity to make actionable goals for continued support of Thoroughbreds. Here is a look at where TAA has been in those years and where it might be going, with help from racing and aftercare industry veterans Jeff Bloom, TAA president and managing director of Bloom Racing; Richard Schosberg, director and aftercare chair of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, president of TAKE THE LEAD, and a TAA board member; Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and administrator of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program; Jen Roytz, former executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project; Anna Ford, Thoroughbred program director of TAA-accredited New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program; Lisa Molloy, program director of TAA-accredited ReRun; Laurie Lane, co-founder and president of TAA-accredited Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption & Placement; and Kim Smith, founder of TAA-accredited Second Stride. Why is there a need for industry oversight of aftercare? Werner: The conversations about aftercare really started for me around 2009 or 2010. There was some retraining, retirement, and adoption going on, and organizations like Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, New Vocations, and Thoroughbred Charities of America were doing good work. But the overall aftercare picture looked a bit piecemeal with gaps in services and areas of the country. And it was not supported in any large part by the racing industry. As social media continued its rise in popularity, more and more cases of “rescue organizations” needing to be rescued began to appear. The general public became more aware of the fate of Thoroughbreds once their racing careers were complete. It was apparent that a multi-faceted solution was needed, which included accreditation of organizations providing aftercare, a funding source from industry constituents for those organizations to do their work, and incentive programs for Thoroughbreds in a second career. In the years that followed, this was accomplished through the formation of the Thoroughbred Incentive Program, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Retired Racehorse Project, and numerous other regional and track-based organizations focused on supporting organizations providing aftercare. Molloy: Prior to the formation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, there was a time when there were so many rescues and programs operating without any guidance, provisions, or checks and balances. This created issues for those wanting to donate their horses and those wanting to donate money. Finding a way to responsibly retire a horse and ensure an empathetic and compassionate retirement with viable second career options really was a difficult path to navigate for an owner. The processes that are in place, especially using Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations Jen Smith Second Stride administrator and volunteer coordinator Anne Steinbock greets Storm Runner, who arrived in December 2021 at the adoption program accredited by TAA. Big anniversary TAA celebrates 10 years of supporting Thoroughbreds, looks forward to second decade
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 15 working in partnership with racetrack programs like TAKE THE LEAD, provide transparency and prevent horses from falling through the cracks. In the past decade what have you learned about the versatility of the Thoroughbred? Bloom: Over the last 10 years, we have seen numerous examples and heartfelt stories of retrained, re-homed, and repurposed off-the-track racehorses. From assisting with therapeutic care for mentally and physically challenged children and adults, to full-blown sporting events such as polo, dressage, and eventing, to backyard trail riding, participating in television and movies, and everything in-between, the Thoroughbred racehorse has proven to be incredibly kind, intelligent, versatile, and durable for use following their racing careers. Werner: I am fortunate to see on a daily basis how versatile the Thoroughbred is through my work with the Thoroughbred Incentive Program. We have Thoroughbreds participating in and excelling in hunter/jumpers, eventing, dressage, English and Western pleasure, barrel racing, ranch work, endurance, working equitation, therapeutic riding, equine-assisted therapy, mounted police, polo, polocrosse, competitive trail, recreational riding, and even skijoring. I am sure there are more that I am missing. Lane: It was the best kept secret. For those of us who worked with Thoroughbreds, we knew the versatility and the many incredible talents and tasks our Thoroughbreds could achieve just given the chance. Do you think there has been a new interest in the Thoroughbred as a sport horse? Roytz: A thousand times yes. One of the most meaningful statistics that comes out of the data we collect from our Thoroughbred Makeover competitors each year is the ratio of first-time competitors versus repeat participants. Each year a significant portion of the competitors at the Thoroughbred Makeover are competing at the event, and often taking on the retraining of a Thoroughbred, for the first time. RRP’s (Retired Racehorse Project’s) mission is a bit different from most other aftercare organizations in that it focuses on expanding the market and increasing demand for Thoroughbreds in equestrian sports rather than doing hands-on retraining and re-homing. I strongly believe it takes both approaches to aftercare to be successful. The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) and the TAKE2 program, both of which offer Thoroughbred-specific shows, horse show classes, and prizes throughout the country, as well as TIP’s recreational riding prizes and incentives, are other great examples of ways to incentivize equestrians to actively choose Thoroughbreds over other breeds for equestrian sports. What do you think the factors in this have been that have helped a new interest in the use of the Thoroughbred? Roytz: Programs like the Retired Racehorse Project, The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program, TAKE2 show series, and others that incentivize equestrians to compete on Thoroughbreds is a major driver in garnering new interest for Thoroughbreds in the equestrian world. I think adjusting our messaging as an industry will continue to help to appeal to equestrians. By positioning Thoroughbreds not as “retired racehorses” – which naturally insinuates a conclusion to their use/usefulness – but as “Thoroughbred sport horses” or “sport horse prospects” will make them more appealing to a non-racing equestrian audience as it focuses on these horses’ potential in new sports, the sports they are being marketed for, and that they will likely spend a more significant portion of their life doing. What have been some of the most important developments of Thoroughbred aftercare in the last 10 years? Ford: In the last 10 years there has been a great increase in awareness within the racing industry on what aftercare is and why it is needed. Ten years ago even the word “aftercare” was rarely used. The development of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance was a huge step as it provided the first accreditation process for the organizations that care for retired racehorses. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance also created a granting resource for the accredited programs to rely on. Programs like TIP, TAKE2, and RRP were all developed in the last 10 years and have played a big role in helping spread awareness of Thoroughbreds’ versatility in second careers. I also feel that the racing industry’s publications have been instrumental in educating the whole industry on the importance of aftercare and sharing many of the success stories. What surprised you the most about aftercare? Smith: When I first got into aftercare and heard of the ThorJen Smith Willow Henshaw works with General a Rod, the 2022 “spokesman” for Second Stride, where founder Kim Smith has observed that the vast majority of people in the racing industry care for every single horse.
PAGE 16 DAILY RACING FORM oughbred Aftercare Alliance, I was skeptical, thinking it was likely a figurehead program of promises that would be hard to keep. Well, I was wrong. I have discovered so much about the industry and just how much the vast majority in the racing industry care for every single horse, even those that don’t make it to the track. I now help serve on the board of other racing industry programs to offer insight and guidance on related issues. Where do we need to go from here? Bloom: Focus and attention to racehorse aftercare is paramount to the ongoing future of our sport. Now more than ever, external pressures mandate the safe placement and retirement for racehorses, not to mention, it is absolutely the right thing to do. It is the ultimate responsibility of all industry participants and stakeholders and an organization such as the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to ensure that every single racehorse has the opportunity to transition to a fully accredited facility that abides by stringent rules of safety and care. It is no longer acceptable to ignore aftercare. Schosberg: We need to stay the course and be creative with the funding stream from the industry itself. Everyone that benefits from these beautiful, majestic animals during their careers should have a stake in their proper retirement as well. Werner: Retire horses sound so they can go onto a second career. Follow their progress. Be proud of their accomplishments, both on and off the racetrack. TAA Accreditation and Grants Timeline • First installment of grants sent to newly accredited organizations, along with previously accredited organizations • Second installment sent in May December October • Applicants reviewed a final time after inspections completed • Applicants recommended for accreditation or denial by Accreditation Committee • Executive Board and Board of Directors review and give final approval for accreditation • Approved applicants notified of accreditation April - September • Review of all applications completed: o Cursory review for completeness and minimum requirements o 3 separate application reviews by Accreditation Committee o Thorough financial review • Inspections of applicants’ facilities completed February - April • New applicants complete and submit accreditation application by April 1 deadline • Review of applications begins on a rolling basis January • Accreditation application opens online for eligible organizations • Reinspections of accredited organizations begin • Grant applications reviewed by Grants Committee • Grant agreement completed by all accredited organizations to receive grants November
MarylandJockeyClub.com The Maryland Jockey Club is a proud supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Aliiance.
PAGE 18 DAILY RACING FORM SEED MONEY Breeders’ Cup Ltd. Keeneland Association The Jockey Club SALES COMPANIES Can. Thoroughbred Horse Soc., Ontario Fasig-Tipton Keeneland Ocala Breeders’ Sales Wanamaker’s STALLION FARMS Airdrie Stud C.F. Farms Darby Dan Gainesway Farm Godolphin Ocala Stud Sequel Stallions New York Shadwell Farm RACETRACKS 1/ST Aqueduct Belmont Park Churchill Downs Colonial Downs Del Mar Ellis Park Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack Golden Gate Fields Gulfstream Park Keeneland Kentucky Downs Maryland Jockey Club Monmouth Park New York Racing Association Santa Anita Park Saratoga Race Course Tampa Bay Downs Turfway Park Woodbine HORSEMEN’S GROUPS Arkansas HBPA Finger Lakes HBPA Florida THA Illinois HBPA Illinois THA Indiana HBPA Kentucky HBPA Kentucky Thoroughbred Association Maryland THA National HBPA New Jersey THA New York THA Tampa Bay HBPA Virginia HBPA TRAINERS Steve Asmussen Kevin Attard Roger Attfield Chad Brown Josie Carroll John Charalambous Kelsey Danner Michael De Paulo Anthony Dutrow Elizabeth Elder Philip Gleaves Nick Gonzalez Mike Keogh Kenny McPeek Doug O’Neill Catherine Day Phillips Richard Schosberg Michael Stidham SPONSORS Anne’s Washington Inn B2B Casuals Canterbury Park Centennial Farms DyeHard Fan Supply Fenwick Frank and Dino’s Restaurant Aaron Gryder Samantha Landry Mt. Washington Tavern National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Oaklawn Park Pamplemousse Grille Repole Stable StarLadies Racing Fran Taylor and Tom Cheek Tipperary Equestrian Yvonne Schwabe Thoroughbreds FOUNDATIONS/MAJOR GIFTS In Memory of Anita E. Anderson Bob and Jill Baffert Antony Beck Bill Hartack Foundation in memory of Anita Stidham Blue Grass Community Foundation Commonwealth FanDuel Earle Mack Foundation Josham Farms Seth and Beth Klarman Klein Family Foundation Austin and Janie Musselman James and Shari Ough Mary K. Oxley Foundation Brandon and Diannah Perry The Nearwater Fund Tito’s Handmade Vodka HORSEPLAYERS Ken Hamilton HorsePlayers HorseTourneys.com Jeannie King Jim Meeks Dave Nichols Dylan Rossi NHC Participants Jonathan Stettin AFTERCARE PARTNERS Beyond the Wire CARMA Gulfstream Park Th’bred Transition Prog. Int’l Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses LRF Cares Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund Retired Racehorse Project TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Charities of America TJC Thoroughbred Incentive Program EVENTS ABR Pre-Preakness Party Black-Eyed Susan and Preakness Days Breeders’ Cup Canter for the Cause Pimlico Champions Day Eclipse Awards Empire of Hope Equestricon NTRA Nat’l Horseplayers Championship NYRA Community Booth Pegasus World Cup Texas at the Derby SUPPORTERS Chuck Allen Laura Barillaro Sheralyn Blackmon Bloom Racing Stable Mary Bromm Brook Ledge Horse Transportation Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brothers Susan Bull Aidan Butler Veronica Carranza Roger Chappell Chiefswood Stables Come What May Racing Alan Connor Jack Damico Scott Daruty Mari Ellen Davis Tami Bobo & Fernando de Jesus Denali Stud Elm Tree Farm Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Evans Fanticipate, Inc. Sue Frost Mr. and Mrs. Bob Gorsky Emory Hamilton Paul Harry Hidden Brook Mr. and Mrs. Bo Hirsch Jr. Jeff Hudson International Equine Ronald Johnson Kentucky Th’bred Farm Manager’s Club Sol Kumin Mark Lavin Eiko LeMans Leise Martinez Elizabeth Berens McCabe Tom and Cinthia McGreevy Michael McLoughlin John and Cindy Middleton Christine A. Moore Millinery Anthony Murabito MyRacehorse National Thoroughbred Racing Assoc. Penelope Neal Daniel Piazza Jennifer Pitts Margeline Roberts Steven Rocco & Soraya Benitez Dan Schafer Siena Farm Laura Simcox Ellen Skidmore John Sondereker South Gate Farm Grant Stephens Takahiro Uno Tueting Family Fund Sheri Waddell Ric Waldman Carla Walgenbach George Weaver West Point Thoroughbreds WAGERING TECHNOLOGY AmTote California Authority of Racing Fairs United Tote RACING FANS AmTote Charity Terminals Online Donations Race Day Events United Tote Charity Terminals MEDIA PARTNERS America’s Best Racing Benoit Photo BloodHorse Michael Burns Photography CanterClix Coady Photography Bob Coglianese Photos Daily Racing Form EqLuxe EquiSport Photos FanDuel Greenfield Graphic Design Horsephotos.com Keeneland Magazine Kentucky Equestrian Directory Jimmy McCue Past the Wire Paulick Report PM Advertising Steve Scheidler The Saratoga Special Thoroughbred Daily News Thoroughbred Racing Commentary TimPrint Trainer Magazine World Horse Racing Will Wong Photography TAA’s Industry Stakeholders
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 19 FRIENDS Janet Balmuth Andrew Bankuti Remi F. Bellocq Dionne Benson, D.V.M. Simon Bray Caton Bredar Jill Byrne Cambus-Kenneth Farm Karen Casier Janet Catalona Kathy Cooper Corrosion Solutions, LLC Davant Latham Bloodstock & Insurance Dean Dorton Allen Ford Foundation Megan Devine and Kurtis Coady Debbie Easter Robert and Judy Felding Anthony Geraldi Georganne Hale Devi Hall Hart Farm Phoebe Hayes Sara Kowalik Courtney Lacey Dr. Nivedita Mankotia Cheryl Manning Leise Martinez Sheila McCormick Melissa McKeithen Metrics Equine Sing Murphy Brian Neeld Lisa ODell Marianne Ortepi Matthew Pisano Recycled Surfacing John and Susan Roberts Debbie Roark-Sutherland Mike Rogers Mary Claire Scollay-Ward Jen Shah James Shircliff Bryndon Skelton Tim and Jillian Tullock Alex and Jayne Waldrop Timothy Waters Chuck Zacney JOCKEYS Jeffrey Anderson Steven Bahen Gary Boulanger Skye Chernetz Sahin Civaci Luis Contreras Eswan Flores Daisuke Fukumoto Rafael Hernandez Patrick Husbands Kirk Johnson Slade Jones Kazushi Kimura David Moran Keveh Nicholls Justin Stein Emma-Jayne Wilson Woodbine Jocks Room Team Members ALLIES Old Friends Japan TAA’s Industry Stakeholders
The Working Cat Project places cats unsuitable for indoor living into safe barn homes in Central Kentucky. Save a life. Adopt a working cat. For more information visit: www.workingcatprojectky.org
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 21 WEST CANTER California Los Gatos, CA Glen Ellen Vocational Academy Glen Ellen, CA Healing Arenas Gardnerville, NV Hope for Horses Galt, CA Redwings Horse Sanctuary Lockwood, CA Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Fnd. Fallbrook, CA Square Peg Foundation Half Moon Bay, CA Tranquility Farm Cottonwood, CA United Pegasus Foundation Tehachapi, CA Win Place Home Canyon Country, CA SOUTHWEST After the Homestretch Phoenix, AZ Harmony and Hope Horse Haven Rodeo, NM Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation Guthrie, OK LoneStar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers Driftwood, TX Remember Me Rescue Burleson, TX Thoroughbred Athletes Guthrie, OK SOUTH Equestrian Inc. Tampa, FL Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation Palm City, FL Equine Rescue of Aiken Aiken, SC Final Furlong Ocala, FL Florida TRAC Palm City, FL Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds Cocoa, FL RVR Horse Rescue Plant City, FL South Florida SPCA Homestead, FL Thoroughbred Retirement of Tampa Oldsmar, FL MIDWEST Beyond the Roses Equine Rescue & Retirement Emmett, MI CANTER Kentucky Versailles, KY Central Kentucky Riding For Hope Lexington, KY CANTER Michigan Commerce Twp, MI Friends of Ferdinand Mooresville, IN Galloping Out North Riverside, IL Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds Altoona, IA Illinois Equine Humane Center Maple Park, IL Kentucky Equine Adoption Center Lexington, KY New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program Lexington, KY Old Friends Georgetown, KY Our Mims Retirement Haven Paris, KY Out Side In Grand Haven, MI Second Stride Crestwood, KY Secretariat Center Lexington, KY Susan Donaldson Fnd./Mereworth Farm Lexington, KY The Exceller Fund Lexington, KY This Old Horse Hastings, MN MID-ATLANTIC After the Races Elkton, MD Blue Bloods Blanch, NC Bright Futures Farm Cochranton, PA Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses Forest, VA Circle A Home for Horses Virginia Beach, VA Days End Farm Horse Rescue Woodbine, MD Heart of Phoenix Equine Rescue Shoals, WV Hope’s Legacy Equine Rescue Afton, VA James River Horse Foundation State Farm, VA Life Horse Inc. Thurmont, MD MidAtlantic Horse Rescue Chesapeake City, MD New Beginnings Howell, NJ R.A.C.E. Fund Harrisburg, PA Second Call Th’bred Adoption and Placement Helmetta, NJ Second Wind Thoroughbred Project Bethune, SC The Foxie G Foundation Libertytown, MD Thoroughbred Placement Resources Upper Marlboro, MD T’bred Retirement, Rehabilitation, Careers West Chester, PA Virginia Thoroughbred Project Montpelier Station, VA War Horses at Rose Bower Appomattox, VA NORTHEAST ACTT Naturally Greenwich, NY Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue Pawling, NY Equine Advocates Chatham, NY Finger Lakes Th’bred Adoption Program Farmington, NY Lollypop Farm, Humane Soc. of Greater Rochester Fairport,NY Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue Dover Plains, NY Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement Salem, CT NEER North West Newbury, MA Racing for Home Ellington,CT ReRun Inc. East Greenbush, NY Second Chance Thoroughbreds Spencer, NY Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga Saratoga Springs, NY Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Saratoga Springs, NY NORTHWEST Center for Racehorse Retraining Cheyenne, WY Down The Stretch Ranch Creston, WA CANADA LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society Toronto, ON New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society Langley, BC PUERTO RICO Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Rio Grande, PR ACCREDITED ORGANIZATIONS BY REGION 68 81 54 69 17 15k Adoption Programs Accredited Organizations Sanctuaries Rehabilitation Programs Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs Thoroughbreds
PAGE 22 DAILY RACING FORM TAA in action 6 4 5 3 2 1 1. Representatives from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and its accredited organizations accepted a $150,000 donation from 1/ST at the 2022 Pegasus World Cup in a special presentation acknowledging 1/ST’s $1 million lifetime donation milestone. 2. TAA’s Catherine Flowers and Jen Halliwell at the TAA booth at the National Horseplayers Championship at Bally’s Las Vegas. The TAA’s presence at NHC featured the launch of the inaugural Off to the Races VIP Experience Online Auction, in which individuals could bid on VIP experiences at some of North America’s most anticipated racing events. 3. The 2022 Preakness featured the return of the America’s Best Racing Pre-Preakness Party at Mt. Washington Tavern, with ticket proceeds and a silent auction of racing memorabilia benefiting TAA. Pictured (left to right) are TAA’s Catherine Flowers, Emily Dresen, Alex Kokka, and Stacie Clark Rogers. 4. Off to the Races Preakness VIP Experience Winners celebrate a champagne toast after presenting a TAA blanket and swag bag to the connections of Never Explain, winner of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance race. 5. Representatives from TAA present a TAA blanket to TAAsupporting owner West Point Thoroughbreds after their colt Battle of Normandy won the NYRA Salutes the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance race at Saratoga Racecourse. 6. Next winning the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at Keeneland in her prep for the Breeders’ Cup. Coglianese Photos Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Alex Kokka Suzie Oldham Emily Dresen
DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 23 7 8 9 11 10 7. Following the victory by Ethereal Road in the Sir Barton Stakes sponsored by Brandon and Diannah Perry to benefit the TAA on the Preakness undercard, TAA representatives, including President Jeff Bloom, present a TAA blanket to winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas and owner Aaron Sones. As part of their sponsorship of the race, the Perrys pledged to donate $100,000 annually to the TAA for the next three years. 8. Silk Trade and Joe Talamo win the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance race on Charity Day at Ellis Park during the track’s 100th anniversary meet. 9. Colonial Downs and the Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association award a generous contribution to the TAA after the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Kitten’s Joy Stakes on Virginia Derby Day. 10. Seventeen jockeys and 14 jockeys’ room employees pledged a percentage of their earnings to the TAA on Woodbine’s Aftercare Day. Additionally, the TAA accepted a generous donation from Woodbine Cares following the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. 11. Canter for the Cause participants pose in front of the starting gate at Pimlico. More than 300 participants walked, trotted, cantered, and galloped around the historic track, raising more than $20,000 for the TAA. Jim McCue Suzie Oldham Coady Photography Michael Burns Photography Catherine Flowers
PAGE 24 DAILY RACING FORM ACTT Naturally After 28 years as an exercise rider and assistant in top stables of the Thoroughbred racing industry, ACTT Naturally’s founder, Valerie Buck, has taken the same patient touch that she used to guide many champions through their morning workouts to helping off-thetrack Thoroughbreds toward bright futures through retraining and thoughtful adoption. We believe in the philosophy of working with horses based on the horse’s natural instincts and methods of communication. The result is confident horses that are better adapted to life after the track and with a wider scope of opportunities available to them. Through our adoption process, horses are carefully matched with human partners to create lifelong partnerships. ACTT Naturally’s Hearts in Harmony programs are geared toward helping humans, with the participation of our Thoroughbreds. Sensitive by nature, these horses enable selfreflection of our own energy. While the focus on these programs is toward veterans and their families, first responders, and teens, we believe that everyone can benefit. Mutual respect, healthy boundaries, self-confidence, empathy, and compassion are among the benefits gained from time spent working on the ground with our equine partners. “ACTT Naturally and Valerie Buck truly care not only about the racehorses that come through their doors, but the bonds that potential adopters have with those horses,” said Jackie Sears-Zaleski, who adopted Tiz Risky from the organization. “Valerie’s expertise and compassion for both horses and humans alike is second to none. She truly understands relationships and understands that they are paramount in animal care. “I will be forever grateful to Tiz Risky, ACTT Naturally, and specifically Valerie Buck for making this all happen and for giving racehorses a more-than-fighting chance after the track.” Ashley Nizokek Photography ACTT Naturally’s off-the-track Thoroughbreds Harlem Rocker (left) and Three Lions with participants from the Saratoga Springs Regional YMCA Lend-A-Hand Camp. TESTIMONIAL: “The support of the TAA enables our organization to grow, which leads to helping more horses and humans through our programs and our adoptions. This accreditation ensures to those who donate horses to us, those who financially support us, those who volunteer for us, and our adopters, that we hold the highest standard of excellence in caring for our horses.” FOUNDED: 2013 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 224 Greenwich, NY 12834 PHONE: (570) 578-6377 MAIN CONTACT: Valerie Buck, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: acttnaturally.org SOCIAL: ACTT-Naturally424478317642702 @Actt_Naturally AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 15-20 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 25 DAILY RACING FORM After The Homestretch After The Homestretch-Arizona was founded in 2011 to fulfill a critical need for aftercare. The local racetrack, Turf Paradise, draws horses from all over North America and even some foreign countries. With a seven-month racing season and as many as 2,100 horses stabled there, it’s inevitable that many of these runners will be in need of a new home by meet’s end. Some horses will sustain recoverable injuries, while others won’t be fast enough to compete, yet they all have the rest of their lives ahead of them. Since these horses were bred for athleticism, heart, and intelligence, they are very athletic and can excel in other disciplines. They just need a chance to find that second career and a new home “after the homestretch.” This is where After The Homestretch steps in. Its mission is protecting the legacy of former racehorses through education, reconditioning, retraining, and re-homing. As an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization, it relies upon the generous support of its donors, grant partners like the TAA, and a team of dedicated volunteers to help carry out its mission. Governance is overseen by an active volunteer board of directors and supported by an advisory board of industry professionals. Horses at the facility have included stakes winners, a granddaughter of Secretariat who produced eight runners, and a track recordsetting winner of $200,000. Facility horses have ranged in age from 2 to 24 and have been available as companion horses, for riding, and for showing. In the past 11 years, After The Homestretch has consistently found adoptive homes for more than six ex-racehorses each year. Upon arrival, each horse is checked by a vet and analyzed to be placed in a program for rehabilitation. Once the horse has been rested and rehabilitated, it is evaluated to determine the discipline and training for which is best suited. When a horse is ready for adoption, compliance with the Arizona Department of Racing guidelines is followed to fully screen applicants who wish to adopt the horse. Safety for the horse and rider is always the number one goal, so it is imperative to make the best possible match. Looking ahead, After the Homestretch will continue to provide the best aftercare possible for every horse that joins its herd. Dedicated volunteers are always needed for daily chores, horse care and training, marketing, fundraising, and property maintenance. Volunteer Emily Johnson works with Teddy the Bear. After The Homestretch horses are retrained for both English and Western riding disciplines. TESTIMONIAL: “Our TAA accreditation has provided validation that we offer the gold standard in aftercare. We greatly appreciate the generous financial support that has helped us care for our horses and has strengthened our training programs to prepare the horses for their second careers and new homes. Our primary goal is always the health and wellbeing of the horses in our care, and TAA helps make that possible.” FOUNDED: 2011 ADDRESS: 1328 E. Maddock Road Phoenix, AZ 85086 PHONE: (623) 205-8528 MAIN CONTACT: Dannielle Marturana, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: afterthehomestretchaz.org SOCIAL: AfterTheHomestretchArizona @homestretchAZ @afterthehomestretchaz AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 24 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 26 DAILY RACING FORM After the Races After the Races is a rehabilitation and re-homing facility for Thoroughbred racehorses. Its mission is to rehabilitate and re-home retiring racehorses into appropriate, long-term homes while promoting the versatility of the breed beyond racing. Since 2011, After the Races has re-homed nearly 800 racehorses, having rehabilitated horses retiring from tracks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Its doors are open to racehorses across the country in need of a safe place to rehabilitate and a chance at a new career. After the Races, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Elkton, Md., takes in retiring Thoroughbreds and combines the horse’s history on the track with a thorough vetting on the farm to come up with a plan that fits each individual horse’s needs. As the horse is rehabilitated, time is spent evaluating the horse’s temperament and physical capabilities. When the horse is deemed ready, the retraining process begins, with the goal of seeking to match the horse with an adopter who is suitable and can provide a long-term home for the horse. Horses come to After the Races through various backstretch programs initiated by racetracks dedicated to finding good homes for horses in their care. It also receives horses from private owners and trainers who are looking to ensure their horses get a chance at a second career. Since its inception, After the Races has found an increasing desire among racing professionals to see their horses get a second chance, and the organization is excited to work with these individuals to fulfill that goal. As a nonprofit organization, After the Races relies on the wonderful help of volunteers and donations from fellow horse enthusiasts. Every dollar goes directly toward feeding and caring for these amazing animals. Bethany P Photography A volunteeer works with a young filly in the arena at After the Races in Elkton, Md. TESTIMONIAL: “Having TAA accreditation has added to our reputation in the aftercare industry and enabled us to better serve the Thoroughbreds in our care through their financial support.” FOUNDED: 2011 ADDRESS: 3168 Telegraph Rd. Elkton, MD 21921 PHONE: (919) 741-9819 MAIN CONTACT: Bonnie Hutton, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: aftertheraces.org SOCIAL: AfterTheRaces @Aftertheraces @Aftertheraces AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 100 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 27 DAILY RACING FORM Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue strives to uphold the values and mission instilled by our founder, John Hettinger, when it was created in 2006. The 325-acre farm in Pawling, N.Y., is dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred racehorses and the continuation of transitioning Thoroughbreds to second careers. Akindale operates a Reinventing Racehorses program that has rehabilitated, retrained, and re-homed hundreds of Thoroughbreds. Thoroughbreds come to Akindale from various tracks through private trainers and owners, as well as from aftercare programs such as Beyond the Wire and New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s Take the Lead program. All of our horses are evaluated upon arrival and either enter our rehab program or are given 60 days off to let down and enjoy being a horse. Once ready, they enter our retraining program. We pride ourselves in making sure all our horses have a great foundation to stand upon and each match is perfect. Our horses are prepared to be adopted for all levels and disciplines, from trail, to beginner, to professional prospects. John Hettinger always wanted to ensure that the horses he bred had sanctuary for life. Therefore, the farm is also home to 115 permanently retired Thoroughbreds who are living out their days in grass pastures. These horses, while not suitable for riding, are available for adoption through a companionship program. Akindale is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that accepts tax-deductible donations to help cover the costs of care for the 130-plus Thoroughbreds in its care. Every dollar makes a difference in the lives of our horses, whether it is a one-time cash donation, material donation, or a long-term sponsorship of one of the 115 retirees living in our sanctuary. TESTIMONIAL: “We are incredibly grateful to the continued support of the TAA, as we would not be able to help this number of Thoroughbreds without it. Being accredited by the TAA is crucial to our ability to expand our rehab, retrain, and re-home programs as well as keep our sanctuary running.” FOUNDED: 2006 ADDRESS: 77 Cox Rd. Pawling, NY 12564 PHONE: (845) 855-1262 MAIN CONTACT: Zazie Pence, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: akindale.org SOCIAL: Akindale @Akindalehorse @akindaletbrescue AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 120 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION Working student Hannah O’Brien leads a new arrival to Akindale’s Rehab Retrain program.
PAGE 28 DAILY RACING FORM The 10-year-old, full-service rescue organization Beyond the Roses was established in Michigan by current executive director Gail Hirt to provide sanctuary, rehab, retraining, and adoption placement for horses in need. Early focus was on locating aging racehorses whose useful track careers were over or nearing an end – competitors who ran long and hard and had more than paid their dues – then acquiring them to repurpose and adopt out to loving forever homes. The organization now works with Thoroughbreds of any racing background. “Helping OTTBs one at a time,” is a motto adhered to by Beyond the Roses’s volunteer staff, to the lasting benefit of ex-racehorses fortunate enough to pass through this organization. The ultimate mission of Beyond the Roses is to rescue and provide positive alternatives to slaughter or abandonment. There is no age restriction for horses admitted to the program. Beyond the Roses typically houses about a dozen permanent sanctuary horses, with approximately another 14 available to adopt. Full-time residents include Canadian stakes winners Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk and Twisted Wit, both 21-year-old geldings who during their racing careers earned $813,953 and $944,699, respectively. Tax-deductible donations for this 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are needed to maintain upkeep of Beyond the Roses residents, whose care averages around $8.50 per day, per horse. Full or partial sponsorships are available for full-time sanctuary residents such as Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk and Twisted Wit, when injury, age, or temperament has rendered them unsuitable for future sporting careers. Beyond the Roses’s wish list from donors includes bandages, wormers, fly spray, halters, blankets, and bedding, as well as gift cards to local feed and lumber stores. Martha Denver Athletica and her trainer, Tricia Sawdon, prepare for the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover. Athletica was adopted from Beyond the Roses during Thoroughbred Makeover. TESTIMONIAL: “We are honored to be accredited by TAA. It has made the work that we do easier and allowed us to help more Thoroughbreds with the aftercare that is needed to transition them into their new careers. The TAA aids in our mission of helping OTTBs one at a time.” FOUNDED: 2012 ADDRESS: 11621 Bryce Rd. Emmett, MI 48022 PHONE: (586) 321-6780 MAIN CONTACT: Gail Hirt, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: beyondtherosesequine.org SOCIAL: BTRERR @BTREGail AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 15-25 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION Beyond the Roses Equine Rescue & Retirement
PAGE 29 DAILY RACING FORM Blue Bloods Blue Bloods Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement in Yanceyville, N.C., was founded to transition former racehorses from the Northeast into new homes. A secondary mission is to rescue select Thoroughbreds from the slaughter pipeline through trusted agents. Elizabeth Macdonald founded the volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) organization after serving as the North Carolina director for New York-based ReRun for eight years. At any given time, about 20 Thoroughbreds call the 200-acre facility home while letting down from track life, learning new jobs, hacking out on the trails, foxhunting, and awaiting adoption. For the horses’ original owners, Blue Bloods provides a valuable service and new channels to create awareness and place their horses with approved adopters in the Southeast. “We evaluate the horses’ abilities and temperaments and seek to pair the right person with the right horse,” Macdonald said. “We want it to be a happy home with a good match.” The rolling fields of the Caswell County farm host surprisingly well-bred horses, thanks to Macdonald’s relationships with top owners and tracks in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. First-generation pedigrees of the facility’s horses include such names as Quality Road, Pioneerof the Nile, Bodemeister, Posse, Storm Cat, Unbridled, and Burning Roma. Some of the adoptable Thoroughbreds are highoctane athletes best suited for advanced riders to take to the upper levels of horse sports. Some are workmanlike prospects for riders who want to hunt or show at the local levels. Others are retired broodmares ideal for beginner riders, “husband horses,” and therapeutic riding programs. A unique aspect of Blue Bloods is the collaboration with the equestrian studies program at nearby Averett University in Danville, Va., to make the horses as marketable as possible. In a class on retraining former racehorses, students are assigned an adoptable Blue Bloods horse to ride all semester and then present at a showcase open to the public. Every year, the horses in the Averett program have been quickly adopted, some by their student riders. About 20 horses call Blue Bloods’ 200-acre facility in North Carolina home at any given time. TESTIMONIAL: “TAA accreditation assures our owners that Blue Bloods upholds the highest standards in horse management, facility operations, and adoption screening. It also shows donors that we are upholding best practices for fiscal prudence, transparency, and stainability.” FOUNDED: 2013 ADDRESS: 2305 NC Hwy 62 North Blanch, NC 27212 PHONE: (336) 694-1737 MAIN CONTACT: Elizabeth Macdonald, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: bluebloodstb.org SOCIAL: bluebloodsthoroughbred AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 30 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 30 DAILY RACING FORM Bright Futures Farm Twenty-three years ago, Bev Dee encountered a bay Thoroughbred named Brite Decision. He was sick, lame, and headed for euthanasia when she discovered and fell in love with him, not knowing how the sweet-natured fellow would change her life – and she his. The stakes-placed gelding became the inspiration for Dee’s Bright Futures Farm in northwest Pennsylvania, where he will always be the heart and soul of an enterprise devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding homes for horses in need. Dee founded Bright Futures Farm in 2000 and has since rescued dozens of horses from undesirable situations. Bright Futures Farm is one of the few facilities in the country that will accept aged stallions at its sanctuary. The organization is dependent upon taxdeductible donations and sponsorships to cover the costs to properly care for these horses that had nowhere else to go and are now guaranteed to have one last home for the rest of their lives. “We reschooled for high-end disciplines and for everyday riders,” Dee said. Graduates were placed in pre-screened homes matching their temperaments and ability. “We will always take back any horse at any time for any reason – no questions asked,” Dee said. Bright Futures microchips all of its horses and monitors every horse that has gone through its adoption program – a process that requires periodic updates from the adopters. Permanent residents of the sanctuary – horses that were unadoptable due to age or a disability – are carefully monitored. Their individual needs include special meals, chiropractic care, and PEMF treatments. Adjustments are made for each horse as needed. Permanent residents of Bright Futures include the mare Trusted Company, a foal of 1989 who is the last remaining daughter of Triple Crown winner Secretariat. For more information about the organization and how to help, visit its website, www.brightfuturesfarm.org. Bev Dee photo Bright Futures Farm in Cochranton, Pa., provides lifetime sanctuary to Thoroughbreds that cannot be adopted due to age or disability. TESTIMONIAL: “TAA has helped us with the cost of reschooling adoptable Thoroughbreds for new careers, and it helps us provide our seniors with many of the things they need to stay healthy and happy in their golden years.” FOUNDED: 2000 ADDRESS: 238 Old Franklin Pike Cochranton, PA 16314 PHONE: (724) 496-4960 MAIN CONTACT: Bev Dee, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: brightfuturesfarm.org SOCIAL: BrightFuturesFarm AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 7 SANCTUARY
PAGE 31 DAILY RACING FORM Brook Hill Farm, a non-profit organization, began its mission of providing rescue, rehabilitation, and retirement services for horses by working mostly with Thoroughbreds in their second or third career. Along the way, Brook Hill discovered the magic combination of horses and teens; how horses help teens – those who are at-risk, live in poverty, or are diagnosed with mental, physical, or learning disabilities – develop life skills to enable them to be successful in school. Fully accredited by TAA and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, Brook Hill is guided by an experienced team of veterinarians who create individual rehabilitation programs for each horse that comes to the facility. The plan begins in an on-site lab where horses can receive physical therapy, radiographs, wound care, medications, farrier and chiropractic work, or whatever is necessary to aid in their recovery. The average stay for a Brook Hill horse is 12 months, during which time most of the horses are able to recover from their injuries and are then retrained for new careers. The program has a 100 percent high school graduation rate of at-risk youth. As a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International Premier Center, Brook Hill prides itself in retraining Thoroughbreds for equine therapy. All the Thoroughbreds learn to work with people with both physical and mental health disabilities. The horses help teach teens life skills and a work ethic that enables them to be successful in school. Most of our Thoroughbreds have been cast aside, thinking they can never do a new job. These horses just need time, patience, and retraining. With our team of at-risk youth with mental-health disabilities, the horses are given the time to give them a new beginning. In turn, these horses give them a new beginning, letting them heal together. Brook Hill has rehabilitated and placed 528 horses since being founded 21 years ago. Brook Hill Farm Brook Hill provides retraining for older, retired Thoroughbreds, giving them a purpose. Pictured here is an at-risk youth healing from trauma with the help of an aged Thoroughbred. TESTIMONIAL: “The TAA supports Thoroughbreds throughout their life – not just the first transition from racing. We are proud to see the TAA leading the way in the aftercare industry. Its generosity makes our work caring for and retraining Thoroughbreds in their final years so much easier, helps adopters and donors identify reputable aftercare programs, and enables us to help so many more horses.” FOUNDED: 2001 ADDRESS: 7291 Bellevue Road Forest, VA 24551 PHONE: (540) 586-0207 MAIN CONTACT: Jo Anne Miller, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: brookhillfarm.org SOCIAL: BHRCHorse @brookhillfarm AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 18 Brook Hill Retirement Center for Horses SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 32 DAILY RACING FORM CANTER California California’s division of the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER ) provides retiring Thoroughbreds with opportunities for new careers. The organization accepts horses directly from the track into its adoption program, providing rehabilitation and training for new disciplines, with the goal of finding each horse a loving, permanent home. CANTER also offers free public classified ads to trainers for retiring horses. Volunteer photographers visit tracks in Northern and Southern California weekly, and the organization promotes available horses through social media and its website. Since its inception, CANTER’s trainer listings have helped to place more than 1,000 horses. Thoroughbreds come to CANTER through owners, trainers, or partner placement programs. Many have racetrack injuries, ranging from minor to significant. Upon arrival at a CANTER facility – wellequipped private farms in both Northern and Southern California – horses are given a minimum of six weeks to let down from the track. A veterinary team evaluates each horse and oversees rehabilitation when needed. CANTER also will cover surgery costs when necessary. Volunteer trainers prepare all horses – depending on their suitability, temperament, and lameness history – for second careers as competitive sport horses, pleasure mounts, trail horses, therapeutic riding horses, or companion horses. CANTER covers all costs during this retraining process, and there is no limit to how long a horse can be in the program. Adoption fees, typically ranging from $2,500 to $6,000, are set according to soundness, temperament, training level, and long-term potential. These fees help subsidize veterinary care, farrier work, feed, and board. Horses adopted or sold through CANTER are monitored for two years and are always placed with a lifetime guarantee to be accepted back into the program if the owner can no longer care for the horse. GRC Photo CANTER Program Graduate Charlie Monkey competing at the Thoroughbred Makeover. TESTIMONIAL: “The TAA accreditation process has helped us ensure the quality and integrity of our aftercare program through the highest possible care standards. Accreditation ensures a certain level of excellence and professionalism, and encourages us – and all aftercare partners – to offer the best services possible to our clients and horses.” FOUNDED: 2008 ADDRESS: 260 Las Miradas Dr. Los Gatos, CA 95032 PHONE: (530) 220-6628 MAIN CONTACT: Lauren Maas, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: canterusa.org/california SOCIAL: CANTERCA @canterca @Canterca AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 15 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 33 DAILY RACING FORM CANTER Kentucky CANTER Kentucky (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses) has successfully transitioned Kentucky Thoroughbreds into new careers and homes since 2009, with the support of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America, equine organizations, the racing industry, and private donors. Retiring Kentucky Thoroughbreds are sent to Liftoff Equestrian in Versailles, Ky., the home of CANTER Kentucky. They receive rehabilitation time to adjust to their new life after racing, receive farrier attention and veterinary care, and slowly begin retraining on a lunge line before going under saddle to walk, trot, and canter. Many horses enjoy progressing to training as jumpers. Thoroughbreds are equine athletes who do well in retraining and can excel in horse show competitions such as the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover, while also enjoying the calmness of trail rides. When Thoroughbreds have reached a level of retraining to be ready for adoption, CANTER Kentucky’s marketing committee posts photos, videos, and descriptions on social media, fliers, and the CANTER website. Adopters of CANTER Kentucky Thoroughbreds must submit an approval form that includes information about their riding skills and experience with OTTBs, a farm description, and vet, farrier, and trainer references. Each adopter must be preapproved and evaluated to ensure a good match with the Thoroughbred before the adoption is finalized. CANTER Kentucky continues to follow the progress of each one of its equine graduates and shares photos and updates on social media. Trainer Ashley Watts aboard Statesman at Liftoff Equestrian, the home of CANTER Kentucky. TESTIMONIAL: “CANTER Kentucky is proud to be accredited by TAA and recognized by the racing industry for meeting and exceeding standards of excellence in aftercare. TAA’s support of CANTER Kentucky helps horses make successful transitions out of racing and into new careers through our program of rehab, retrain, and re-home.” FOUNDED: 2009 OFFICE ADDRESS: 9277 Baldwin Road Mentor, OH 44060 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: Liftoff Equestrian 2108 Huntertown Rd. Versailles, KY 40383 PHONE: (440) 478-3829 MAIN CONTACT: Pam Cleverly, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: canterusa.org/kentucky SOCIAL: canter.ky @CanterKentucky @canterkentucky AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 10 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 34 DAILY RACING FORM Celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2023, CANTER Michigan (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses in Michigan) has actively transitioned Thoroughbreds since 1998, the year of inception of the CANTER program. At that time, Detroit Race Course was closing and more than 200 non-competitive Thoroughbreds needed to retire from racing. A CANTER marketing campaign aimed at the public found homes for all 200 off-the-track Thoroughbreds. That beginning has resulted in a nationwide expansion of CANTER, which has successfully transitioned more than 25,000 Thoroughbreds to date. CANTER Michigan provides aftercare to retiring Thoroughbreds from racetracks in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Most are not competitive in racing. Some have suffered racetrack injuries. Many injured Thoroughbreds are transported by CANTER to Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine to receive life-saving surgery. In addition to helping the horse, CANTER provides an advanced education for MSU veterinary students by permitting them to assist with all aspects of surgery: diagnosis, preparation, anesthesia, arthroscopic procedure, recovery, and post-operative care. CANTER Thoroughbreds receive the required rehabilitation at one of two rehab facilities until a veterinarian concludes that rehab is complete and retraining can begin. Thoroughbreds are retrained for new careers at a training facility. Each horse is assessed to help determine a potential career in such pursuits as polo, hunter, jumper, dressage, barrel racing, eventing, or trail rides. Thoroughbreds available for adoption are marketed through social media and CANTER’s website. Adopters must be preapproved and submit an online application that describes their riding skills, horse experience, farm information, vet, farrier, and trainer references. CANTER reserves the right to ensure a suitable match in the best interest of the horse and adopter. CANTER has no paid staff. All revenue is spent to support CANTER’s Thoroughbred aftercare program and successful transitions into a CANTER-approved home. Thunderous Affair, with Lindsey Partridge of Harmony Horsemanship, was adopted from CANTER and in 2020 the pair won the Thoroughbred Makeover as well as several other events. TESTIMONIAL: “TAA’s accreditation of CANTER Michigan provides nationwide acknowledgement of our successful program of retraining non-competitive racehorses for new careers, healing injured Thoroughbreds through arthroscopic surgery, and providing advanced education to Michigan State students as they assist with all aspects of surgery. TAA accreditation opens doors, generating additional support.” FOUNDED: 1998 ADDRESS: 8619 Edgewood Park Dr. Commerce Township, MI 48382 MAIN CONTACT: Robbie Timmons, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: canterusa.org/michigan SOCIAL: CanterMI @CANTERMichigan @cantermichigan AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 30 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION CANTER Michigan
PAGE 35 DAILY RACING FORM Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare has been helping Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico and surrounding Caribbean islands transition to good lives off the track since 2008. More than 1,700 U.S.-bred Thoroughbreds race annually in Puerto Rico, a large percentage of which are imported from the U.S. mainland. Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA) is located at the base of the El Yunque national rainforest region and has 10 acres of large paddocks with shady shelters and an 11-stall barn. CTA has become a tropical haven and safety net for horses leaving their racing careers behind. In 2021, CTA took in more than 60 horses. CTA faces many challenges, including exorbitant transportation costs, being a 1,000-mile distance from the U.S. mainland, lack of resources and qualified homes, and a tropical environment that can be very harsh. CTA has formed great partnerships with several other TAA-accredited organizations, as well as with breeders and former connections, creating a bridge for some horses to return to the United States. We are forever appreciative for these collaborative and cooperative efforts to help us and our horses, and grateful to all the individuals who have helped our OTTBs with funding and/ or homes. CTA is proud of our positive working relationship with the Puerto Rico racing industry, which is looking more positive than ever as we look to the future. The Caribbean is beautiful but also can be unforgiving and very challenging for Thoroughbreds both on and off the track. CTA is grateful to TAA and to all the individuals that not only financially support our work and efforts but also help with the networking that helps our racing athletes here in the Caribbean! TPorrata Photography Kelley Stobie and Electronico doing ground work and gaining trust, a priority for the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare program before beginning under-saddle training. TESTIMONIAL: “Being accredited by TAA gives CTA the much-needed validation that our organization, in its daily endeavors, meets the gold standard in aftercare for the horses here in the islands! With so many logistics involved to get the horses to better options on the U.S. mainland, TAA funding has made it possible to cover more of the day-to-day care, rehab and retraining costs of our horses.” FOUNDED: 2008 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 43001 PMB 372 Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745 PHONE: (787) 426-0845 MAIN CONTACT: Kelley Stobie EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: ctahorse.com SOCIAL: horserescue @CaribbeanOTTB @Caribbean_ottb AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 60 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 36 DAILY RACING FORM Center for Racehorse Retraining The Center for Racehorse Retraining, based in Cheyenne, Wyo., aims to provide a home for retired Thoroughbreds in need of sanctuary, provide rehabilitation for off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), and to retraining and re-home horses capable of second careers. The Center for Racehorse Retraining aims to raise awareness about OTTBs, their ability to excel in a variety of disciplines, and the need for sanctuary care for Thoroughbreds that are no longer rideable. Founded in 2016 by Kate Anderson, the Center for Racehorse Retraining has found homes for more than 130 OTTBs across the country, helping them adjust to new careers in a wide variety of disciplines, from being family pets to sport horses. The trainers at the Center for Racehorse Retraining employ a background in classical training to help OTTBs rehabilitate and find their new potential. Trainers focus on helping horses rebuild their bodies post-racing by using a slow, gentle, and individualized approach. In addition to continued training, the Center for Racehorse Retraining provides rehabilitation and serves as a sanctuary for permanent retirees. With the advantage of spacious turnouts on the rolling hills and plains in southeast Wyoming, OTTBs have plenty of space for letdown after the conclusion of their racing careers. The unique setting offers a premier environment for strengthening and improving hoof quality and building body condition after retirement. Becoming Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited gives the Center for Racehorse Retraining the opportunity to better serve more OTTBs in all aspects of retraining, rehabilitation, and sanctuary. Through affiliation with the TAA, the Center for Racehorse Retraining is excited to expand its services to a greater number of OTTBs. The high quality of care and retraining that the Center for Racehorse Retraining boasts would not be possible without countless supporters and volunteers. The board of the Center for Racehorse Retraining is extremely appreciative of its exceptional staff, volunteers, and generous donors. The Center for Racehorse Retraining has re-homed more than 130 ex-racehorses since 2016. TESTIMONIAL: “Becoming TAA accredited gives the Center for Racehorse Retraining the opportunity to better serve OTTBs in all aspects of retraining, rehabilitation, and sanctuary. Through TAA accreditation, the Center for Racehorse Retraining is excited to expand its services to a greater number of OTTBs.” FOUNDED: 2016 ADDRESS: 2304 Rd 226 Chugwater, WY 82009 PHONE: (307) 421-9998 MAIN CONTACT: Kate Anderson, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: wyomingottb.org SOCIAL: Centerforracehorseretraining AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 40 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 37 DAILY RACING FORM Central Kentucky Riding for Hope Central Kentucky Riding for Hope’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health of individuals with special physical, cognitive, or behavioral needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies. CKRH, entering its 42nd year, provides direct services to more than 200 participants of all ages annually, and community education to 650-plus individuals throughout multiple Kentucky counties. CKRH services include: Therapeutic Riding: In our cornerstone program, nurturing instructors and volunteer teams encourage the most physically fragile of our participants to develop strength, balance, and motor skills. A child who can eventually sit upright on a horse will have the physical capacity to do the same in a chair or on the toilet. A non-verbal child who learns to say “walk on” or “whoa” to their horse demonstrates an ability to further develop their language skills. A child who can grasp a horse’s reins can eventually do the same with a fork to feed themselves. The Stables: An accredited curriculum of Fayette County Public Schools, CKRH welcomes nearly 50 students in grades 8 through 12 each day during the school year to study a syllabus that includes unmounted equine studies in addition to subjects like math, science, and history. This hands-on experience with horses not only supports the academic standards required for graduation but also reinforces life skills such as responsibility, patience, and the teamwork needed for future success in the workforce. Military programs: Designed for both activeduty and veteran soldiers, mounted and unmounted services provide resiliency exercises to help with readjustment to civilian life. The emotional benefits of bonding with a horse go a long way in supporting soldiers as they develop new coping skills and reduce the anxiety that often accompanies post-deployment experiences. Mental health programs: Unmounted programs provide a safe environment for people of all ages. Whether it’s a socially anxious teenager, an adult survivor of trauma, or a senior citizen feeling isolated, these warm, fuzzy activities are designed to help participants cope with painful emotions, learn how to trust, and experience safe social interactions with others. Emily Siffert There’s always strength in numbers as CKRH’s Princess Squad happily proves each week ... and lots of fun to be had as well! TESTIMONIAL: “CKRH is proud to have helped literally thousands of people over the past 41 years, thanks in no small part to our cherished equine therapy partners. They are the key. Their magical ability to communicate with people of all abilities through unwavering kindness and patience never ceases to amaze us or make astonishing things happen here.” FOUNDED: 1981 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 13155 Lexington, KY 40583 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: The Kentucky Horse Park 4185 Walt Robertson Rd. Lexington, KY 40511 PHONE: (859) 231-7066 MAIN CONTACT: Pat Kline, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: CKRH.org SOCIAL: CKyRH @CKyRH @CKyRH AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 8 SANCTUARY EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 38 DAILY RACING FORM Circle A Home for Horses In 2014, Circle A Home for Horses was established in the southern farmland area of the resort city Virginia Beach, Va. Alicia Mahar, founder and executive director, turned her horse farm into a place of healing for both horses and humans. Equine therapy is practiced on the farm, utilizing donated and rescued Thoroughbreds. Therapy programs are the focus of Circle A Home for Horses. However, rehabilitated and retrained Thoroughbreds are the foundation that make all things possible. Since its founding, Circle A Home for Horses has helped hundreds of Thoroughbreds. More importantly, its horses have touched the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children and adolescents labeled at-risk. Equine therapy has been integrated into therapy programs for adults and children in treatment for substance abuse, depression, addiction, personality disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and other related disorders. As prey animals, horses have evolved to be extremely sensitive and always present in the moment. Horses are intuitive and can read human emotions, body language, and facial expressions. Their kind and quiet nature facilitates healing of troubled minds through acceptance and security. Not all of our Thoroughbreds become therapy horses, and many go on to write the second chapter of their lives in adopted homes. Circle A Home for Horses has helped 650 horses since 2014. With a strong and dedicated board of directors, and a devoted and committed volunteer base, all horses receive firsthand care while in rehabilitation and are in individually designed retraining programs based on the best discipline for the horse. Each adoption application is carefully reviewed to ensure the best match for the horse and new owner. In 2019, Circle A Home for Horses proudly sent Cat Fiftyfive, generously donated by Matt Schera, to The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Cat Fiftyfive and his experienced rider, Jen Smith Cobb, won the Dressage Intro Division. Amelia and 5-year-old gelding Provo, an unraced New York-bred at Circle A Home for Horses. TESTIMONIAL: “We are thrilled to be included in TAA’s elite group of aftercare organizations. TAA accreditation assures our stakeholders that we maintain the highest standards for aftercare, and the partnership with TAA gives us crucial educational, networking, and progressive initiatives to ensure we are providing evidence-based, quality care.” FOUNDED: 2014 ADDRESS: 4345 Charity Neck Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23457 PHONE: (757) 286-5282 MAIN CONTACT: Alicia Mahar, executive director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: circleahome4horses.org SOCIAL: @homeforhorses @circle_horses @circleahomeforhorses AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 50 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 39 DAILY RACING FORM Days End Farm Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization founded in 1989 to ensure quality care and treatment of horses through intervention, education, and outreach. DEFHR is a premier all-breed equine-welfare facility, supporting animal-protection authorities by rescuing horses in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and surrounding areas. Many of its intakes are off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Days End Farm is a unique facility on the East Coast in that it accepts only horses that animalprotection agencies have determined to be suffering from cruelty or neglect. It assists in collecting evidence and preparing documentation so that organization representatives can testify in court on behalf of the horses, and DEFHR is an expert in rehabilitating critically ill equines, training them, and seeking second-chance homes for them. Because education is vital to preventing animal abuse, educating animal enthusiasts and the general public is at the heart of DEFHR’s mission. It offers many educational programs at the farm and off-site while working with communitybased groups such as schools, camps, scouts, and churches to educate on the standards of equine care, horse psychology, and more. It also supports the training of animal-protection authorities and law-enforcement agencies in large-animal rescue techniques and equine-cruelty investigations. When needed, DEFHR deploys its resources across the country and even internationally to lend assistance with emergency post-disaster management and herd rescues. The organization is proud to be a Maryland Horse Discovery Center certified by the Maryland Horse Industry Board. As such, it welcomes visitors to its flagship facility in Howard County, Md. This provides an opportunity for people who may otherwise never interact with horses to visit a farm, see horses up close, and learn about healthy farm management and horse husbandry. DEFHR focuses on reaching young people so that they gain an appreciation and sense of compassion for animals and the environment at an early age. Bethany P. Photography A Days End Farm volunteer with Tranquil Tuesday, an off-the-track Thoroughbred mare who came to DEFHR as a severe neglect case and was retrained as a dressage mount. She is a fan favorite, winning the hearts of her caretakers with her curious and engaging personality. TESTIMONIAL: “The TAA has helped fund ongoing maintenance costs for Thoroughbreds that have been rehabilitated. Some of our Thoroughbreds take longer to place, and it is comforting to know that TAA is helping to underwrite the cost of their care and training while helping spread the word about the value of these majestic animals.” FOUNDED: 1989 ADDRESS: 1372 Woodbine Rd. Woodbine, MD 21797 PHONE: (301) 854-5037 MAIN CONTACT: Caroline Robertson, development director EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: defhr.org SOCIAL: /DEFHR @4thehorses AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 10 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 40 DAILY RACING FORM Down the Stretch Ranch Down the Stretch Ranch was founded in 2015 by Racing Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, his wife, Janet Hollendorfer, and Boone McCanna. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization uses ex-racehorses to provide therapeutic rehabilitation for military veterans, their families, and underprivileged children. As these equine athletes offer comfort and companionship to the visiting groups, the organization provides a setting for the horses and humans to thrive. In this form of equine therapy, there are parallels and connections to made between horse and guest. When guests arrives at the Washington-based ranch, McCanna offers a tour of the facility, which includes an area for the main herd to roam over 100 acres. Just as each guest has their own story, so does every member of the herd at Down the Stretch Ranch. Once a guest selects a horse, they are told about the background of the horse and shown race replays to help them understand the animal’s history. The guests are given the opportunity to ride around the ranch to spend more time with the off-the-track Thoroughbred. The ranch also offers housing for attending guests, with many of them choosing to extend their stay or return to the ranch later. Down the Stretch also hosts families and children from Fairchild Air Force Base, the largest aerial refueling station in the world, which has 600 families on base. Children on a military base can sometimes struggle making new friends when a parent is deployed, and the aid of horses at Down the Stretch can help children connect and cope. In the last two years, the ranch has adopted out 17 horses to qualified homes. Children from Fairchild Air Force Base participate in equine programs at Down the Stretch. TESTIMONIAL: “Support from the TAA over the last five years has been instrumental in allowing the ranch to care for over 25 horses throughout the year. TAA support and guidance is a testament to the commitment the Thoroughbred industry has taken to care for their retired horses. The accreditation process and oversight has helped the ranch tremendously.” FOUNDED: 2015 ADDRESS: 27700 Miles Creston Rd. N. Creston, WA 99117 PHONE: (253) 350-0160 MAIN CONTACT: Boone McCanna, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: downthestretch.org SOCIAL: downthestretchranch @DownTheStretchR AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 25-30 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 41 DAILY RACING FORM Equestrian Inc. Established in 1985 as a sanctuary for horses looking for a new lease on life, Equestrian Inc. is situated on seven acres and houses an average of 10 horses of all breeds annually. Some are permanent residents due to age or injuries, and others are in the process of being retrained or are recovering from an injury sustained on the track. Equestrian Inc. provides former racehorses a chance for a productive second career in a variety of disciplines, such as jumping, dressage, eventing, pleasure, and companion. The adoption process involves an interview with the potential adopter to gauge their knowledge and ability to care for the horse. The next step is the adopter spending time with the horse so that they can get to know one another. The adopter must be at least 21 years old and financially able to care for the horse. The adoption fee is $500 and up depending on the soundness, training level, and potential of the horse. Equestrian Inc. has no paid staff; it is run solely by volunteers, who are the heart of the organization. Our volunteers consist of a team of dedicated people who perform tasks such as feeding, grooming, exercising, turnout, stall cleaning, and general farm maintenance. Equestrian Inc. offers Bright Futures hours to high school students and participates in the Hillsborough County Community Service Program, and it hosts groups from local high schools and universities. At these events, the students are given hands-on demonstrations of equine care and rehabilitation. In addition, we have a strong working relationship with Tampa Bay Downs racetrack. Our late founder, Glenda Smith, said, “Those involved are paid via love given them from the animals, not with money.” Christopher’s Image, originally retired from racing due to osselets, treats the legendary wrestler and actor, John Cena, to a lesson about the fundamentals of horseback riding. TESTIMONIAL: “The recognition and prestige associated with TAA has opened up a broader spectrum of donor avenues that otherwise were not available to us. We are honored to be accredited by TAA and appreciate its support so that we may continue to help many more off-thetrack Thoroughbreds.” FOUNDED: 1985 ADDRESS: 2214 Fairfield Ave. Brandon, FL 33510 PHONE: (813) 410-9982 MAIN CONTACT: DeeAnn Cavanaugh, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: equestrianinc.org SOCIAL: equestrianinctampa @equestrianinctampa AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 7 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 42 DAILY RACING FORM Equine Advocates Equine Advocates is a national nonprofit rescue, educational, and advocacy organization founded in 1996 in response to the issue of horse slaughter. Structured initially as a rescue operation, the organization expanded in 2004 to include a 140-acre sanctuary in upstate New York, where horses of all breeds and backgrounds – including off-the-track Thoroughbreds – currently reside. Founder and president Susan Wagner estimates that thousands of equines have been transitioned into better situations through the efforts of those involved with Equine Advocates. Currently, some 80 horses, donkeys, ponies, and mules reside at the sanctuary near Chatham, which Wagner describes as “an equine village where they live out their lives in a natural environment, allowing them to socialize with one another.” Many residents have old injuries and special needs. In 2006, Equine Advocates opened its Humane Education Center, where classes and seminars are conducted and where visitors can learn about equine issues and responsible horse guardianship. The group has participated in cruelty investigations and held symposiums for law enforcement in dealing with such cases. Equine Advocates has received the highest 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (GuideStar). In addition to being accredited by TAA, Equine Advocates is accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and the American Sanctuary Association. “We combine our rescue efforts with advocacy in order to effect change, educate people, and promote humane treatment of horses,” Wagner said. “In addition to providing sanctuary and a loving home for our rescued horses, we focus on teaching people how to become better, more responsible horse guardians.” Wendy Braun Arnold and Mikey were rescued in 2007 and spent 31 days in a hospital recovering from neglect and starvation. Today they live in a section of Equine Advocates called After the Finish Line. TESTIMONIAL: “We are grateful to TAA for its generous support. As a sanctuary, horses who come in remain here for life; many have special needs that require more veterinary services. It is wonderful to have TAA funding to help pay for their maintenance as well as for many of their medical needs.” FOUNDED: 1996 ADDRESS: P. O. Box 354 Chatham, NY 12037 PHONE: (518) 392-0175 MAIN CONTACT: Susan Wagner, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: equineadvocates.org SOCIAL: equineadvocates.org @EquineAdvocates @equineadvocates AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 15 SANCTUARY
PAGE 43 DAILY RACING FORM Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation TESTIMONIAL: “Our TAA accreditation not only ensures we uphold the highest standards and best practices of the industry but also provides valuable collaborations and resources. TAA provides us with tools paramount to the best possible future for our horses.” FOUNDED: 2000 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 6400 SW Martin Hwy. Palm City, FL 34990 MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1199 Palm City, FL 34991 PHONE: (772) 220-0150 CONTACTS: Elaine Hines, president Nancy Dunn, barn manager EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: eraf.org SOCIAL: erafhorserescue @ERAFHorseRescue @erafhorserescue AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 12 REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION The Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation (ERAF) in Palm City, Fla., has been an important resource for aftercare on Florida’s Treasure Coast since 2000. Our mission is simple: We rescue horses facing an uncertain future through no fault of their own. Some have been neglected, abused, or were bound for slaughter. Many have arrived after careers on the track or in the arena and are ready for their next chapter. Still others can simply no longer be cared for by their owners. Our caring staff and dedicated volunteers work to rehabilitate and retrain our horses so they may be placed in suitable adoptive homes. Our adoptees have excelled in show rings, as pleasure horses, trail horses, and pasture pals. When these horses arrive at our gates, it is the beginning of a new life for them. ERAF’s veterinarian oversees all medical care and feeding, and all horses have an individualized training program. When the appropriate person is identified to adopt one of our horses, a complete reference check is conducted, including a property inspection and veterinary reference. During that time, the adopter works with our barn manager and staff to establish a trust relationship with the horse to ensure that the match is good for both the horse and the individual. The property upon which ERAF conducts its rescue activities includes a 23-stall barn, arena, round pen, hay storage building, 16 pastures and paddocks, and a quarantine area. All pastures have three-sided shelters and a direct water source. While ERAF is primarily focused on the care, rehabilitation, and adoption of its equine residents, ERAF also endeavors to provide equine education and training to the community to support its mission. ERAF is dependent upon grants, individual donors and foundations, fundraising events, and bequests to support its services and programs. Robin Doniger Sebas Ranger gets a big smile from Karen Goodberlet after a productive training session.
PAGE 44 DAILY RACING FORM Equine Rescue of Aiken Equine Rescue of Aiken Emperor Penguin and Great Again enjoy time in their paddock at Equine Rescue of Aiken. TESTIMONIAL: “Accreditation by a national organization such as the TAA shows the community that we operate with the best interest of our horses and reassures them that their donations are going to a responsible organization. The assistance allows us to continue our mission of repurposing and re-homing off-thetrack Thoroughbreds.” FOUNDED: 2006 ADDRESS: 532 Glenwood Dr. Aiken, SC 29803 PHONE: (803) 643-1850 MAIN CONTACT: Jim Rhodes, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: aikenequinerescue.org SOCIAL: AikenEquineRescue @AikenEquineResc @aikenequinerescue AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 30 Located in the heart of South Carolina’s famed horse country, Equine Rescue of Aiken is a pastoral sanctuary for retired Thoroughbreds and unwanted or neglected horses. Established in 2006, the mostly volunteer-run operation has adopted out more than 1,500 horses, many of them at-risk before arriving at the rescue and in need of a new home. Equine Rescue of Aiken works with racetracks to identify and acquire horses that are no longer competitive or have sustained career-ending injuries, to repurpose them for second careers in forever homes. The organization is one of the largest horse rescue centers in the southeastern United States. Its 90 acres include rehab and quarantine paddocks and large rolling pastures for the horses to roam. Even though the facility suffered a devastating fire in spring 2021, it is still operating and doing it better than ever before. At any given time, the organization is home to 50 to 60 horses of all breeds – from ex-racehorses to former polo ponies to retired draft horses. Although those numbers have dropped a bit during the pandemic, the adoption numbers have not, and Equine Rescue of Aiken is placing just as many as before. The organization has only two staff members and an abundance of volunteers united by their desire to care for the horses and their passion to do meaningful work. Equine Rescue of Aiken is embarking on its 16-year anniversary and is celebrating with a capital campaign to help raise funds to rebuild the barn lost to fire, with plans to start building in late 2022. There has been an emphasis on the organization’s social mission by growing the veteran and active military programs as well as creating fun, educational children’s programs that connect with the community. Active educational workshops, youth volunteer days, and school visits throughout the year delight and offer an engaging venue with human-horse interactions. The facility is open to the public six days a week for tours, and the organization emphasizes education about horse care and the equine industry. Uniquely, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supports the local county Pre-Trial Intervention Program, in which first-time offenders may fulfill required community service hours by working at the facility. The rescue also partners with multiple organizations by hosting equineassisted programs whose focus is using the therapeutic value of horses to help people with post-traumatic stress and build confidence in its participants. In addition to being recognized by the TAA, Equine Rescue of Aiken is a grant recipient of the Thoroughbred Charities of America, a 2022 Platinum Rated Guidestar organization, and a Safe Stall facility for the Humane Society of the United States. The organization strives to be a top-notch facility, giving the horses the best care possible until they find their forever homes. SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION EQUINE-ASSISTED PROGRAM
PAGE 45 DAILY RACING FORM Final Furlong Final Furlong, founded in 2009 by Stephanie Brennan, has placed dozens of ex-racehorses into new homes or into safe and secure retirement while establishing itself as a leader in Thoroughbred aftercare. The Final Furlong team, comprised of Brennan and volunteers, scans entries for at-risk runners that are heading down in class. Using funds garnered through donations and grants, the organization acquires targeted racehorses and brings them to its Ocala, Fla., base, where they remain for rehab and evaluation until deemed ready to move forward. There are no adoption fees, though prospective new owners are thoroughly screened. A contract must be completed, accompanied by a letter from an industry professional indicating their ability to care for an off-the-track Thoroughbred. An additional letter from the veterinarian who will care for the horse is required, along with photos of the new home. Brennan has worked alongside her husband, trainer Niall Brennan, developing some of America’s top racehorses, including 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, and champion Dayatthespa. Many of Final Furlong’s graduates came through that program, including Gunpowder Creek and Canaan Land, retrained as a dressage competitor and pony horse, respectively. Others have gone on to careers as eventers, hunter/jumpers, trail horses, and companion animals. Horses such as stakes-placed Hammock and royally bred Indian Key successfully transitioned from the racetrack to the show ring. Several remain permanent retirees at Final Furlong. According to Stephanie Brennan, “Final Furlong simply wants to give the horses who have given so much to us an opportunity to excel at another career.” Final Furlong serves as a sanctuary, plus retrains and places ex-racehorses in new homes. TESTIMONIAL: “TAA has allowed Final Furlong an opportunity to provide a safe retirement to our [lifers] – tho se who have soundness issues that make placement impossible. They now can live out their lives with the care and comfort they deserve.” FOUNDED: 2009 ADDRESS: 9119 NW Hwy 225A Ocala, FL 34482 PHONE: (352) 427-8540 MAIN CONTACT: Stephanie Brennan, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: niallbrennan.com/ffhr.html SOCIAL: NiallBrennanStables @niallbrennanstb @finalfurlongllc AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 15 SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 46 DAILY RACING FORM Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program “Giving horses a second chance to be winners” is the noble credo that the Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program (FLTAP) lives by. FLTAP was founded in 2006, when Finger Lakes racetrack management and the local Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association division decided something had to be done to protect at-risk runners, most notably those headed down the claiming ladder. This awardwinning retraining and adoption program has helped more than 400 horses find new homes. FLTAP was the first adoption organization located on racetrack grounds. Delaware North, the parent of Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack, donated the two-acre site upon which a 10,000-square-foot, 16-stall barn now stands, built with state funding, a grant from the American Humane Association, and contributions from donors such as Wanda Polisseni, for whose Purple Haze Stables the center is named. The facility also includes a riding arena, turnout paddocks, and round pens. Local horsemen help fund the program by contributing $2.50 for every start a horse makes, an amount matched by the Finger Lakes Racing Association. FLTAP also hosts fundraising dinners, polo matches, benefit horse shows, golf tournaments, and holiday events, with proceeds going directly to the program. Volunteers donate time, talent, and product in addition to cash. Horses entering FLTAP must be reasonably sound and have the potential for a second career, whether in the show ring or for pleasure riding. Successful adoptions have included I B a Babydoll (aka “Pepper,” jumper), Five Aces (“Ace,” trail riding), and City Mint (barrel racing). Most FLTAP horses ended their racing careers in lower-level claiming races at Finger Lakes. Prospective adopters undergo an in-depth screening process, including an interview, to determine if they are able to provide a good home for an ex-racehorse. When accepted, they are matched with horses appropriate for their skill level, experience, and goals. Old Army, a 2011 graduate of the Finger Lakes program, shows in dressage. TESTIMONIAL: “The accreditation of FLTAP by TAA is a significant endorsement of our efforts as the first ontrack Thoroughbred adoption program in North America. Its ongoing support of our program is paramount to our success.” FOUNDED: 2006 ADDRESS: 5757 NYS Route 96, Farmington, NY 14425 PHONE: (585) 478-4664 MAIN CONTACT: Melissa Porter, barn manager EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: fltap.org SOCIAL: FLTAPAdoption AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 45 RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 47 DAILY RACING FORM Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Program The Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care Program (TRAC) was established in 2010 with a focus on providing rest, rehabilitation, retraining, and adoptive services to horses that previously competed at Gulfstream Park and Gulfstream Park West. Part of Florida TRAC’s primary purpose is to start the retraining process to allow as many horses as possible to find a loving forever home. Graduates of Florida TRAC have been retrained for a wide range of second careers, including the show ring, trail riding, eventing, therapy for children and veterans, police work, pasture companions, and much more. Adoption fees vary depending on the level of training and the potential of each individual. Florida TRAC keeps an open line of communication with adopters throughout the lifetime of their adoptee. Florida TRAC’s success stories include such horses as Tizrobertcharles, who after seven starts and one win is now thriving as a member of the Davie Police Department Mounted Unit, and Charming Kid, who after eight career starts and one win is now training for a career in the eventing discipline. Florida TRAC Retired Thoroughbred Second Mate and a volunteer take the first steps toward finding a perfect second career and purpose for the winner of $381,205 in 42 starts. TESTIMONIAL: “The support offered by TAA allows collaboration with fellow aftercare organizations working toward the shared goal of providing the very best of care and opportunities for second careers for retiring Thoroughbreds. Aftercare is an enormous issue facing the racing industry and no single program can manage the influx of retiring horses that require rehabilitation, retraining, and re-homing.” FOUNDED: 2010 ADDRESS: 6650 SW Kanner Hwy. Indiantown, FL 34956 PHONE: (833) 352-8722 MAIN CONTACT: Adam Lazarus, president [email protected] SECONDARY CONTACT: Raina Gunderson [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: fltrac.org SOCIAL: floridatrac @FloridaTrac @floridatrac SANCTUARY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION
PAGE 48 DAILY RACING FORM Friends of Ferdinand Friends of Ferdinand Inc. (FFI) is an Indianabased nonprofit dedicated to promoting responsible retirement for racehorses in Indiana and the Midwest with options for second careers. Established in 2005, Friends of Ferdinand took its name from the famed racehorse Ferdinand, a Kentucky Derby winner who earned millions on the track but was ultimately sent to slaughter. To honor his memory, FFI has established a very successful retraining and adoption program. Additionally, FFI offers an internship program that affords young people who are interested in a horse-industry career the opportunity to work with horses in aftercare. Each horse receives a thorough vet check to identify any physical limitations and generally stays a minimum of 90 days for evaluation and retraining. Once ready to begin work, Friends of Ferdinand’s retraining philosophy is: “Let the horse set the pace.” Whether it takes three months or six, Friends of Ferdinand horses are ready for new careers with amateur riders. The goal of Friends of Ferdinand is to work closely with adopters to find the right home for each horse the first time. The adoption process begins with an application that includes veterinarian, farrier, and personal references. Potential adopters are required to visit and ride their potential horses with FFI’s head trainer. In addition, adopters are offered a 30-day trial so that they may take their new horse home for a prepurchase exam and evaluations by their own veterinarian, farrier, and trainer. These adoption and matchmaking processes have proved effective, with an almost 100 percent year-over-year successful adoption rate. FFI grads have become trail and dressage horses, such as Logan Township, a gelding who raced 78 times, and Right to War, who raced three times. Others have transitioned into hunter/jumpers, eventers, and pleasure horses. JPH Photography Friends of Ferdinand has an internship program in Indiana that allows volunteers interested in a horse-related career the opportunity to work with horses that are being retrained. TESTIMONIAL: “TAA provides a consistent, stable, and reliable funding source for equine programs that does not exist elsewhere. With that, we are able to confidently plan and implement strategies for sustainable growth in order to better meet the needs of the horses and horsemen in Indiana and the Midwest. The horses benefit when we all work together.” FOUNDED: 2005 ADDRESS: P.O. Box 262 Mooresville, IN 46158 MAIN CONTACT: Sara Busbice, president EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] WEB ADDRESS: friendsofferdinand.com SOCIAL: OTTBsforFFI @Ferdinators @friendsofferdinandinc AVERAGE NUMBER OF THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR: 30 EQUINE-ASSISTED THERAPY REHABILITATION RETRAINING/ADOPTION