aftercare

LEXINGTON, KY--With a rainy, cloudy afternoon turning into a perfect sunny and 72-degree evening, the racing industry was out in full force to support retired Thoroughbreds in the Real Rider Cup. Typically held in the fall at Fair Hill, it was the first time the event was being held in Lexington at New Vocations' Mereworth Farm and the rail was packed with familiar faces, such as Christian Black, Mike McMahon and Aidan and Leah O'Meara, to support this great cause initiated by Anita Motion. Thirty-one riders completed a 2'6" jumper...

Stacie Clark, operations consultant for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), will be the keynote speaker for OwnerView's in-person Thoroughbred Owner Conferenceat Saratoga Race Course July 25-26, 2022. Clark has been with the TAA since its inception in 2012 and assumed the role of operations consultant in 2014. Previously, she created the first in-house retirement program while serving as Thoroughbred Retirement Program manager at Adena Springs. Clark rode as a jockey in Ontario and was nominated for the 1994 Sovereign Award as Outstanding Apprentice in Canada. When Woodbine Racetrack expanded its...

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame hosts Celebrating Equine Sanctuary: Saratoga's Thoroughbred Aftercare, Saturday, June 18. The free event is presented by the Museum, Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and Old Friends at Cabin Creek. The event will feature numerous activities, including: Equine residents from Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and demonstrations A presentation from the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Impressions of Saratoga's Maddy Zanetti will be doing a book reading at 11:30 a.m. with Upset the miniature horse, who will be in attendance all day. Renowned...

The New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show, presented by Iris Smith Stables, LLC, has wrapped up its June 3-6 run by raising over $150,000. Held for the second year in Aiken, S.C., the show--which is in its 19th year--nearly doubled the number of horses competing with more than 165 Thoroughbreds from 15 states. All proceeds from the event, which includes classes in a variety of disciplines, go directly to New Vocations to support efforts to rehab, retrain, and rehome retiring racehorses. "This show is always a true testament to how...

Owner, breeder, humanitarian, and philanthropist Earle Mack was bestowed with the William T. Young Humanitarian Award by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) Wednesday morning. The former U.S. Ambassador, who has been breeding and racing Thoroughbreds for nearly six decades and has had 25 black-type winners, including Canadian Triple Crown winner Peteski (Affirmed) and U.S. MGISW November Snow (Storm Cat), is well known for his humanitarian work, both in the industry and in the greater world. A long-time supporter of numerous equine charities and a strong proponent of Thoroughbred...

After a two-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, America Best Racing's Pre-Preakness Party will be held Wednesday, May 18, at the Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore, with the proceeds of all tickets sold to benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. A silent auction will be held which will benefit the TAA and the Maryland-based Beyond The Wire Thoroughbred aftercare organization. "We're thrilled to again be a beneficiary of this party, along with our friends at Beyond the Wire, and we're grateful for the continued support from America's Best Racing," TAA...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) accreditation application for 2022 is now available. Thoroughbred aftercare non-profits, including those accredited for 2021 that want to remain accredited, must complete the application by Apr. 1 to seek accreditation for the coming year. Accreditation status with TAA is determined after a complete review of five areas of an aftercare organization: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Organizations will be subject to site inspections of all facilities housing Thoroughbreds. Organizations that receive accreditation are eligible for...

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program has opened a satellite facility near Ocala, Florida as it continues to expand its aftercare efforts. The nation's oldest and largest racehorse adoption charity now has nine facilities in six states. "Part of our long-term plan has been to open a facility near Ocala," said New Vocations' Program Director Anna Ford. "Three years ago, we were looking into it but then we got the call to open a facility in Louisiana. We put Florida on pause because the need was greater in Louisiana at that...

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program has opened a satellite facility at Trillium Sport Horses near Ocala, Florida. Erin MacDonald, an international three-day eventing rider, will oversee the facility's focus on rehabbing, retraining, and rehoming retiring Thoroughbred racehorses. "On average, 60 horses each year are shipped more than 700 miles from Florida to our Lexington facility," said Anna Ford, the program director for New Vocations. "Horses coming from Florida racetracks and training centers will now have a much shorter travel distance and duration as they start their next chapters." New Vocations,...

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law Wednesday a bill prohibiting the slaughter of racehorses and racehorse breeding stock for a commercial purpose; requiring that all racehorses competing in the state, as well as all horses used for breeding purposes, be microchipped; requiring that the state's Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding funds set aside money for aftercare programs and put all funds raised through fines relating to be used to support aftercare; amending the tax law to allow individuals and corporations to contribute to aftercare facilities; and mandating a public...

The first annual "Race to Give" campaign, begun in September by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) as an online giving and awareness program to support Thoroughbred aftercare, wrapped Friday with over $125,000 raised. Officials from Hagyard presented a check to TCA totaling $125,117 in a winner's circle ceremony at Churchill Downs. "Starting a new charitable effort is always a challenge and usually takes some time to build momentum," said Hagyard's Dr. Luke Fallon, DVM. "So we tried to set a realistic goal, but I think...

A total of $3.7 million will be awarded as grants to 82 accredited Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced Thursday. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has now awarded more than $24.5 million in grants to accredited Thoroughbred aftercare organizations. "The ability to grant $3.7 million towards the care of retired racehorses is a tremendous achievement," said TAA President Jimmy Bell. "As the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance continues to grow to match the needs of our industry, monetary contributions by participants at every level are paramount to the success...