thoroughbred aftercare

by Suzi Pritchard-Jones In recent weeks. this publication has printed two articles by Dan Ross about Thoroughbred racehorses who are falling through the aftercare net, ending up in kill pens for export to either Mexico or Canada for slaughter. Owner Jack Wolf responded with a possible solution in a letter to the editor in last Friday's TDN. Mr. Wolf is not a lone owner.  There are many people who are heavily invested in this industry. In today's world when racing's social license to operate is wafer- thin, our industry is...

Edited Press Release The TAKE2 Thoroughbred League announced today new 2024 awards worth a total of $6,000 in recognition of Junior and Amateur Riders who compete in the TAKE2 Thoroughbred Hunter and Jumper divisions nationwide. The high-point Amateur Rider in each division of the TAKE2 League standings will earn a $1,000 bonus, while the leading Junior Rider will earn a $500 bonus. In addition, the top-finishing Amateur and Junior in each division of the TAKE2 Finals will be awarded $1,000 and $500, respectively. "Amateurs and Juniors ride head-to-head with Professionals...

Back in March, a pre-race exam at Turf Paradise led to Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Bernie "Chip" Woolley accusing a regulatory veterinarian who had scratched his 10-year-old mare of furnishing him with the name of a horse trader who he suspected of being a "kill-buyer." This is someone who purchases horses for export into the slaughter pipeline. The incident triggered formal investigations by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and the Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG). HISA shared its findings with the ADG, which ultimately cleared the state veterinarian, Victoria...

Edited Press Release Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be on-site this year at Pimlico Race Course for the week leading up to Preakness 149 on Saturday, May 18, 2024. With the combined efforts from 1/ST RACING, Maryland Jockey Club, America's Best Racing, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, accredited aftercare will be promoted with several on-site activations throughout the week. The ninth annual America's Best Racing (ABR) Pre-Preakness Party to benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation will be held at Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore, Maryland on...

The Churchill Downs Foundation has partnered with 20 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations for the upcoming 150th Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve by pledging a $150,000 donation to support the organizations. On Monday, Apr. 29, an aftercare post position draw will be held on the Churchill Downs backstretch where each horse in the Kentucky Derby field will be paired with an aftercare organization. Each organization is guaranteed at least a $5,000 donation from the Churchill Downs Foundation with the organization paired with the winner of the Kentucky Derby receiving a $25,000...

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, will host its 19th annual Homecoming event May 5 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The day will include a barbecue buffet lunch provided by Proud Mary, farm tours, live Bluegrass music, book signings, and live and silent auctions of racing memorabilia, collectible stallion halters, artwork, jewelry, books, and much more. Homecoming tickets are $50 for the general public and $25 for Old Friends 2024 Clubhouse members (children 12 and under are free). Click here for more ticket information.

Second Stride, which rehabs, retrains and rehomes retired Thoroughbred racehorses, will open its 2024 fundraising efforts with twin raffles for third-floor boxes for six people, one box each for Kentucky Derby and Oaks Day donated by Churchill Downs. In the spirit of May 3-4 being the 150th runnings of America's favorite race and its filly counterpart, only 150 tickets will be sold at $150 apiece for the Derby and for $125 apiece for the Oaks. Buy raffle tickets for the all-inclusive boxes (including food and alcoholic beverage) here. The drawings...

Registration for February's Aftercare Industry Month (AIM) virtual conference is open and all with a professional interest in Thoroughbred aftercare are invited to partake, announced officials at the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) via press release Friday. Presented by the Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF), the teleconference will offer four webinars providing an interactive experience for participants to explore a variety of topics pertaining to non-profits and business entities. Options to register for the entire conference or individual sessions a la carte will be offered on the sign-up page. An...

Night of the Stars Pledge, an initiative created by DJ Stable to promote and raise funds for New Vocations' aftercare efforts, invites sellers and buyers to pledge a percentage of sale price(s) during Fasig-Tipton's Nov. 7 breeding stock sale. The initiative comes at a time when the program has taken in 20% more retired racehorses than it did last year leading to a dramatic increase in operational costs. "We are so pleased to have the opportunity to partner with New Vocations. We are confident that the Fasig-Tipton Night of the...

Mareworthy Charities, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and caring for retired Thoroughbred broodmares, is participating in the Community & Cause voting campaign, hosted by Field & Main Bank. The campaign offers the organization an opportunity to secure a $20,000 prize, directly benefitting the care and support of the Thoroughbred mares already in their care while expanding their capacity to assist more retired broodmares in 2024. In addition to the $20,000 prize, the winning organization will gain valuable exposure through airtime on WKYT, coverage by LEXtoday, and a full-page...

The final entry list for the 2023 Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, is complete. You can view individual entries and explore the list using filtered search features at TheRRP.org/entries. The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is uniquely positioned as the only organization in aftercare that works across all facets of the industry, including both accredited and unaccredited adoption organizations, listing agents, and for-profit trainers and resellers. The data we capture through the Thoroughbred Makeover offers a closer look at how horses are moving into second...

Six of North America's prominent Thoroughbred aftercare organizations will be featured on-site Sunday as part of Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, the track said in a Thursday release. After post time at 11:45 a.m. (CDT), fans will be invited to learn more about Thoroughbred retirement at several booths set up on the concourse by Friends of Ferdinand, New Vocations, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Thoroughbred Charities of America and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. The six participating Thoroughbred aftercare organizations will be featured in the Jeff Hall Winner's...