Thoroughbred Aftercare Allliance is Launched

The Second Race was very happy to receive a copy of this Press Release today announcing the creation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Please read more about this exciting development for ex-race horses.

For Immediate Release:Contact: NTRA Communications: Eric Wing212-521-5316 ewing@ntra.com

THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE IS LAUNCHED New York, NY – February 9, 2012 -

A broad-based group of Thoroughbred industry stakeholders announced today the establishment of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)—an organization designed to serve as both the accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities.

Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. “It is our responsibility as owners, tracks, breeders, trainers, jockeys, bloodstock agents, and anyone who has a stake in the game to take responsibility for the aftercare of these great animals who are the keystone of our sport,” said TAA board President and Thoroughbred owner Jack Wolf. "Securing support and funding from Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, Keeneland and so many other great organizations speaks to the credibility and importance of our effort and is so greatly appreciated.”

Additional support of the TAA has been provided by Adena Springs North, CARMA, Fasig-Tipton, The Jockeys’ Guild, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, The New York Racing Association, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company and Thoroughbred Charities of America. The organization also received staff support from Thoroughbred Charities of America, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The NTRA will continue to provide that support on an ongoing basis. The TAA will accredit aftercare facilities based on a Code of Standards covering operations, education, horse management, facility services and adoption policies.

Simultaneously, the TAA will raise funds on behalf of accredited facilities via institutional contributions that are to be directed 100% to program services rather than to fundraising or general administrative costs.

“The Breeders’ Cup is proud to be one of the initial funders for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and fully support the TAA goals of an industry-wide, annually funded program committed to the placement or second-career retraining of retired Thoroughbreds on a national scale,” said Craig Fravel, President and CEO of Breeders’ Cup, Ltd. “Through the contributions of our sport’s stakeholders, we can help ensure that our horses are treated in a dignified manner throughout their lives.” “The Jockey Club’s involvement and support of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a natural extension of our other ongoing efforts in the area of Thoroughbred aftercare,” said James L. Gagliano, The Jockey Club’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “The accreditation and proper funding for aftercare facilities will greatly enhance the well-being of our equine athletes, and we encourage other groups and individuals from all segments of our sport to support this Alliance.” "Thoroughbred aftercare is something that touches us all," said Nick Nicholson, President and CEO of Keeneland. "We are proud to do our part, and I know that virtually everyone else will be equally proud to do theirs in order to make the TAA an ongoing success."

The TAA, a 501 (c) (6) non-profit organization with a 501 (c) (3) subsidiary, will fill out its staff and provide additional updates in the coming months. The TAA offices will be based in Lexington, Ky.
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Photo by Cecilia Felix

The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit Release Hoof Care DVD & Horse and Owner of The Day

The Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit’s Shoeing and Hoof Care Committee is now offering a free educational DVD. The Hoof: Inside and Out examines the physiology of the equine hoof and demonstrates proper care and shoeing techniques. “This DVD provides some basic information that will be helpful to owners, trainers, grooms, and anyone else involved with the racehorse, to have a better understanding of the hoof and its care.”
The 65-minute DVD, which was produced by the Keeneland Association’s broadcast services department under the direction of G.D. Hieronymus, includes seven segments:
Introduction and Overview, Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, Physiology — The Equine Limb, Basic Hoof Care and Trimming, The Basics of Horse Shoeing, Types of Shoes,
Farrier’s Role and Communication (with Trainers and Owners). The video is available for download (at no charge) from the summit’s website at http://www.grayson-jockeyclub.org/summitdisplay.asp. (Note: this is a large file download.) A DVD copy of The Hoof: Inside and Out can be obtained free of charge (limit one per customer) by contacting Cathy McNeeley, The Jockey Club’s administrative assistant for industry initiatives, at (859) 224-2728 or cmcneeley@jockeyclub.com.

Horse of the Day & Owner----- Mind Ya Bizness & Gillian Stupples

"Mind Ya Bizness" aka "Biz" is a registered 5 yr old paint stallion that Gillian Stupples came across in her travels about an hour outside of her hometown in Nov of 2007. Gillian says he was probably a couple of weeks away from death. He was so emaciated he could barely stand, his front legs were buckled and shaking. Someone had shot Mind Ya Bizness in the hind end and the wound was rotting and had maggots in it. Somehow, Biz trusted Gillian and allowed her to dig her hand into the wound twice daily to clean it out and she reports "he never made a fuss. He would stand perfectly".

Gillian was in for a bigger surprise, when after a couple months she realized he was a stallion. Biz's testicles had shrivelled up due to the emaciation, so she had assumed he was a gelding. "One day a couple of months after I got him home I was putting on his blanket and saw them hanging there much to my surprise"! Gillian reports that Biz is fat and happy and has his first baby on the ground, a colt out of a thoroughbred mare Betty Blue was named Cash Bizness. Biz is used as Gillian's trail horse.

Jockey Club Program Fund Benefits Charities & Horse and Owner of the Day

Matt Iuliano, Vice President of Registration Services at The Jockey Club wants to remind those that are registering their foals in the coming months to utilize the Retirement Checkoff Program. The program benefits two organizations that provide post-racing care for Thoroughbreds. They are matching funds dollar to dollar up to $ 200,000 in 2009. The two charities that are benefiting from this program are Thoroughbred Charities of America(TCA) and Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). Visit the website at http://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/ for more details or call 800-444-8521

Horse and Owner of the Day-- Byeairmail and Karan Kees :

Byeairmail born 2001, rescued 2008

Last week I asked for readers to send in pictures of their off the track race horses or horses found on auction lots and saved from slaughter, and share their stories. Our inaugural OTTB (off the track thoroughbred) is Byeairmail a Breeders Cup nominated 8 year old, beautiful bay mare. Byeairmail earned $ 26,000 during her racing career and then went on to be an unsuccessful broodmare, as her story is that she was found on a feedlot after losing her last two foals.

Byeairmail now named Rhoda was rescued by Columbia Basin Equine Rescue, in Yakima, WA. Byeairmail was gifted to Karan Kees by a wonderful lady named "Kay" for Karan's 50th birthday. Karan says Rhoda was the best present ever, and that she loves her more than life. Karan and Byeairmail reside at the Bluebird Bluff Farm in Spokane, WA were they enjoy trail riding and it took no time at all to have a race broke TB and broodmare adapt to their new life together. Karan says "she will be LOVED till her last day". To learn more about Columbia Basin Equine Rescue go to http://www.columbiabasinequinerescue.org/