It's been a little while since we've updated everyone on Mr. Park and his journey to the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover! As most of you know, the Retired Racehorse Project had to push back the Makeover due to the pandemic, so he will actually be competing against the other 2020 horses in October of 2021. This was a bit of a bummer, but I deeply feel it was the most responsible choice for the competition to make. We support them 100% as we know it was a super difficult decision.
Tag: aftercare
Relationship Building Key To Second Stride Success
Kim Smith founded Second Stride, Inc., in 2005 to assist horses and people involved in Thoroughbred racing by capitalizing on her vast network of people involved in the industry. The program, which adopts out retired racehorses into second careers, is based out of Moserwood Farm in Crestwood, KY. The program typically has between 15 and 20 horses in its care at one time, reports the Daily Racing Form.
Smith works diligently to make placing horses in the program as easy as possible. Owners retiring horses to the program need not complete the transfer paperwork themselves; the program also takes horses in on very short notice and there is no mandatory monetary donation for horses entering the program, though most owners and trainers will offer one, Smith says.
The goal is to make it easy for those in the industry to do the right thing—and to help as many horses as possible. Smith is very focused on relationship building, knowing that if she takes on a horse that requires extensive rehabilitation, down the road, that same owner may also offer her a sound horse that is retiring that needs no rehab.
Horses accepted into Second Stride need not be recently retired, either; the program accepts broodmares as well as stallions, which are gelded upon entering the program. Assisted by many volunteers, horses are typically adopted quickly; the program has rehomed over 1,000 horses since its inception, placing them in homes all over the country and in a variety of disciplines.
With the increase in Thoroughbred-specific shows and events like the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover, many horses retiring sound are being sold privately. Smith said she wishes more owners and trainers would consider donating their sound horses to nonprofit aftercare organizations. Sound horses can be adopted out for a higher fee than those horses with limited second career options, helping fund the horses that need longer-term care or more rehabilitation before they are rideable and able to be adopted out, she notes,
For more information about Second Stride, Inc., click here.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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TAA Named Official Aftercare Partner of 2020 Breeders’ Cup
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) has been named the official aftercare partner of the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland. The TAA is also an official charity of the Breeders' Cup.
The TAA fundraises to award annual grants to accredited Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits. At this year's Breeders' Cup, the TAA is asking connections of Breeders' Cup entrants to pledge a percentage of their potential Breeders' Cup earnings to the TAA. Those interested in making a pledge can contact the TAA office at info@thoroughbredaftercare.org, 859-224-2756 or by visiting ThoroughbredAftercare.org/Pledge.
“It is our privilege to see Thoroughbreds at their finest moments in the Breeders' Cup World Championships and it is this industry's collective responsibility to see to their aftercare when the celebrations are over,” said Dora Delgado, TAA board member and executive vice president and chief racing officer at Breeders' Cup. “As a proud founding member and supporter of the TAA's mission and vision, we partner with them in their work and dedication to Thoroughbred aftercare.”
During the World Championships, the TAA will present the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes (G2), formerly the Marathon Stakes. In addition, the TAA has partnered with TVG to be a part of the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), the feature race on Future Stars Friday Nov. 6.
As a seed money donor, the Breeders' Cup has been a supporter of the TAA since its inception, along with Keeneland and The Jockey Club.
“While this year's event may be different, we are honored to be a partner of the Breeders' Cup and we are grateful for their ongoing support,” TAA President John Phillips said. “Aftercare is our responsibility to the horse and our obligation to the sport. We encourage those who are racing at the highest level in the World Championships to give back to secure a future for our horses and for our industry.”
Learn more here.
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On Aftercare: For Portal, Connections Who Care Came Through
Evergreen Stables was a claiming partnership of individuals, friends, family and connections–not all of whom knew each other–with trainer Jordan Blair. On May 23, 2019, Blair claimed Portal (Arch), a late foal of 2014, at Churchill Downs for $40,000.
“Portal was a super cool horse and he was being trained by a good friend Ian Wilkes,” said Blair. “We had been watching him and he was running well. Plus, he is a beautiful, striking almost black horse and had a neat personality.”
Portal won the next two times out in allowance races at Churchill and Ellis Park and gave the owners their most exciting wins ever as an entity. In his fourth race for Evergreen, at Keeneland, Portal didn’t finish and was vanned off after being pulled up on the backstretch by Miquel Mena. In his lifetime, Portal earned $161,513 in 18 starts.
“He took a bad step and they brought him back on the ambulance but he walked off fine,” said Blair. “He fractured his sesamoid with a clean break. It was a career-ending, but not life threatening injury nor was it recommended for surgery.
“We started what we knew would be a long recovery at the barn and after a few weeks brought him up to Brian and Jamie Hernandez’s barn for continued rehab.”
There was never any question that Evergreen was going to pay for Portal for as long as necessary until he found a home.
“It is so important to us and for the industry that owners keep their commitment to the horse,” said Debbie Appel, a partner in Evergreen and currently co-owner of Surfside Stables that also has horses with Blair. “We didn’t know most of the other people in Evergreen but everyone agreed, without question, that we would see our commitment to Portal through to the end.”
After a few months of stall rest, the Blairs began calling and emailing aftercare organizations to place Portal, but that proved difficult.
“He was turned down by every aftercare we called,” said Blair. “The injury was the main problem. No one felt confident in the vet’s prognosis which was that he would be sound for flat work, dressage or trail riding.
“Finally, through Jamie Hernandez, we were introduced to Amelia Foster who buys and sells off-track Thoroughbreds.”
Foster, too, was struck by Portal’s looks and drawn in by his friendly demeanor.
“He is super fancy and at first I was thinking of what a great sale prospect he could be because he was eligible for the Thoroughbred Makeover,” said Foster. “But when I learned more about the diagnosis, care and meticulous rehabilitation process to date, I decided to keep him for myself and take any pressure off of him.
“The trainer and owners had done everything right–to the letter–for this horse and if they were not confident that I was going to do the same, Portal would not have come to me.”
Today, Portal is learning dressage and also teaching novice riders the basics. The personality that had endeared himself to so many people along the way only blossomed and he is one of the easiest horses at Foster’s Cannonbrook Farms to ride.
“When I first got on him, I could not believe how gentle and smart he acted,” said Foster. “I said to myself that this is a testament to how he was handled for the first six years of his life.”
Foster was not put off by Portal’s injury or the vet’s somewhat guarded prognosis.
“In my experience, if you follow the rules and do what the vet says, horses will heal,” said Foster. “Plus, I have no agenda for him. He is going to tell me when he is ready to do more. So far, he has never taken a lame step.”
“I am thrilled whenever Jordan sends me pictures of Portal in his new life,” said Appel. “While the partners in Evergreen were all supportive of his efforts, Portal was saved because of Jordan’s commitment and dedication to him. I was at Keeneland for Portal’s race and witnessed first hand how deeply Portal’s injury affected Jordan. His care of and commitment to Portal, as well as to all the other horses in his barn, is unparalleled.”
“Myself, my wife, my clients, we all really care about where the horses go after racing,” said Blair. “We love the animals, and we love the game. But we got into the game because we love the animal.
“Portal was a lot of fun and brought a lot of joy for a lot of people. We couldn’t be any happier about where he is now.”
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