Tag: Horse Care

Schosberg Celebrates Retirement, Will Match TAA Donations Up To $1,000 On Dec. 30

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Rick Schosberg has pledged to match all donations up to $1,000 made to the TAA on Dec. 30, 2022. A veteran horse trainer, Schosberg intends to kick off his first day of retirement from training by supporting a cause about which he is deeply passionate— Thoroughbred aftercare. After 35 years, 5,973 starts, and over $38 million in earnings, the New York horseman ran his final race Dec. 29 at Aqueduct with the stakes placed filly, Silken Dollar (NY).

Schosberg's participation in racing extends far beyond the shed row. He currently serves as president of New York aftercare initiatives TAKE THE LEAD and Take 2, first vice president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and a member of the TAA Board of Directors. As he transitions out of training, Schosberg is eager to turn his full attention to promoting responsible aftercare and other industry initiatives to support the longevity of the sport and the safety of its Thoroughbred athletes.

“Funding aftercare should be a top priority for every industry participant,” said Schosberg. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does a great job vetting aftercare organizations to ensure the safety of retired Thoroughbreds, but the industry must envision more unique and creative funding mechanisms to generate more resources for the retirees that have so gallantly kept the sport going. I hope you'll join me in donating today to the TAA's year-end giving campaign.”

“Congratulations to Rick on his retirement from training,” said TAA Operations Consultant, Stacie Clark Rogers. “While one door closes, we are so eager to see all the good that is to come from having him focused on advocating for aftercare and improving the sport. What better way to celebrate his first day of retirement than supporting the TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign.”

TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign commenced November 29th and is scheduled to conclude New Year's Eve. Those wishing to support the TAA, its 81 accredited organizations, and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA's website or text DONATE to 56651. During the Holiday Giving Campaign, TAA is also offering donors the benefit of sending digital holiday cards to colleagues, friends, and loved ones.

Throughout the end of the year, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will continue to host special one-day only donation matches with some of horse racing's biggest names. For more chances to double your donation, watch the TAA's social media, website, and industry advertisements for the next Holiday Giving match day announcement.

To learn more and donate to the TAA's Holiday Giving campaign, visit: ThoroughbredAftercare.org/HolidayCampaign.

About the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Based in Lexington, KY, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders' Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $28.1 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations comprised of approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.

The post Schosberg Celebrates Retirement, Will Match TAA Donations Up To $1,000 On Dec. 30 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Multiple Stakes-Winning Digger Still Teaching Life Lessons A Decade After His Final Race

When a graded stakes-placed dark bay gelding named Digger crossed the finish line third in the 2011 Mister Diz at Pimlico Race Course, his connections knew it was time for the veteran of 39 starts to turn the page and look to a new life beyond the racetrack.

It was then that he was sent to New Vocations – a non-profit that retrains and rehomes retired racehorses – and adopted by Verena Brassfield to spend the rest of his days on a tranquil 600-acre farm in Tennessee.

“I've always had a thing for Thoroughbreds and I couldn't ask for a better horse,” said Brassfield. “I had a Thoroughbred before him who passed away, and at first, I didn't want another horse. But then someone gave my husband the website for New Vocations, and the first picture I saw was my baby. I said, 'That's him.' A week after I applied, I got a call that I was approved.”

Digger, a Maryland-bred son of Yonaguska, made his first outing as a juvenile in 2006 and graduated at fourth asking by an impressive 9 1/2 lengths that December at Laurel Park. As a sophomore, he captured three more stakes at Laurel in the Deputed Testamony by a dominating 11 3/4 lengths, the Northern Dancer and the Jennings Handicap to close out the year.

In 2008, Digger moved north to the NYRA circuit, where he scored a pair of victories at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. The following year saw his greatest Empire State successes when he earned four victories at NYRA tracks, led by a determined score in the Gravesend to cap his productive campaign.

Ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Digger showed his typical frontrunning tactics and raced with Pashito the Che tracking close in second. Digger put 1 1/2 lengths between him and Pashito the Che at the stretch call and was able to fend off his determined rival by a nose in a final time of 1:11.66 for six furlongs over the inner dirt.

Digger earned one more stakes victory to kick off his 2010 campaign with a 3 3/4-length victory in Laurel Park's Fire Plug, and visited the winner's circle for the last time in March 2011 before owner Repole Stable and trainer Bruce Brown decided to retire the evergreen veteran at age 7.

“I watched the replays of his races and if someone had told me then that one day he would be mine, I would have told them they were crazy,” Brassfield said. “He was a good racehorse, and he could run, and still can. When he takes off in the paddock, he leaves everybody behind.”

Digger was sent to one of New Vocations' Ohio facilities where he was cared for until Brassfield saw his posting and applied for adoption in the spring of 2012. It was not long before she was approved, and Digger found his forever home. While Digger needed a great deal of patience and commitment to learn how to be ridden beyond racing, Brassfield was determined to help the beloved gelding settle down and enjoy his retirement.

New Vocations, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded by Dot Morgan in 1992 and is one of 81 facilities accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), an accrediting body that fundraises and awards funds to its accredited organizations throughout the year.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and its horsemen support the efforts of the TAA with each owner who participates at a NYRA racetrack donating $10 per start to Thoroughbred aftercare. Additionally, horsemen donate 1.5 percent of the purchase price of horses claimed on the circuit to the TAA and to the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's (NYTHA) TAKE THE LEAD program, which provides veterinary exams and the funds for transportation and retraining costs for horses at NYRA racetracks.

“Digger was donated to our program on Feb. 5, 2012, by Mike Repole and was in our program for four months before he was adopted,” said Anna Ford, the Thoroughbred Program Director for New Vocations. “He was a very classy guy.”

Brassfield said Digger has been the best teacher she could ask for.

“He's so happy, but in the beginning, he was crazy,” said Brassfield, with a laugh. “He was headstrong and if the boy doesn't like you, you'll know it. He's honest, and I said, 'Even if I can't ever ride him, he has his forever home.' He gives me everything I need just by being here. He taught me more than any horse could have taught me.”

10 years after stepping off the racetrack and with much patience and gradual improvements, Digger enjoys some light riding and flatwork and has settled in beautifully to his retirement. Brassfield describes Digger as “a puppy,” his gentle nature and intelligence allowing him to teach even the youngest of horse lovers.

“I started training him and working with him every day,” said Brassfield. “He's good with kids – another boarder at the farm says Digger is the only horse she trusts with her 3-year-old daughter. He's not spooky, he's willing and there's nothing I can't throw at him that's he's not willing to accept. He has a sense of humor and likes things a certain way.”

Digger, who once ran Beyer Speed Figures exceeding 100, leads a quieter life these days, enjoying his time out of the spotlight and with his devoted owner. Though he is a bit limited in his abilities under tack, Digger enjoys the occasional trail ride and flatwork, along with his time to himself in his large paddock with a herd of friends.

“He does trail riding and we did lessons for a little dressage, but other than that, he's leisure and pleasure. He has 30 or 40 acres to roam with about eight other horses. He loves it and loves being out there,” Brassfield said. “All the mares in the pasture are his according to him. He has made one friend that came two months ago, a Quarter Horse that he gets along with. But really, he gets along with all the horses.”

Brassfield said her relationship with Digger has been one of the greatest privileges of her life.

“I call him 'Schatzi,' which in German means 'treasure,'” said Brassfield. “When I go out to get him, I call him the love of my life. I'm the lucky one to have found him. I swear to God, he gave me a chance, and that's the only way this worked. I count my blessings that I've had him for over 10 years now. We have a good time and I'm so happy I have him.”

New Vocations, which operates nine facilities in six states with their main office located in Lexington, K.Y., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization accredited by both the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA). Since its inception in 1992, New Vocations has placed over 8,000 retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses into new homes at the conclusion of their racing careers. To learn more about New Vocations and/or to make a donation, visit www.horseadoption.com.

The post Multiple Stakes-Winning Digger Still Teaching Life Lessons A Decade After His Final Race appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Horowitz On OTTBs Presented by Excel Equine: Finding New Messages For Helping Retired Racehorses

If there's one thing that's predictable when it comes to horses, it's that they're unpredictable. And, that's a big part of their intrigue and attraction.

In 2022, a year when crowds returned to racetracks at full capacity, an 80-1 longshot won the Kentucky Derby and a once-in-a-generation star emerged that was worthy enough to be mentioned in the same breath as Secretariat.

The same could be said about retired racehorses in 2022. At the beginning of the year, I could never have predicted I'd be covering the following incredible storylines.

These stories give much for the horse racing industry to celebrate, and that's just what I've presented in my once-a-month column. There are racehorses that now compete at horse shows, give lessons to children, provide therapy, and are beloved by their owners much like they were by their fans when at the track.

However, when it comes time for the horse racing industry to craft a message about retired racehorses, unfortunately, it's become entirely predictable. From racing TV crews that showed up for the Thoroughbred Makeover to panels about aftercare to almost every time people in racing that have a platform to make a difference start talking about retired racehorses, it goes something like this: “Aftercare is so important. It's so great that these horses can have second careers.”

And, that's usually the end of the conversation, the end of the story, the end of the lip service that needs to be paid to an issue that the racing industry (at least) talks about being so important.

Just to illustrate how absurd and unproductive this surface-level messaging is, even from the leading aftercare organizations in the country, imagine turning on a football game and remarking, “It's so great that Tony Romo can have a second career as an announcer.” No shit. Most athletes, human or equine, generally retire from sport at a relatively young age with some degree of talent that can and hopefully will be utilized because they have a whole lot of life still in front of them. Or, imagine attending a conference about cancer research and the messaging stops at, “Cancer research is so important.” Cool. What's next?

So, it's no wonder that after Dave Johnson and Tom Durkin brought the house down in the “Storytellers of the Game – Racing's Legendary Announcers” panel at the 2022 Global Symposium on Racing, most of the attendees shuffled out of Salon A&B before the “Life After the Track – Second Careers & Retirement” panel.

Jessica Paquette, the announcer at Parx and a “Thoroughbred aftercare advocate,” which she includes in her Twitter profile, posted, “I am disappointed by how lightly attended the Aftercare panel is. This is an issue that impacts every stakeholder in racing and we should all be learning how we can do better for the horses.”

To which Harris Auerbach, the well-respected managing partner of M.Auerbach, LLC. who is also a great supporter of aftercare, responded, “Not to make any excuses as I think it's one of the more important panels at the symposium, but the panel itself (even with Joell [Dunlap] who is a superstar) didn't exactly have the panache of previous editions. Like it or not, it's the sizzle that sells.  Always.”

With all this in mind, here are a few ideas that horse racing can embrace to create some “sizzle” about aftercare. But, first, here are a few ideas to stop embracing.

  • Stop leading off with “aftercare is so important.” Frankly, if someone in horse racing doesn't realize this by now, they either don't care to or never will.
  • Stop talking about how when horses retire how important it is that they find their “forever home.” Breeders don't talk about how special their baby horses are and hope they find their forever home at a yearling sale. It's unrealistic. Racing connections with retired racehorses should talk about finding the “right home” for their horses. The “right home” may end up changing depending on the circumstances. Racing connections hardly ever provide a “forever home” to their horses, so why do they expect people getting their horses off the track to do the same?

Now for some new ideas that will hopefully create some sizzle.

  • Start talking about what retired racehorses do the same way the industry talks about what racehorses do — their performances, their abilities, their strengths and weaknesses, their personalities, their work ethic. That means learning about what they actually do (for example, see The Friday Show about “What Makes Up The Thoroughbred Makeover?”), rather than just lumping anything that's not racing under the vague umbrella of “second careers.” There are plenty of stories to create sizzle and capture an audience's attention. This column is a testament to that.
  • Start keeping track of racehorses beyond their racing prime. That means that The Jockey Club should make the effort to maintain a database of Thoroughbreds that doesn't go cold after horses' last races. The Thoroughbred Incentive Program is a start toward a more complete tracking of retired racehorses.
  • Start taking credit for the influence that the Thoroughbred breed has on other breeds. Sporthorse athletes, particularly eventers, search for horses with Thoroughbred blood, even if they're crosses of breeds and not pure Thoroughbreds. So, racing breeders and auction houses can market to an even wider audience and can celebrate the successes racing bloodlines have beyond the track.
  • Start creating syndicates for retired racehorses. Many syndicates, like MyRacehorse and other racing clubs, are about the experiences that racehorses provide, such as going to the track for their races or training. Seeing your horse competing in a cool atmosphere at a horse show could be similarly exciting.
  • Start offering direct financial support to people caring for and working with retired racehorses, rather than focusing fundraising efforts solely on non-profit organizations. More and more, including more than half of the horses that competed at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover, OTTBs are acquired directly from racing connections rather than through an aftercare organization or reseller. Support for retired racehorses can come in the form of prize money through horse shows, such as what Bally's Arapahoe Park offers at local shows in Colorado. Imagine a big-money Breeders' Cup for Thoroughbred sporthorses that could be supported through nominations by breeders of their horses, similar to how the races are funded.
  • Start having horse racing media cover the breed as a whole and following the racing stars beyond the track. For example, Whitmore was just as intriguing competing at the Thoroughbred Makeover as he was racing at the Breeders' Cup.

Some of these ideas, at the very least, may keep people in the room for a panel about aftercare, because Auerbach is spot-on about what is needed for that to happen. It's a safe bet that racehorses, whether retired or still racing, will be part of compelling stories in 2023. Let's celebrate them and use them as a catalyst to give back to the horses that give their all for our enjoyment.

Announcing horse races inspired Jonathan Horowitz to become an advocate for off-track Thoroughbreds, as well as to learn to event on OTTBs and to expand his announcing of and writing about equine sports to horse shows around the United States. He also announces a variety of sports around the Denver-metro area, where he and his wife, Ashley, run the Super G Sporthorses eventing barn. He can be reached on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube at @jjhorowitz.

The post Horowitz On OTTBs Presented by Excel Equine: Finding New Messages For Helping Retired Racehorses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Co-Founder Of Ocala’s Peterson Smith Equine Hospital, Dr. John Peterson Passes

Dr. John Peterson, co-founder of the Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care in Ocala, Fla., died on Dec. 25, 2022, according to an announcement on the company's social media channels.

“His dedication to the company and to the veterinary community as a whole will be fondly remembered by all,” the announcement reads. “We offer our deep condolences to his family.”

Dr. Peterson launched the practice in 1981 with Dr. Johnny Mac Smith, and continued seeing patients until the end of 2017.

From 1981–1982, Peterson Smith operated out of Dr. Peterson's farm. During this era, the decision was made to build an equine hospital. The grand opening of the hospital was July 10, 1983, at 4747 SW 60th Avenue, Ocala, Florida. This new facility was comprised of a single building consisting of a front office, offices for five veterinarians, a small laboratory, one treatment room with an x-ray machine, eight stalls and an apartment. The original surgery barn was built in 1984 and, over time, the medicine barn, sports medicine barn and an isolation barn were added.

In 1983, the practice started an internship program and became a teaching hospital. Since then, Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care has maintained a minimum of one intern, but has mentored as many as eight interns at one time. Peterson Smith also became the first private equine practice to start a surgical residency program in 1983, which has developed the skills of many successful surgeons.

In 1999, the vision to create a reproduction center became a reality with the construction of the Equine Reproduction Center in Summerfield, Florida, now known as the Advanced Fertility Center. In 2007, the administrative building of the main hospital was renovated and expanded to create more office space.

“Over the years, he had a profound impact on the practice, with his bold vision shaping us into who we are today,” the announcement continues. “Dr. Peterson's significant and lasting contributions to the equine veterinary industry are many. None more important than the role his leadership and mentorship played in the lives and careers of the numerous veterinarians and support staff privileged to work alongside him throughout his career. His dedicated work will be remembered by his many clients and the equine industry as a whole.”

The post Co-Founder Of Ocala’s Peterson Smith Equine Hospital, Dr. John Peterson Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights