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Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Named Official Aftercare Partner Of 2021 Breeders’ Cup

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the Official Aftercare Partner of the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is also an Official Charity of the Breeders' Cup, along with aftercare partner California Retirement Management Account (CARMA).

During the World Championships, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present its Grade 2 namesake race, formerly the Marathon Stakes. In addition, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance 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. 5.

“We are delighted that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has joined with us again as our official aftercare partner of the World Championships, and by continuing their sponsorship of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes,” said Dora Delgado, Breeders' Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “As a foundation supporter, Breeders' Cup salutes the exemplary work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in approving aftercare organizations in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds following their racing careers.”

“It's a privilege to have the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance partnered with the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile again,” said Andrew Moore, Vice President Racing TVG/FanDuel Group. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does tremendous work and racehorse aftercare is a very important cause to the TVG team and all our viewers.”

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a presence on-site at Del Mar alongside CARMA. CARMA works with all 11 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations in the state of California to safely transition horses from California racetracks into the next phase of their lives.

“Hosting the Breeders' Cup in Del Mar provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the strength of California Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits,” said Lucinda Lovitt, Executive Director of CARMA. “CARMA is excited to partner with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at yet another Breeders' Cup World Championships.”

As a seed money donor, the Breeders' Cup has been a supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since inception.

“We are once again thrilled to be the Official Aftercare Partner of the Breeders' Cup, who was a founding member,” said Vice President Jeff Bloom. “The Breeders' Cup World Championships is our industry's premier showcase and an enormous opportunity for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to highlight the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the financial support we provide to the more than 81 accredited organizations throughout the country.”

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Study Indicates Bitless Bridles Not Necessarily Better Than Snaffles When It Comes To Equine Welfare

Some riders believe that riding a horse without a bit is kinder than traditional bitted options, but new research suggests this may not be the case. Results of a new study show bitless bridles can cause as much pain and pressure on the horse's face as a traditional noseband might, according to The Horse.

Tracy Bye with the University Centre Bishop Burton in Yorkshire, and student Nina Robinson used five university-owned horses in a study using three types of bridles: a bridle with a snaffle bit and regular noseband, a cross-under bitless bridle, and a sidepull bitless bridle. The nosebands on the bitless bridles were fitted to manufacturer instructions and the bridle with the snaffle was tightened to the “two finger” rule.

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Each bridle was fitted with pressure sensors under the crown piece and the noseband. The horses were worked for 30 minutes per day, three days in a row with the same rider, with each type of bridle.

The scientists found that the average amount of pressure on the nose was 65 percent higher with a sidepull bitless bridle than a snaffle-bit bridle. The cross-under bitless bridle had pressure that was 11 percent higher than a snaffle bridle. Compared to the snaffle, peak pressure on the nasal bones were 147 percent higher with the sidepull and 109 percent higher with the cross-under bridle compared with the snaffle.

Though peak pressures were high, they were not sustained, so it's unclear if they would cause damage. The team found that each noseband created pressure as high as that recommended for a tourniquet in human medicine. The scientists also noted that horses ridden in a cross-under bridle tended to hold their heads higher with their necks extended, which could contribute to back pain and poor performance.

The team concluded that the different styles merely transfer the pressure to other areas of the face. The ideal welfare solution may be teaching riders to use their hands differently rather than switch to any one particular type of equipment.

Sinkhole Horse Mr. Changue Retired, Seeking New Career

If you remember the name of 8-year-old claiming veteran Mr. Changue, it's probably because of one of the strangest days of his life. The Fort Erie mainstay was peacefully eating grass on the backstretch of the racetrack in the summer of 2019 when the ground gave way and swallowed him in a six-foot hole. A broken water main had created a sinkhole just where the chestnut was standing, and the next hour or so was a frantic race by trainer Ken Albu, his fellow trainers, and the Fort Erie Fire Department to get him out again.

Now, Albu is hoping he can become famous for something a little less harrowing.

After 65 starts, nine wins, 17 seconds and eight thirds, Albu and owner Sam Passero have decided to call it a day with Mr. Changue. The barn favorite won a claimer this summer but Albu said in recent weeks he could tell the horse's heart just wasn't in his job anymore.

“He just doesn't want to do it no more,” said Albu. “And I'm not going to hurt him to do it. Even though he's at the barn and wants to train every day, he goes out there and he's not performing to the top of his game. I know.”

Albu is now in the process of screening potential new homes for Mr. Changue. He said he has always made an effort to find new vocations for horses retiring from his barn, but this horse is special. He plans to create a sale or adoption contract that will give him first right of refusal if a new home doesn't work out. If he has to, Mr. Changue can live out his days with his old friend, but Albu thinks the horse may prefer to keep busy.

“He's a gentleman,” Albu said. “Anyone can feed him. He has a lovely disposition. He's an 8-year-old stallion and he's got a great disposition.

“I've had a lot of contacts — Long Run Retirement showed some interest in him. I've had so many calls. I just want him to go to a good home, a forever home. It's not really about the money for me; I don't even really want money for him, I want to make sure he has a good home for the rest of his life. Long Run is willing to accept him, but they're not able to accept a stallion. If I can find someone who can accommodate him and enjoy him, then that would be great.”

Mr. Changue during his sinkhole rescue. Photo courtesy Ken Albu

Albu has trained the horse since 2018 and admitted it will be hard not to see him in the barn every day — especially after that awful day two years ago.

“He's a resilient old bugger,” said Albu. “We got a back hoe to dig him out and then pretty much turned him around and walked him out. But he was in the ground for an hour or so. He handled it pretty well because he's a sensible guy. He didn't panic. He came out pretty much unscathed.”

In fact, 12 days later, Mr. Changue was tearing the barn down, ready to run, so Albu put him in the entries — and he won.

“He's kind of a special horse in my heart,” said Albu. “I thought we were going to lose him that day [he fell in the hole]. By the grace of God we didn't, and he was able to go on and have a great career here … I've been training for 22 years and he's one of the closest horses to my heart that I've ever had.”

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Does Your Horse Have Cushing’s? Researchers Need To Hear From You

Scientists at the University of Kentucky's Gluck Equine Research Center and the University College Dublin have partnered to create a large-scale, 12-month study to determine if blue light can be used to help horses suffering from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID or Cushing's Disease).

Dr. Barbara Anne Murphy, head of equine science at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin, and Dr. Amanda Adams of the Gluck Center are looking for horses to take part in the study to determine if exposure to blue light would minimize the development of the long, thick haircoat that is a hallmark of horses with PPID. Each participant will receive an Equilume light mask for their participation, whether their horse wears the mask or is a control horse.

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Owners or managers of horses with diagnosed PPID and that have a long, curly hair coat are invited to complete a short questionnaire by October 22 to see if they are eligible to participate. Medicated and unmedicated horses can apply.

The study will require monthly hair sample collection, as well as the completion of bi-monthly questionnaires and the provision of images.

Click here to complete the questionnaire