Tag: Horse Care

According to a report published Aug. 22 by Centro de Periodismo Investigativo, Puerto Rico's Camarero Racetrack has a serious problem with equine fatalities. An English translation of the report indicates that 108 horses were registered as euthanized there between January and May this year, up from 94 the previous year. The report indicated 55% of euthanasia cases in both years were due to fractures in horses' legs.

The report goes on to indicate that at least 675 euthanasias of horses have been reported to racing authorities there since 2021, 379 of which were put down due to fractures.

It's not clear from the report how record-keeping at Puerto Rico's only track may differ from reporting to the Equine Injury Database from mainland racetracks, which track racing injuries that result in a fatality within 72 hours of a racing event, or from state racing commissions, which monitor fatalities (usually, though not always euthanasias) from different causes in racing, training, or due to illness.

An infographic shows that of those 675 deaths, 57 were attributed to arthritis, 42 to laminitis, 26 to tendonitis and 18 to colic.

The report also suggests that the use of performance-enhancing drugs may be common by trainers who are able to evade regulatory scrutiny and import substances from South and Central America, in addition to the mainland United States. In 2016, trainer Gilberto Escobar was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Control and the Department of Homeland Security for smuggling medications into Puerto Rico for use on racehorses. Escobar pleaded guilty in 2017 and is back training, per the investigative report.

Welfare advocates on the mainland have expressed concern for the safety and welfare of horses that are claimed in cheap races and moved to Puerto Rico, which does not have the infrastructure to support a large-scale sanctuary or retraining facility for horses at the completion of their racing careers. Recently, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, a non-profit dedicated to adoption on the island and the return of Thoroughbreds back to the mainland, announced it was running out of funding and could no longer accept new horses into its herd.

Read more at Centro de Periodismo Investigativo

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Thoroughbred Charities of America is honored to receive a generous bequest from the Cathy D. Perry Trust. The bequest was presented to TCA board members and staff by Cathy's son Brandon Perry and daughter-in-law Diannah Perry in the winner's circle at Saratoga Racecourse earlier in August.

Cathy was a devoted mother to Brandon, an immensely successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, and an engaged resident of Ocala, Fla. Cathy, and her former husband Roger, founded Weisheimer Cos., operator of the Petzazz pet superstore chain, which later was sold to PetSmart in the early 90's. Upon her passing, Cathy had stipulated in her will that a portion of her estate be given to charity, however she did not cite specific entities. Brandon and Diannah, who are active in the Thoroughbred racing, named 29 charitable beneficiaries, including several Thoroughbred-industry related organizations as well as other animal welfare organizations and many Ocala, Fla. community organizations. TCA will use the bequest to support grantmaking to organizations approved during its 2023 grants cycle.

“The Perry's support of TCA speaks to their commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare and to the well-being of backstretch and farm workers,” said Mike McMahon president of TCA. “They believe in leading by example and encourage others to support the charitable needs of our industry.”

“Diannah and I have been supporters of the TCA, through the purchase of seasons at the annual Stallion Season Auction for years and are extremely proud to donate to them now and help make a scalable difference,” said Brandon Perry.

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds to charities in the Thoroughbred industry that provide a better life for Thoroughbreds, both during and after their racing careers, by supporting qualified repurposing and retirement organizations and by helping the people who care for them. In 2022, TCA granted over $783,000 to 74 approved charities working within Thoroughbred retraining, rehoming and retirement; backstretch and farm worker services, research and equine-assisted therapy. During the last three decades, TCA has granted over $26 million to more than 200 charities that successfully meet the criteria set forth in its annual grant application. TCA administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds in need of emergency aid. TCA manages Cómo, a mobile app founded by Godolphin, that connects racing industry employees to the vital services they need through a network of racetrack chaplains and Thoroughbred industry organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).

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As the American Horse Council (AHC) continues to collect responses from the 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey, two of the more industry-specific surveys are being released to shine a spotlight on impacts horses make within their communities.

The equine-assisted services, known also as equine-assisted therapy or interventions, involves incorporating horses into therapeutic and developmental activities. These activities support individuals with various physical, emotional, cognitive or psychological challenges. These services are conducted by trained professionals such as therapists, counselors or educators, in collaboration with horses. It is a sector of the industry that has a large individual impact, while its cumulative economic impact has yet to be measured…until this year.

“Equine-assisted services is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the equine industry,” says Julie Broadway, president of the AHC. “It goes almost without saying that horses improve the body, mind and spirit of those they are around.

The Equine-Assisted Services survey will be distributed via the AHC through partner organizations like PATH Intl. EAGLA, Horses for Mental Health, Certified Horsemanship Association, American Hippotherapy Association, and many more. Plus, we will be sharing this on social media and through press releases to hopefully invite individual practitioners to contribute. Find the EAS survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AHC_EAS_Survey

The impact of horses as part of the world of academia is mostly measured in terms of graduates with degrees in equine science on their path towards veterinary school. However, equines in academia have an impact on more industries outside of the veterinarian and professional trainer industry – including researchers, and other niche aspects of the industry. Horses have been a part of college programs for many years and are seeing an increase as part of high school and even grade school programs. Because of this growth, the AHC will be distributing economic impact surveys to schools of all levels with horses as part of their academia.

“We are so excited to learn about the leaders of tomorrow's equine industry, and there's no better way than to get statistics on the on the faculty and students in schools studying equine-related programs,” says Broadway. “We believe there are 200+ schools with equine-related programs, and we hope to quantify the impacts those schools and their students could make on the future of our industry.”

These surveys are being circulated by Equine Science Society, IHSA, NEAAA, and others. But feel free to contact AHC at info@horsecouncil.org if you'd like to receive the survey.

Responses for the general economic impact survey have climbed to over 13,000 since its launch in April. The 2023 Equine Economic Impact Survey is live until September 29, with more specific groups being reported than ever before. Also, for the first time, responders are automatically given a coupon for 15% off their purchase of any books, courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books, and they are eligible to win one of many prizes, including a year of free grain from Purina or Nutrena, a John Deere Z545R ZTrak Mower and online courses with Texas A&M University.

The Horse Owner Survey and Horse Industry Supplier Survey are both available on the AHC website, found here: https://horsecouncil.org/economic-impact-study/. To be included in mailings for the more specific surveys, email Julie Broadway: jbroadway@horsecouncil.org.

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In hills above Fallbrook, Calif., about 40 miles northeast of Del Mar Race Track, several horses who once competed with distinction at Del Mar are in the process of being turned into pleasure horses through Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation, which has partnered with CARMA for nearly a decade.

Red King, who won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in 2020 for trainer Phil D'Amato, is about to take that competitive spirit on the road, to the prestigious Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky, where Sandia Creek's Kiersti Wylie will show him in the dressage and freestyle disciplines.

It's a new challenge for Red King, but throughout his life he's been game for a challenge. The son of champion male grass horse English Channel raced 43 times, winning eight – including the G3 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita – and earning $586,555.

He – and familiar names like Mr. Roary, Red Storm Risen, and Scarto – all are currently being re-trained at Sandia Creek to begin their post-racing careers.

“First they go through quarantine, then we buddy them up with a horse in a pasture that's a good leader,” Wylie said of the initial stages of re-training. “We take our time, progressing to hand walking, then walking on a trail.”

The lessons take. On a recent visit to Sandia Creek, all four were seen as readily amenable to commands, docile, giving off no indication they were once high-spirited racehorses.

Mr. Roary, a gelding by Scat Daddy, won four of 28 starts, including the G3 Eddie D. for turf sprinters for trainer George Papaprodromou at Santa Anita in 2017, and later that year competed in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

Red Storm Risen, a 6-year-old gelding, won optional-claiming races at both the summer and fall meetings at Del Mar in 2021 for D'Amato before he was retired, having won three of 15 starts. He is about to be adopted out to 18-year-old Reese Reener, a resident of Temecula who was part of Sandia Creek's internationally recognized Pony Club. Like Red King, Red Storm Risen has been trained to be an eventing horse.

“Reese's very first horse was a Thoroughbred/Appaloosa cross,” Wylie said. “Now she's ready for her next horse and to go to the next level.”

Scarto, a gelding by Paynter, won twice at Del Mar in the summer of 2020 for trainer Mike Puype prior to a runner-up finish in the G2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita. He retired with five wins in 11 starts and earnings of more than $200,000. Like Red King, Scarto won races for a partnership headed by Little Red Feather Racing.

All horses being re-trained make full use of the facility.

“We have 34 acres, but access to over 2,000 acres,” Wylie said.

Funding for CARMA, which supports organizations like Sandia Creek Ranch Auxiliary Foundation and helps facilitate second careers for horses like Mr. Roary, Red King, Red Storm Risen, and Scarto, come from private donations as well as CARMA's annual fundraiser, CARMAthon, to be held Saturday, Aug. 26 at Del Mar, with generous support from FanDuel TV and TVG.

For more information, go to carma4horses.org

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