Thoroughbred retirement | Horse Racing Free Tips

2022 Accreditation Applications Now Available From Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

The 2022 application for accreditation by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is now available on OpenWater and can be accessed through ThoroughbredAftercare.org/Accreditation.

Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits interested in applying must complete the application by the closing date of April 1 at 6 p.m. ET. Since TAA accreditation is only granted for a specific period of time, organizations with accreditation status ending in 2021 that want to remain accredited need to re-apply.

Accreditation status is determined after a complete review of five areas of an aftercare organization: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Organizations passing the application review will be subject to site inspections of all facilities housing Thoroughbreds.

Organizations that receive accreditation are eligible to receive financial grants from the TAA, but prior grants awarded are no indication of potential future awards. In 2021 the TAA awarded $3.7 million to accredited organizations as grants earmarked specifically for equine care, totaling more than $24.5 million awarded since 2012.

Any organization interested in applying for TAA accreditation must fulfill the following five minimum requirements:

Organization must have a current status as a 501(c)(3) federal not-for-profit (U.S.) or must be a registered charity within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).
Organization must have been in operation for at least three years. The TAA will confirm operation information, including with the secretary of state or provincial business registry.
At time of application, organization must either (1) currently exclusively own and provide care for a minimum of 5 registered Thoroughbreds, or (2) currently exclusively own and provide care for at least 3-4 registered Thoroughbreds AND must have exclusively owned and provided care for at least 10 registered Thoroughbreds over the previous 12 months. Registered Thoroughbreds leased by the organization or owned by third parties at the same facility should not be included.
Organization must have a written euthanasia policy consistent with the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Organization, or a principal of the organization or individual directly related to the organization, shall not have any current legal proceedings pending against them which adversely impact the aftercare operations, the organization's standards of care, or the 501(c)(3) status of the organization.

For more information on the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accreditation process, please visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.

The post 2022 Accreditation Applications Now Available From Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: ‘When I Don’t See Them Returning To Prison, That Means Everything’

What inspires someone to fight for those who can't fight for themselves?

In the case of corrections officer Heidi Richards, she jokes that she has “selective hearing” when it comes to the word “No.” It took the horsewoman five long years to convince the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to implement an equine program at the Pleasant Valley State Prison, but Richards simply refused to give up.

“I kept on seeing inmates come back to prison,” Richards explained. “I fought so hard because I kept on seeing these kids come back. They were 20, 25, 30 years old and it's their second, third, fourth time coming back to prison. And I'm like, 'Why are you guys coming back to prison?' And they're like, 'Because you guys don't teach us anything.'”

Eight years later, Richards has founded a program that has seen zero of its graduates return to prison.

“About every three to four months I run their numbers, and when I don't see them returning to prison, that means everything,” Richards said. “Because it means every bit of hard work, every hour I donated to that program has paid off.”

A relative newcomer to the correctional system, Richards made the move from a position at Harris Ranch when her daughter was three years old. She wanted a job with more regular hours, and thought she might spend five years at the 40-hours-a-week gig.

Instead, Richards found she enjoyed the challenge.

Ten years in, Richards heard about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's Second Chances program, which offers inmates the opportunity to learn how to work with horses, and decided to capitalize on her own horse experience to bring the program to California.

The TRF backed her right away, but the initial challenge was in convincing the Pleasant Valley warden to allow Richards to implement the program. After five years of wading through the red tape, the next challenge was in applying for the CDCR's Integrative Programming Grants. Only 52 grants were awarded throughout the entire state of California, and though Richards' was approved, it didn't include enough funding to pay for a project manager to put the whole program together.

“They were like, 'Well, it looks like we can't do it,'” Richard recalled. “And I was like, 'Oh, no, well, we can. We'll do this. It's going to happen.'”

Richards logged over 700 volunteer hours building the program from scratch.

“A lot of people helped me when I was a kid; people in the horse industry gave me horses, gave me tack, gave me lessons for free,” Richards said. “There were people who took me up to endurance races when I was like, 'I don't know what the heck I'm doing, but I want to go do this race.' I had a lot of people volunteer their time to me and never charged me.

“I always said if I ever got the chance I wanted to give back too, so that's what I did.”

The program includes five of the TRF's herd of retired racehorses. The inmates, in groups of 15 at a time, care for the horses and take college-level classes in anatomy, injury treatment, nutrition, and other aspects of the care of horses. West Hills College pays the instructional fees, which opens the door to possible careers as farriers, veterinary assistants and caretakers.

“By doing this, this pulls them and this gives them something, an option to get out of the gang lifestyle,” said Richards. “It's something they've never even dreamed about, never even knew about, because most of the students I have in my class have never even touched a horse.”

Richards' efforts earned her the 2020 Correctional Officer of the Year Award from the CDCR. The award honors a person who serves as a positive role model and fosters an environment that supports a balance between professional development, professional job performance, and personal wellness.

Today, Richards is preparing to open similar programs at two more California prisons.

“I remember thinking, 'Maybe I could make a difference,'” she said. “When I got the first horse on the grounds, I was like, 'Okay, I did it.' And then to see my first class graduate and these guys go home, and not come back, that just means everything.”

The post Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: ‘When I Don’t See Them Returning To Prison, That Means Everything’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Alphabet Soup Lives On Under Careful Watch Of Donkey Protector

Twenty-five years after the nearly white and cleverly named Alphabet Soup made headlines by narrowly defeating the legendary Cigar in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Woodbine, his name and pedigree (Cozzene—Illiterate, by Arts and Letters) live on through his 18 crops of offspring that often sport equally creative monikers such as Egg Drop, Alpha Bettor, No Soup for You, Lentil, Soups On, Souper Douper and Vocabulary. The stallion himself also lives on, thanks to a lifetime of extraordinary care and perhaps because of his bromance with a different kind of equid.

Alphabet Soup turned 30 in March at Old Friends Equine Retirement, a hybrid living history museum and horsey petting zoo, in Georgetown, Ky. He has resided there since 2015 after being pensioned from his longtime stallion duties at Adena Springs about 30 miles northeast in Paris. Former stud barn mate Touch Gold — winner of the 1997 Belmont Stakes — is also at Old Friends. Awesome Again, another Adena Springs stalwart who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic before evolving into a breed-shaping sire, passed away at Old Friends at age 26 in December.

“When Adena Springs called and said they were going to let us take care of some of their horses — in particular Alphabet Soup — I was astonished,” said Michael Blowen, who founded Old Friends in 2003. “We were thrilled that they think so highly of us.”

The far-flung Adena Springs breeding and racing operation started by Frank Stronach, is revered for producing quality runners exemplified by seven Eclipse Awards as outstanding breeder. Before Thoroughbred aftercare moved to the forefront, Adena Springs established their own rehoming program for their former racers. Stronach fully funds the Adena Springs-connected horses that reside at Old Friends.

Soup at home

Alphabet Soup's glamorous looks were once summarized by Blowen as “the most gorgeous horse who ever stepped foot on the farm.” Paired with his exceptionally gentle nature, Alphabet Soup is reminiscent of a hornless unicorn. He quickly settled in to life as host to admiring fans.

“We hear the most amazing stories,” Blowen said. “Handicappers tell stories about cashing bets on him. Some people have pictures of his babies in their wallets. His former jockey [Hall of Famer] Chris McCarron visits all the time.”

Alphabet Soup met the farm's first resident donkey Gorgeous George when Blowen introduced the little long-ear to potential paddock mates. Gorgeous George showed particular interest in the famous racer and the two soon became inseparable. They share a water bucket and treats and when Alphabet Soup is led to and from the barn, Gorgeous George follows untethered.

“It is like watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace only better,” Blowen said. “George is like the Secret Service. If you try doing something to Alphabet Soup that George takes exception to, he lets you know it. He is a protector.”

Soup and George share some grass

Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup was listed as not sold on a final bid of $28,000 at the 1992 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The following May, he again did not meet his reserve at $29,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Maryland 2-year-olds in training auction. On April 2, 1994, he debuted with a third-place effort at Santa Anita for Ridder Thoroughbred Stable and trainer David Hofmans. A winner in his third start five weeks later at Hollywood Park, Alphabet Soup methodically climbed the class ladder prior to becoming a graded stakes winner late in his four-year-old season.

He peaked as a 5-year-old in a season highlighted by three graded stakes scores in Southern California prior to the Classic.

He returned in early 1997 at age six with a runner-up performance in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita with Adena Springs owner Frank Stronach as a new partner with Ridder Thoroughbreds in what would be his 24^th and final start. He was officially retired a few months later and began his stud career in 1998 for Adena Springs. His record stands at 10-3-6 and $2,990,270. He won six graded events including his lone Grade 1 score in the Classic.

Decades removed from those glory days, Alphabet Soup remains a crowd pleaser. Blowen is perhaps his biggest fan and marvels daily at the stallion's exuberance for life in general and his intelligence in particular.

“He taught me that he would rather have his back scratched than eat carrots,” he said. “He gets right up to the fence and then moves to place he wants me to scratch.”

For more information about donations and tours, visit www.oldfriendsequine.org

Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer who has spent her entire career in Thoroughbred racing-related jobs in barns, press boxes and offices. She has worked for stables from Saratoga to Ak-Sar-Ben and from Canterbury Park to Oaklawn Park and about another dozen tracks in the eastern two thirds of America. A longtime contributor to Thoroughbred Times, her articles have appeared in Keeneland Magazine, Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders' Cup website, Horse Illustrated, European Bloodstock News, KyForward, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider and other publications. She is a seasonal member of Keeneland's media department.

The post Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Alphabet Soup Lives On Under Careful Watch Of Donkey Protector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

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.”

The post Sinkhole Horse Mr. Changue Retired, Seeking New Career appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post