off-track thoroughbreds

Second Stride, which rehabs, retrains and rehomes retired Thoroughbred racehorses, will open its 2024 fundraising efforts with twin raffles for third-floor boxes for six people, one box each for Kentucky Derby and Oaks Day donated by Churchill Downs. In the spirit of May 3-4 being the 150th runnings of America's favorite race and its filly counterpart, only 150 tickets will be sold at $150 apiece for the Derby and for $125 apiece for the Oaks. Buy raffle tickets for the all-inclusive boxes (including food and alcoholic beverage) here. The drawings...

Prince of New York, piloted by professional trainer Chris Bennings, won the People's Choice Award, sponsored by Achieve Equine, at the 2022 Thoroughbred Makeover. The achievement comes not only with the recognition of a job well done, but the liberty to choose an equine-related 501(c)3 nonprofit to receive a $2,500 donation sponsored by Achieve Equine. For Bennings--who's first introduction to retraining off-track Thoroughbreds was with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Florida TRAC--choosing the TAA as the beneficiary of the People's Choice Award was a no-brainer. "My wife Celia and I knew...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) once again enters as a sponsor of the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover. In conjunction with sponsoring the makeover, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance High Point Award will continue to be offered to the highest-placed Thoroughbred adopted from or is owned by a TAA-accredited organization. The showcase of recently retrained off-track Thoroughbreds will take place at the Kentucky Horse Park Oct. 12-15. Of the 377 horses entered across 10 divisions, 57 contestants are eligible to win the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance High Point Award, including a $1,000...

In this new TDN column, Christie DeBernardis will tell the stories of popular and/or accomplished former racehorses who are now enjoying second careers as show horses, track ponies, etc. The first two foals out of the mighty Zenyatta, Cozmic One (Bernardini) and Ziconic (Tapit), never reached the winner's circle during their brief careers on the racetrack, but they are both thriving in their second careers as jumpers and ambassadors for off-track Thoroughbreds. The elder brother, Cozmic One's second career has been well documented in these pages (Cozmic One: Shining New...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) has awarded the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) $5,000 to be used for educational purposes. RRP's mission is to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them in the equestrian marketplace and educating equestrians to provide the training that secures their future. The driving force behind everything RRP does is educating the public, especially equestrians and equine enthusiasts, about the potential and versatility of off-track Thoroughbreds as riding and competition horses. RRP does this through their popular Thoroughbred Makeover...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation awarded $4,000 to the MidAtlantic Horse Rescue (MAHR), which rescues off-the-track Thorougbreds from feed lots and kill pens, for educational purposes. TERF's mission is to support and promote equine education by supporting organizations that are educating the public on the proper care of horses. MAHR will continue to offer Thoroughbred-only clinic series at the farm with well-known professionals. For more information, visit www.terfusa.org.

Boone McCanna was one of the leading jockey agents in Northern California, and prior to that in Washington, having represented Kevin Krigger, Dennis Carr, and Frank Alvarado among others. A third-generation horseman, McCanna had a vision to combine the tranquility of the his family's horse ranch outside Spokane, where his father would rest his racehorses in the off-season, with off-track Thoroughbreds and veterans in need of relief from the effects of PTSD suffered while serving in combat. In 2014, with the help of Jerry and Janet Hollendorfer, Down The Stretch...

The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2020 approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). April is Autism Awareness Month, so it is fitting that we visit with Joell Dunlap, founder of The Square Peg Foundation, which pairs off-track Thoroughbreds with children affected by an ASD and their families. Founded in 2004, Square Peg operates out of two facilities in the Bay Area of California with 19 horses in total. Of the 19 horses, 13 are off-track Thoroughbreds. Before...

The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), which encourages the retraining of Thoroughbreds into other disciplines upon completion of careers in racing or breeding, announced the winners and other placings from its 2019 performance awards program. The complete list of winners and participants is available here. The performance awards recognize Thoroughbreds accumulating the most points at all horse shows in each of the T.I.P. award categories and divisions throughout the year. "We received applications representing 630 Thoroughbreds competing in more than 12,500 classes and divisions during the 2019 award year,"...

The British Horseracing Authority has expanded its online system of registering retired racehorses to allow trainers, in addition to owners, to lodge information on where their charges are headed for their second careers. Under the previous system, only owners had been able to register this information. The new system, which debuts on Feb. 13, is designed to improve the traceability of horses permanently retired from racing. A dedicated page on the BHA's website, which will go live in March, will allow participants to check the retirement status of any horse....

In addition to honoring excellence in 17 equine and human categories this year, the 49th annual Eclipse Awards on Jan. 23 will pay tribute to those Thoroughbreds who have moved on to a second athletic career. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) is inviting fans to participate in saluting Off-Track Thoroughbreds by submitting photos or videos of their OTTBs on Twitter and Facebook using the #NeverEclipsed hashtag. Selected submissions will be included in video montages to be played throughout the Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in tribute...