Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

In-person attendees of the Eclipse Awards will have the opportunity to donate to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and learn more about its mission through on-screen displays of TAA's messaging at the Eclipse Awards, to be held Jan. 26 at The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida. The TAA is the official charity partner of the event. "As we convene to recognize the most accomplished horses and humans of 2022, the NTRA is proud to recognize the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as the Official Charity of the 52nd Eclipse Awards," said NTRA President...

Edited Press Release Following a month-long effort to raise funds for the TAA's 81 accredited organizations, the TAA Holiday Giving Campaign concluded Dec. 31 with $180,000 raised for accredited aftercare. "It was encouraging to see such enthusiasm for our holiday fundraiser," said TAA President, Jeffrey Bloom. "Thank you to every person who donated to the TAA's Holiday Giving Campaign. It takes a great deal of funds to care for our industry's retired athletes, and large influxes of donations such as these are vital to the TAA's ability to support its...

Edited Press Release The 2023 application for accreditation by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is now available at ThoroughbredAftercare.org/Accreditation. Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits interested in applying must complete the application by the closing date of Apr. 1 at 6 p.m. ET. Since TAA accreditation is only granted for a specific period of time, organizations with accreditation status ending in 2022 that want to remain accredited must re-apply. "Going into our 11th year of accreditation, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance looks forward to working with new applicants and returning organizations to reach the highest...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign comes to an end with Bob and Jill Baffert pledging to match all donations up to $10,000 made to the TAA on Dec. 31, 2022--the largest of the campaign. "Every racing season, these horses give us the thrill of a lifetime, bringing immeasurable joy. We all should remember that this holiday season when we stop to count our blessings and express gratitude," said Jill Baffert, who is also a member of TAA's advisory board. "There is no better way to do...

Rick Schosberg celebrated his retirement from training by making a pledge to match all donations up to $1,000 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Holiday Giving Campaign Friday.  After 35 years, 5,973 starts, and over $38 million in earnings, the New York horseman saddled his final runner Dec. 29 at Aqueduct. "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...

Simon Bray has pledged to match all donations up to $500 made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's Holiday Giving Campaign Dec. 28. "The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the only organization to accredit and distribute funds to over 81 aftercare programs across the U.S.," said Bray, a former trainer and currently an analyst for TVG, now FanDuel Racing. "The TAA accreditation is the gold standard for making sure retired racehorses have the care and life after the racetrack they so deserve. I am happy to help in a very small way...

Jack Damico and East Coast Partners have pledged to match all donations up to $3,000 made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Dec. 27 as part of the TAA's month-long Holiday Giving Campaign. Damico, a forensic CPA and certified arbitrator has been involved with racing since 1986 as an owner and breeder. He also manages The Posse Racing Stable and East Coast Partners Racing Stable. A supporter of Thoroughbred aftercare for decades, Damico joined the TAA Board of Directors in 2022. "The Damico family and our East Coast Partners Racing Stable...

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)'s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Aidan Butler and his beloved off-track Thoroughbred Cannonstone have pledged to match all donations up to $2,500 made to the TAA Dec. 24. A member of TAA's Board of Directors and CEO of 1/ST RACING AND GAMING, Butler continues to be an advocate for the sport through safety, innovation, and aftercare initiatives. "The TAA is vital to the success and longevity of our racing industry," said Butler. "On a personal level, I wouldn't have my beloved horse Cannonstone...

Beginning Dec. 26--Opening Day of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet--fans will be able to meet and watch track announcer Pete Aiello call a race while helping to retrain, rehome and retire Thoroughbreds. For a $50 donation per person, up to six fans can watch Aiello call a race from the announcer's booth with the proceeds going to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA). "The TAA is very grateful to the team at Gulfstream Park and Peter Aiello for this unique and fun way to raise funds and awareness for aftercare. We hope...

Kurtis Coady and Megan Devine have pledged to match all donations up to $500 made to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as part of the TAA's month-long Holiday Giving Campaign. The track photographer and on-air analyst own retired racehorses at their Cardinal Creek Farm. "The Thoroughbred has given us everything, both personally and professionally," said Devine and Coady. "We met at a racetrack and consider ourselves so lucky to have enjoyed careers in the racing industry. We believe it's incredibly important to give back to the horses, and the Thoroughbred Aftercare...

Dr. Pug and Susie Hart have pledged to match all donations up to $1,000 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Dec. 19 as part of the TAA's month-long Holiday Giving Campaign. "We want to double donations today as a way of paying it forward to the horses who enrich our lives and to whom we owe our livelihood," said Susie Hart. "We want to continue in our efforts to promote aftercare and pay homage to all 81 accredited groups who play such a big role. As the umbrella and oversight organization...

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Board of Directors voted at its meeting Dec. 14 to add six new directors in 2023. For a second consecutive year, Jeffrey Bloom, managing partner of Bloom Racing Stable, will serve as president of the TAA. The directors beginning service in 2023 are: Price Bell, general manager of Mill Ridge Farm; Dr. Bonnie Comerford, DVM, veterinarian at Tiegland, Franklin, & Brokken; Joe De Francis, HISA director and managing partner of Gainesville Associates LLC; Georganne Hale--returning for a second term--vice president of racing development of Maryland...