The need for a national thoroughbred retirement and rehabilitation program that involves a diverse board, set policies and guidelines that everyone must follow that will protect and monitor the horses in addition to the input of several reputable and qualified retirement and rescue organizations is needed now more than ever.
The funding is within the industry; it is just that the industry does not view racehorse retirement as a priority and that mindset must change. Everyone involved with thoroughbreds should and must contribute to ensure the well being of the horses when they can no longer race.
First it must start with the breeders for they are choosing to bring baby foals in to this world. The thoroughbred racing industry rewards owners and breeders for breeding horses by giving breeders awards and bonuses, but how may breeders associations have discussed a mandatory retirement/rehabilitation or euthanasia fee be paid to the association and placed in a special retirement fund for each baby foal that is born each and every year. Based on the Jockey Club Checkoff Program figures, breeders donated approximately $52,000 in 2009 by registering 32,606 horses. In 2010, approximately $43,000 was donated by breeders when 30,669 horses were registered. Folks, do the math, it comes out to $1.59 per foal for 2009 and $1.40 per foal in 2010. Is this the best the racing industry can do for the very lives they are bringing in to the world and people are making a living by? These figures are pathetic. A much higher and mandatory fee must be implemented and paid by breeders.
Secondly, funding for racehorse retirement must come from a percentage of the purse money, whether that be a percentage from the gross annual purse structure at every racetrack, or at least a $10.00 mandatory per start and a set percentage each year from all HBPA affiliates in conjunction with a substantial matched amount from racetrack management/owners plus a mandatory fee taken out from jockeys for every horse they ride.
Funding must be substantial and perpetual on an annual basis. The funding from a mandatory breeders fee and either a percentage of the purse money or mandatory per start fee could be used to fund the retirement and rehabilitation programs annually and the money from racetrack management and jockeys could be used to start an endowment to generate funds for horses that need long retirement and care and to create new accredited sanctuaries or expand existing facilities so there will be funds for long term horses.
Voluntary funding does not work. The Jockey Club Checkoff Program breeders’ contributions proves that. Racehorse retirement and rehabilitation is an ongoing process and needs ongoing substantial funding. We all owe it to the horses to make sure they are safe and are being taken care of when their racing careers have ended. No matter how much fundraising the TRF does, or the R.A.C.E. Fund, Exceller Fund, CANTER, ReRun, ILEHC, Equine Angels or any organization, it is not enough to cover the entire expenses of racehorse retirement and why shouldn’t the industry support the very creature that they make their living by? Why is there not a provision in all state legislation for the welfare of the horses? There are provisions for horsemen’s health care and pensions and breeders incentives and awards but there is nothing for the horses that are the very core of the racing industry. Why have the HBPA’s, Breeders Associations and the NTRA not lobbied for the horses legislatively?
There must be lifetime monitoring of horses when they are retired and or adopted out. Our organization monitors horses every 6 months but we will be changing that to every 3 months. It is a lot of work but it is extremely important and vital for any horse’s welfare. And retired mares that go through retirement, rehabilitation and rescue organizations should not be adopted out to be bred. How can creating more horses possibly be helping the situation when there are already too many horses? It cannot as it will create more heartache and misery for mares and their foals long term than it will help short term.
Monitoring of all rescues facilities, sanctuaries, satellite and private farms is an absolute priority and must be done on a consistent basis. A national coalition of accredited, qualified and reputable rescues and facilities must be established and uniformed guidelines and rules followed to ensure every facility in each state and or chapter/region is trustworthy and doing right by the horses.
There are many good organizations out there like ours that care deeply for the horses and their safety and well being. Racehorse retirement and rehabilitation, perpetual funding and having and creating safe and well run retirement facilities is doable now and in the future but it is going to take a lot of work and dedication from all entities involved in racing to make it work and we must all work together toward a common goal for the horses and the betterment of racing.
There is always going to be three kinds of horses when their racing careers have ended, those sound enough to be rehabilitated for a second career and adopted, those that are healthy enough and pasture sound to live a comfortable life as a companion horse or long term retiree and lastly horses that have catastrophic injuries or in chronic pain and suffering that humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian is the most compassionate and humane thing that can be done for the horse and we as an industry must provide for all of them. Horses didn’t make themselves sore and lame and broken down, people did that and people should take care of them.
The R.A.C.E. Fund organization has always advocated for a percentage of the purse money for racehorse retirement and rehabilitation and to work with like minded organizations and individuals that have the best interest of the horses at the forefront. The R.A.C.E. Fund has contacted the Jockey Club, NTRA, National HBPA and Breeders Cup in the past and they have yet to step up to the plate for the horses on the level that is needed. . It is time for unity and working together to devise the best programs and solutions for the horses instead of the input from a few select organizations and no open discussions.
R.A.C.E. Fund. Inc.
