Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare

Puerto Rico-bred Primer Portento, who made 119 starts and earned $78,346 on the racetrack, is retraining for a new career with CTA co-founder Kelley Stobie.

Services: Sanctuary, Rehabilitation, Adoption

Location: Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Founded: 2008

Website: ctahorse.com

Social:

Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 40+

Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare has been helping Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico transition to good lives off the track since 2008. More than 1,500 U.S.-bred Thoroughbreds race annually in Puerto Rico, a large percentage of which are imported from the U.S. mainland. CTA is located at the foothills of the El Yunque national rainforest region and has 10 acres of large paddocks with shady shelters and an 11-stall barn. It has become a tropical haven and safety net for horses leaving their racing careers behind.

During 2020, CTA has taken in 30 horses and adopted 27 to good homes, with 18 returned to the U.S. mainland and nine re-homed in Puerto Rico. CTA faces many challenges, including a 1,000-mile distance from the U.S. mainland, lack of resources and qualified homes, poverty, and a tropical environment. Fortunately, CTA has formed good working partnerships with several other TAA-accredited organizations, as well as with breeders and former connections, creating a bridge for some horses to return to the United States.

COVID-19 has made the placing and movement of horses more difficult due to air travel
and USDA quarantine availability, and also has increased the difficulties of finding new homes for horses in Puerto Rico and on the U.S. mainland. While we wait for things to pick up again, we are focused on increasing the number of Thoroughbreds we help retire.

CTA is proud of our positive working relationship with the Puerto Rico and mainland racing industries. We continue our efforts monthly with CTA Day at the races when we recognize the grooms with the “Caballo Mas Vistoso” (best looking horse) awards, hold live interviews with CTA board members, and present a trophy for the winning owner, trainer, and jockey of one race that day. It is important to bring to light the efforts of backstretch employees who work so hard every day with the horses.

The Caribbean is beautiful but also can be unforgiving and very challenging for Thoroughbreds both on and off the track. CTA is grateful to TAA and to all the individuals that not only financially support our work and efforts but also help with the networking that helps find homes for our former racing athletes.

Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Success Stories

By My Side – With a background in Paso Finos, adopter Ariana Rodriguez’s first OTTB ride was aboard the daughter of The Kaiser. And that ride sealed the deal. Read more >>

Strike N Win – He made all 90 of his starts in Puerto Rico, mostly in the claiming ranks. The Illinois-bred son of Tenpins retired with 10 wins and $72,854 in earnings. Read more >>

All Hundreds – Heather Wiley helped deliver All Hundreds and with the help of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, they have reunited and begin a new chapter together. Read more >>

Worthy of Wings – A well-traveled racehorse, Worthy of Wings is the perfect example of all the best qualities of a warhorse-turned OTTB. Read more >>

Cannot Stop – With a team assembled, the challenge was to find a horse. Already having a great relationship with Second Chance Thoroughbreds, they were drawn to a grey horse named Cannot Stop. Read more >>

Hidden Splendor – A group of horses made their way from one accredited organization to another after Hurricane Maria. Read more >>