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Category: News

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TAA Presence Strong This Derby Prep Weekend

As spring racing gets underway, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be featured on two big race days. TAA supporters Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park will promote aftercare awareness on the undercard of the Jeff Ruby Steaks and the Florida Derby. A presentation of a TAA blanket and swag bag to the winning connections will be made following the running of each race. Gulfstream Park’s Race 2 presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will go off at 11:59 AM Saturday, March 27. A limited number of patrons will be in attendance for the action-packed Florida Derby day at Gulfstream. “Aftercare of our amazing equine athletes is vital to our industry and to me personally,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST and President of 1/St Content. “1/ST is proud to support the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in all they do to ensure Thoroughbreds have many safe options upon retirement from racing.” Aftercare support will continue under new ownership at Turfway Park, where the TAA is set to present race 3 at 2:10 PM prior to the 50th running of the Jeff Ruby Steaks. Due to construction in preparation for the new racing and gambling property, Turfway is not permitted to host fans for live racing at this time. Simulcast wagering will be available through Newport Racing & Gaming and Twinspires.com. “The mission of the TAA has always been near and dear to the hearts of Turfway Park,” said Chip Bach, Turfway Park General Manager. “Having TAA represented during our biggest day of the year has been a great tradition. It serves to remind us all of the importance of ensuring that our equine athletes have careers long after they retire from racing.” “Turfway Park has been a longtime supporter of the TAA and we are very pleased they are able to be part of Jeff Ruby Day,” said Tyler Picklesimer, Director of Racing/Racing Secretary at Turfway Park. “We look forward to supporting them for years to come.” “The TAA is grateful to both Gulfstream and Turfway Park for their commitment to include the TAA during such exciting race days,” said Stacie Clark, TAA Operations Consultant. “Race presentations help the TAA fulfill its mission to spread awareness of accredited Thoroughbred aftercare which facilitates the funding of our 81 accredited organizations.” Both Gulfstream Park and Turfway Park are committed to financially supporting OTTBs and the TAA. Photo: Suzie Picou-Oldham

More Than 75 Participate in Canter for the Cause at Gulfstream

More than 75 equine enthusiasts, many with retired Thoroughbreds, walked, trotted, or cantered their horse across legendary Gulfstream Park Monday morning as part of the second annual Canter for the Cause. The event attracted riders from throughout Florida, as well as several retired Thoroughbreds with the Davie Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit and the City of Coral Gables mounted unit. The event, which ran Monday morning and afternoon for all equine enthusiasts, benefited the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding, and Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care (TRAC), an accredited TAA facility. Canter for the Cause was sponsored by Gulfstream Park, the Florida Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association (FHBPA), Seminole Feed and Purina.   “This is a fun day for us at Gulfstream Park. I guess it’s the equivalent of playing softball at Yankee Stadium,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer of 1/ST Racing. “It gives us a chance to not only showcase what we do on the track here but showcase what horses do for aftercare. A lot of people don’t know this but Thoroughbreds, while born and bred to race, are awesome at all kinds of other disciplines. We have some police horses here, we have a bunch of polo ponies, dressage and show jumpers, and other cool disciplines that racehorses excel at. And with the benefit of Florida TRAC and the TAA, which are the beneficiaries of this charity event, we hope to do even more.” Katie Schmit, farm manager and trainer at Florida (TRAC), said: “I think it’s awesome to do things like this and encourage people to see off the track thoroughbreds. We just need to keep raising awareness of aftercare. We need our focus on what horses are going to do after their racing careers and raising awareness at the track, and involving the horsemen is really special.” “We can’t thank Gulfstream Park enough for their continued support of accredited Thoroughbred aftercare and including the TAA in this fun event,” said Alexandra Kokka, Marketing and Communications Manager at TAA. “For some attendees, it was a dream come true to get to ride their horse at this hallowed racetrack and seeing their exhilarated faces was priceless. We are excited to continue working with Gulfstream Park to find new ways to support our beloved Thoroughbreds.” Some of the retired Thoroughbreds returning to the track were Shadow Boxer, who is training for eventing, mounted police horses Tizrobertcharles and Guidoinaspeedo, Sweet Karen Sue, who became a hunter, and Cicerone, who went on to be a jumper. Photos: Coglianese Photo

TAA to be Included in 2021 IFAR Virtual Conference

Photo: Suzie Picou-Oldham

The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) announced today its lineup of topics and speakers for its fifth conference, which will be held as a series of four virtual sessions on April 6, 13, 20, and 27.

Canter for the Cause Returns to Gulfstream

Walk, Trot or Canter Your Horse on Gulfstream’s Legendary Track March 15. Ride Across the Same Track at Cigar, Holy Bull, Gun Runner & Spectacular Bid. Proceeds to Benefit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Daily Racing Form Publishes 6th Annual TAA Magazine

2021 TAA DRF magazine

Daily Racing Form, part of the Sports Information Group and a national, multi-platform media and e-commerce company providing premium data and authoritative editorial coverage to horse racing and sports enthusiasts in North America, announced that the sixth annual Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance magazine, which DRF publishes, is now available. Printed copies of the magazine will be available at various race meets, sales, and equestrian events across the country and through TAA-accredited organizations. “On behalf of TAA, I would like to thank DRF for producing this magazine, which is an extremely valuable marketing tool for the organization,” said Janice Towles, TAA accreditation and grants manager. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase all of the TAA-accredited organizations as well as our accomplishments during the past year and we are grateful to have this platform to highlight the growing aftercare movement and diversity in TAA-accredited programs.” This year’s edition features 108 color pages and profiles of all 81 TAA-accredited organizations. The magazine also includes in-depth articles on expanded sustainable funding for aftercare, the networking initiatives undertaken by aftercare organizations to help each other operate more effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the accreditation process aftercare organizations must complete to be certified. In addition, the 2021 issue features a message from outgoing TAA President John Phillips, a map of TAA-accredited organizations, and a list of TAA’s industry stakeholders. “It’s an honor to publish this year’s edition of TAA magazine and help the TAA address issues that are crucial to all industry stakeholders,” said Itay Fisher, Daily Racing Form’s Chief Executive Officer. “We applaud those involved with TAA-accredited organizations, and DRF will continue to support the TAA’s mission to showcase the vast array of opportunities for thoroughbreds following their racing days.”   View the Magazine

2021 Pegasus World Cup Recognizes TAA as Charitable Partner

gulfstream park TAA saddle towel

As part of 1/ST’s mission to prioritize the care and safety of Thoroughbred racehorses before, during, and after their careers, the 2021 Pegasus World Cup will recognize the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as a charitable partner with a $50,000 donation.