Since our founding, Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds (HART) has worked closely with the professionals at Prairie Meadows Racetrack to provide a thoughtful and purpose-driven aftercare solution for our equine athletes. Our goal is to provide these horses with a soft landing after their racing careers are over. As an organization, we strive to provide a temporary home, rehabilitation if necessary, and retraining if appropriate prior to being adopted into a permanent home.
Our story began in 2010 when the president of the Iowa Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association and the director of racing for Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino recognized a need for Thoroughbred aftercare in Iowa. As their conversations took shape, they incorporated additional members to the team — notable racehorse owners, members of the Iowa Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and other individuals from the Des Moines equestrian community. Our charter incorporates a member from each of these organizations to ensure that our board represents the best interests of Iowa racing and the aftercare of Iowa Thoroughbreds.
All The Love was the first horse through our program in 2011. Since that time, we have worked to grow our organization, taking in anywhere from 20–30 horses per year. Our volunteer board and a handful of dedicated farm teams work to uphold our mission: “To ensure a safe, temporary home for injured or noncompetitive Thoroughbred racehorses with uncertain futures coming from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino; and to provide a peaceful environment and experienced care for each horse’s individual recuperative needs with adequate time to transition from the racetrack environment. Once appropriate, facilitating horses into training with the goal to prepare them for future careers and homes”.
Every horse admitted into the HART program must be in accordance with the qualities set forth in our eligibility guidelines. Specifically, they must have had their last race or work at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and be deemed by a veterinarian that they should no longer race; or be an Iowa-bred and be stabled at Prairie Meadows and meeting the same conditions set forth by a veterinarian as unsuitable for racing.
We proudly worked to achieve accreditation with Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in 2019 and have maintained our status ever since.
