Secretariat Center
Secretariat Center graduate Patrick Henry competing in show hunters with Melissa Murphy. Credit: Shawn McMillan
Services: Rehabilitation, Adoption
Location: Lexington, KY
Founded: 2004
Website: secretariatcenter.org
Social: 
Average Number of Thoroughbreds: 45
The Secretariat Center, which has been hailed as “the gold standard in Thoroughbred reschooling,” opened in October 2004.
It uses its location at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington to do three things:
- Promote the athleticism and versatility of the Thoroughbred in second careers in order to encourage adoptions nationwide.
- Educate the public about Thoroughbreds.
- Highlight the many good things that the racing industry is doing to support aftercare.
Secretariat Center horses are selected to be ambassadors for the breed and the sport of racing. It is not a rescue facility. Horses are selected based on soundness of body and mind, temperament, and serviceability.
Horses in the program learn new skill sets, addressing body, spirit, and mind, that gives them a basic foundation on which to build a new career. Because the campus is small—16 acres of paddocks and eight stalls—Secretariat Center houses 12 to 15 horses at a time. Once adopted, Secretariat Center horses are tracked for life to ensure their well being.
Potential adopters fill out applications and supply references and, once approved, come ride to make sure the fit is a good one. Adoption fees vary based on the length of stay, the extent of a horse’s limitations, if any, and the scope of the horse.
Secretariat Center offers college and high school internships, welcomes volunteers, and regularly hosts tours and demonstrations.
“The Secretariat Center does everything right,” said former jockey Rosie Napravnik, “from horse care, to the horses’ new skills, to the staff’s amazing ability to find homes for them. The Secretariat Center is all about excellence, honesty, and the horse!”
Secretariat Center Success Stories
Let Me Loose – After nine starts, he was retired with a record of 1-1-2 and earnings of $13,494. Not taking to a career as a racehorse, he began his journey to a new job and, eventually, a home to call his own. Read more >>
Eiteljorg – The son of Jazil made his way to TAA-accredited Secretariat Center, and quickly drew interest from a rider who was familiar with the gelding through his on-track connections. Read more >>
True Simon – The Kentucky-bred only ran four times. A life on the racetrack wasn’t meant for the son of Harlan’s Holiday, as he never broke his maiden. Read more >>
Little Latin Lulu – She ran three times, never breaking her maiden, before being retired to Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center by her connections. Read more >>
Xin Xu Lin – A multiple group 1 winner. Brazil’s Horse of the Year. Show jumper and dressage mount. Read more >>
Sloping – This well-bred son of Lemon Drop Kid out of a grade 1-placed Trippi mare was a $500,000 yearling purchase. Although it seemed like he would be destined for greatness on the racetrack, Sloping had other plans. Read more >>
Nowhere to Hide – A former Kentucky Derby runner and a former NFL player teamed up. Read more >>
Regiment – It seemed that the youngster, named Regiment, had a bright future ahead on the racetrack. But it wasn’t on the racetrack where he began to shine. Read more >>
