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All Posts Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Inspector Spotlight Previous Post Inspector Spotlight: Elaina Maze Inspector Spotlight: Elaina Maze By: Alexis Arbaugh March 1, 2024 Inspector Spotlight Tags:dressage, Inspection, Inspector, Maryland, MidAtlantic, Virginia, Western To qualify for accreditation and receive a grant from Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, every facility within an organization must undergo a comprehensive inspection. These inspections are carried out by either Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance staff or one of many approved inspectors located across the country. Sight inspectors are Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance’s eyes at every facility. They include veterinarians and other equine professionals. Inspectors have prior experience in animal care and Thoroughbred aftercare, which makes them well-equipped to assess facilities seeking accreditation. During an accreditation inspection, the facility and everything that goes into running it is under review. This includes the staff, equine management and care practices, fields, barn/buildings, cleanliness standards, maintenance protocols, and financial management, among numerous other factors, taking pictures as they go. When an inspector visits a facility, all these elements are thoroughly examined. Elaina Maze is a seasoned volunteer inspector for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.  Based in the Washington, D.C. metro area, Elaina specializes in inspecting facilities in Northern Virginia, Eastern West Virginia, and Western Maryland. She has been an inspector for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance for three years. Presently, Elaina works as an Administrative Assistant for a National Commercial HVAC contractor, but her previous roles have included significant experience as an Animal Control / Humane Officer and an ASPCA National Field Responder. Elaina became interested in doing inspections for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance when she recognized it as a meaningful opportunity to utilize her previous law enforcement training while also making a positive contribution to the racing and aftercare community. With a background as a former Animal Control Officer and ASPCA National Field Responder, Elaina brings extensive animal experience to her role as a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance inspector. Additionally, she has over 40 years of experience owning, showing, and training horses, including Thoroughbreds. Before purchasing her first off-the-track Thoroughbred, Soaring Ella, Elaina dedicated several years to volunteering at retired racehorse organizations. In 2023, Elaina had great success with her OTTB Ella, securing 7 High Point Championships, 2 Division High Point Championships, 3 Reserve High Point Championships, and a Division Reserve Championship. Given Elaina’s accomplishments with Ella, it is evident that she has a knack for taking care of and retraining retired racehorses. During her free time, Elaina enjoys participating in Western, Classical Dressage, and Cowboy Dressage competitions. Living in Northern Virginia provides Elaina and her OTTB Ella with convenient access to the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains, allowing them to trail ride up and down the East Coast. Additionally, they have been to the Outer Banks and Hocking Hills together. In June 2024 they are planning to ride through the Adirondack Mountains in New York.  Elaina’s other hobbies include sewing show apparel and volunteering her time as a dressage scribe for local USDF shows. Elaina became interested in doing inspections for Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance when she recognized it as a meaningful opportunity to utilize her previous law enforcement training while also making a positive contribution to the racing and aftercare community. She believes that accreditation inspections are important for Thoroughbred aftercare facilities because they are a crucial step for ensuring that the horses receive top-notch care from knowledgeable individuals who understand the complexities of their needs. “Living near a Thoroughbred racetrack, I’ve seen firsthand the struggle to find quality homes for retiring Thoroughbreds and how unchecked individuals can quickly become overwhelmed and overextended with too many horses,” wrote Elaina. Her favorite things to see at any inspection are happy horses who are enjoying their life. Elaina feels that there is nothing more rewarding than seeing an ex-racehorse galloping through a field for fun. Though there are many qualities of equine care Elaina finds important, the factor she looks for most during her inspections is the knowledge of the individuals who run and work at the facility. She wants to make sure the people operating each facility have the skill set and knowledge it takes to manage an off-the- track Thoroughbred. Elaina feels that caring for a Thoroughbred is unlike caring for other breeds because these horses are packed with muscle and energy once they’re off the track. It requires skilled handlers who can manage them at their peak strength. Elaina also likes seeing innovative ways in which organizations care for their Thoroughbreds and facilities. She loves to see how the work these organizations do brings out the best in both the horses and their caretakers. Accredited Thoroughbred aftercare is important in the aftercare process to Elaina because of all the good things that come from it. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accreditation and inspection process provides racehorse owners with the peace of mind that their equines are going to a safe place once their racing careers come to an end. Elaina also explained that the process also assures adopters that they are receiving a horse that has received top-tier care according to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Code of Standards. Additionally, inspections provide donors with the confidence that their contributions are being utilized effectively, funding vetted and quality aftercare organizations across North America. Share This Article

  Join the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at the America’s Best Racing Pre-Preakness party and silent auction on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at the Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore, Maryland. The silent auction will feature a variety of signed collectible racing memorabilia, certificates, specialty equine products, and more!   CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS   Storm Cat | Stallion Halter  In 20 years at stud, sired earners of more than $127 million, eight champions, and 108 graded stakes winners, including five winners of Breeders’ Cup races. Includes signed certificate of authenticity from Overbrook Farm.   Knicks Go | Stallion Halter  2021 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male, Longines World’s Best Racehorse in 2021. 2021 Breeders’ Cup Classic Winner and 2020 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Winner. Includes signed certificate of authenticity from TaylorMade Farm.   More Than Ready | Stallion Halter Leading Sire of Breeders’ Cup Winners, the only sire to have an Eclipse Award Champion each of the last four years, sire of more BTWs than any North American sire in history. Includes signed certificate of authenticity from WinStar Farm.   Essential Quality | Stallion Halter 2020 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Winner and Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old, 2021 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes  Winner and Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old.  Includes signed certificate of authenticity from Darley’s Jonabell Farm.   Cairo Prince | Stallion Halter Sire of more six-figure juveniles in 2021 than any other 4th crop sire with 29 winners from 57 starters and 4 stakes wins in his 4th crop. Includes signed certificate of authenticity from Airdrie Stud.   Irad Ortiz, Jr. Signed Bobblehead Three-time Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Jockey in 2018, 2019, and 2020,and North America’s current 2022 leading rider by earnings.   John Velasquez Signed Bobblehead Two-time Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Jockey in 2004 and 2005, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, and North America’s all-time leading rider by earnings.   Tyler Gaffalione Signed Bobblehead 2015 Eclipse Award winner as outstanding apprentice jockey, and America’s second-ranked jockey by wins in 2017 and 2020.   Framed Kentucky Derby Autograph Collection 16×20 framed print of the Kentucky Derby trophy signed by winning owners, trainers, and jockeys of the Derby from 1966 through 2021. Notable autographs include Penny Chenery (Secretariat), Ron Turcott (Secretariat), Steve Cauthen (Affirmed), Dr. Jim Hall (Seattle Slew), Victor Espinoza (American Pharoah), Calvin Borel, D. Wayne Lukas, Edgar Prado, John Sheriffs, Kent Desormeaux, and more.   Framed and Signed Justify Print 16×20 framed print of Justify signed by Bob Baffert and Mike Smith. Photo by Suzie Picou-Oldham.   Budweiser Arlington Million Framed Art Framed official Budweiser Arlington Million poster from the 1985 race, known as the Miracle Million. The race was held 25 days after the entire Arlington clubhouse and grandstand were destroyed by fire.   Triple Crown Jockey Autograph Collection Framed collection of autographed photos of Triple Crown winning jockeys: Ron Turcotte (Secretariat, 1973), Victor Espinoza (American Pharoah, 2015), and Mike Smith (Justify, 2018). Each photo includes a certificate of authenticity.   Kentucky Derby Winner Rich Strike Framed and Autographed Collage Framed print of Rich Strike winning the 148th Kentucky Derby signed by trainer Eric Reed. Photos by Suzie Picou-Oldham.   Monomoy Girl 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Bundle A 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff saddle towel signed by owner Sol Kumin (Monomoy Stables LLC), trainer Brad Cox, and jockey Florent Geroux, PLUS a 2018 Breeders’ Cup race-day program.   Bricks and Mortar 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf Bundle A 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf saddle towel signed by owner William H. Lawrence, trainer Chad Brown, and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., PLUS a 2019 Breeders’ Cup hat signed by owner William H. Lawrence and trainer Chad Brown.   Blue Prize (ARG) 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff Bundle A 2019 Breeders’ Cup Distaff saddle towel AND a 2019 Breeders’ Cup hat signed by owner John Moores (Merriebelle Stable), trainer Ignacio Correas,and jockey Joe Bravo, PLUS a 2019 Breeders’ Cup race-day program.   Vino Rosso 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic Bundle A 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic saddle towel signed by owner Mike Repole (Repole Stable), trainer Todd Pletcher, and jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. AND a 2019 Breeders’ Cup hat signed by trainer Todd Pletcher, PLUS a 2019 Breeders’ Cup race-day program.   Kentucky Oaks 146 Signed Saddle Towel A mini saddle towel signed by Brad Cox and Florent Geroux, trainer and jockey of winner Shedaresthedevil.   Kentucky Oaks 147 Signed Saddle Towel A mini saddle towel signed by the jockeys of the 2021 Kentucky Oaks.   Kentucky Derby 147 Signed Saddle Towel A mini saddle towel signed by the jockeys of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.   Kentucky Oaks 148 Signed Saddle Towel A mini saddle towel signed by the jockeys of the 2022 Kentucky Oaks.   Kentucky Derby 148 Signed Saddle Towel A mini saddle towel signed by the jockeys of the 2022 Kentucky Derby   Preakness Stakes 146 Bundle  A mini saddle towel signed by the jockeys of the 2021 Preakness Stakes and the race-day program signed by the jockeys of the 2021 Preakness Stakes.   2023 Uncle Lino Stallion Season One 2023 No Guarantee season to stallion Uncle Lino, currently standing at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, MD. Grade 1 performer and record setting SW Uncle Lino, by leading sire Uncle Mo and out of a half-sister to Leading sire Shackleford. No Guarantee purchase of stallion season is NON-REFUNDABLE UNDER ANY CONDITION including the unavailability, infertility or death of the stallion, or the mare’s death, inability to conceive or carry to term, once named and covered or for any other reason.   Christine A. Moore Millinery Fascinator Featured Milliner of Kentucky Derby 144, 145, 146, 147 & 148 and of the Preakness Stakes and The Florida Derby;  featured Milliner at Keeneland; Official Milliner of Breeders’ Cup and Jim McKay Maryland Million Day; Official Milliner of TOBA and the Iroquois Steeplechase; Official Hat Designer of America’s Best Racing.   Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Bundle A certificate for a FREE veterinary examination with Dr. Andie Fox in Lexington, KY PLUS a gift bag of Resolvet products. Valued at $550.   Brook Ledge Horse Transportation Voucher Voucher for one box stall shipment of a horse from