TAA Making Strides as Keeneland September Begins

Despite only being founded in 2012, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has steadily grown and gained the support of people and organizations from all facets of the Thoroughbred industry who share a common goal of caring for Thoroughbreds after their racing days are over. In the words of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Executive Director James Hastie, the TAA “exists to ensure industry-wide funding for accredited organizations that care for retired Thoroughbreds.” TAA has accredited 23 aftercare facilities to date and support from stallion farms has grown from 12 in 2012 to 24 as of May of this year. 

Hastie added, “The TAA raises the standard of care for retired Thoroughbreds, increases the number of opportunities for Thoroughbreds, and raises the awareness of the lengths to which the industry is going to care for its great athletes. The TAA’s funding model is based on very small contributions from everyone, to share the responsibility, more and more are deciding to participate. ” 

Craig Bernick, Glen Hill Farm President and Chief Operations Officer in Ocala, Florida and TAA Board Member: 
“For me, being involved with the TAA is a way I can help the industry unite for a common cause–the care of our horses. The TAA is one of the few movements that has been able to unite and garner support from the industry at all levels for one specific purpose. The work the TAA does is so fundamentally necessary for the betterment of the business and sport of horse racing. As a board member of the TAA, it’s my job to continue to explain what we do and help the industry understand that the TAA is the best place to support aftercare.” 

Meg Levy, owner and operator of Bluewater Sales in Lexington, Kentucky and staunch TAA supporter: 
“I think it’s important for all of us in the Thoroughbred business who breed, buy and sell horses to realize that the end of their racing careers for us is not the end of the rainbow for them. They have many years left in them and those years can have a lot of usefulness and vitality. Supporting racehorses as they transition into retirement from the track really is the responsibility of all of us who profit from Thoroughbreds to band together and support them in this process. The TAA is extremely clear in its mission, and they take the burden of deciphering which organizations are doing the best job with the horses, the adopting public, the financials and all other key areas upon themselves.” 

Doug O’Neill, California-based conditioner of such stars as GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner I’ll Have Another (Flower Alley) and quarterly contributor to the TAA: 
“The TAA is unique in that it encompasses so many facets of the industry; essentially following the horse from its registration through its retirement. We have, for the past several years utilized my assistant, Sharla Sanders to help with the placement of retired racehorses from our barn. Sharla receives regular updates and photos, and of course we have one of the ultimate retirement stories with Lava Man. We see the benefit every day of second careers for retired racehorses with him in our barn. If people put the racehorse first in their thought processes, it becomes easy to do the right thing. Leadership and vision are key. I support the TAA with my donations, because I believe they are on the right track.” 

Gary Contessa, New York-based trainer and TAA quarterly contribuor: 
“As horsemen and women, we have an obligation to speak for these great athletes after their career is over. When I see one of my former charges in his or her second career, I’m so proud. I feel like I do when my 7-year-old son scores a goal on the soccer field or a home run at a baseball game. I did this personally with Indian War Dance and after his great racing career, he has become a world-class show horse. When I see his pictures, I get emotional. The TAA is one of the greatest organizations in racing today and surely one of the most necessary. They deserve all of the support and praise in the world for what they’ve done.” 
 
For further information about the TAA, check out the TDN Q & A with TAA Executive Director James Hastie here.