Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

The sixth annual calendar photo contest for inclusion in the 2027 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance calendar is now open for submissions, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced Monday morning. Submissions should showcase Thoroughbreds, and must be relevant to the mission of the TAA as well as adhere to the criteria specified in the official contest rules. Photos will be judged on clarity, artistry, and photographic quality. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will select twelve winners, with one photo featured for each month. Each winner will receive Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance branded merchandise and a...

Rockridge Stud will hold a foal naming contest, in honor of America's upcoming 250th anniversary, the farm announced. Hi Holiday (Harlan's Holiday), the 250th mare Americanrevolution bred, foaled a filly on May 7th at Mill Creek Farm in Stillwater. The mare and foal are owned by Mill Creek Farm and Fortune Farm--partners in the stallion. Rockridge Stud is hosting a naming contest for this foal; for every name suggestion submitted via their website, the Americanrevolution Syndicate will donate $1 to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Name submissions will be accepted through July...

Keeneland Association, Fasig-Tipton Company Inc., Ocala Breeders' Sales Company Inc. and a group of leading North American stallion farms announced a significant expansion of their financial commitment to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in a press release Monday morning. Beginning with the 2026 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, the three sales companies will double their contribution to the TAA, allocating 0.1% of each sale's gross proceeds. Participation in the program will also become mandatory for both buyers and consignors at every sale, with each contributing 0.1% of their respective transactions. Based on 2025...

Following 1/ST President Aidan Butler's open letter to the industry Thursday outlining 1/ST's support for the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, The Jockey Club expressed additional support of the SAFE Act and the future of horse racing, pledging to advance landmark legislation and see it become law.  The Jockey Club stands with 1/ST President Aidan Butler and his colleagues at 1/ST for their support of the SAFE Act and their recent, highly effective work to gain attention for this critical issue for the future of horse racing. We pledge...

An exclusive Kentucky Derby and Oaks Package donated by racehorse owner Ken Freirich will be auctioned off to support Thoroughbred Charities of America and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. The package is being offered via an online auction through Apr. 17 at 5 p.m. EST. Bidding is open and available here. The proceeds will be split evenly between the two non-profit organizations. The package includes: a behind-the-scenes barn visit with a top trainer on Kentucky Oaks Day, front row reserved outdoor table for four in the exclusive Woodford Reserve Paddock Club...

America's Best Racing, the fan-development platform and national marketing initiative funded by The Jockey Club, will host its 11th annual Pre-Preakness Party May 14 at Laurel Park. Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation have been named as the event's primary charitable beneficiaries. TAA will present a silent auction featuring premium racing memorabilia and collectibles. "Every ticket sold and every dollar raised at the Pre-Preakness Party makes a direct difference in the lives of off-the-track-Thoroughbreds," said Georganne Hale, senior vice president of Racing Development of The...

His name is Immortal Wink (Gimmeawink) and after a career that spanned nine years and 142 races, most of them in Puerto Rico, he was done. He was 10 and had suffered through the kind of wear and tear that is typical with horses who run so often, last so long and wind up at the bottom tier of the sport. He would never go on to a second career, at least one that is typical for a retired Thoroughbred. He just wouldn't be able to do it. But there...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be on-site at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, Mar. 21 for Texas Champions Day. Throughout the race day, Sam Houston will spotlight aftercare by featuring Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, which has three accredited organizations located in Texas: Lake Fork Stables, Lonestar Outreach to Place Ex-Racers (LOPE), and Remember Me Rescue. As part of the day's festivities, Sam Houston Race Park will honor Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a named race. "Sam Houston Race Park is pleased to recognize Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance during Texas Champions Day," said Bryan...

The NTRA will match all horseplayer donations up to $5,000 to support Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at the upcoming NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC). The event will take place at the Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel and Casino from March 13-15, 2026. "Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance plays a vital role in promoting responsible aftercare across our sport," said Tom Rooney, President & CEO, NTRA. "We're proud to feature their mission at the National Horseplayers Championship and to support initiatives that strengthen racing's long-term integrity."

In the age of social media, I realize that I'm writing this at my own peril. And I'm probably once again spitting in the wind. However, I feel like someone needs to speak up on a few things concerning our latest self-inflicted crisis regarding our lack of unity and dysfunction as an industry. To say that as an industry we continue to be "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" is an understatement. We have been that way for the 40-plus years I've been involved in horse racing. Hence, the reason...

In 2011, I attended the meeting at Belmont Park that launched the creation of the TAA. I'll never forget how passionate Mike Repole was in that meeting as he paced back and forth leading the conversation that no one wanted to lead. One thing everyone agreed upon was that something needed to be done to fund and monitor aftercare. That was a huge accomplishment and pointed the industry in the right direction for both funding and accreditation. However, the goal was for both funding and infrastructure to grow over time,...

The Jockey Club will distribute 100 microchip scanners this week to aftercare organizations to facilitate the identification of Thoroughbreds, TJC announced in a press release Tuesday. Approximately 400 additional scanners will be distributed in the coming months. "We are providing these scanners as a service to the industry to help aftercare organizations and others identify Thoroughbreds and report whereabouts information, which will greatly benefit our traceability efforts," said Kristin Werner, deputy general counsel and director of Industry Initiatives, The Jockey Club. "These scanners work with the ID My Thoroughbred app,...