Retired Racehorses

EXAMPLES OF CURRENT INDUSTRY FUNDING STREAMS
In 2011 alone the racing and breeding industry has taken steps to address and improve awareness
of retirement programs. Many industry groups from across the U.S. have begun discussing
national funding plans.
For Thoroughbred racing, retirement programs (via the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation)
have already received a “kick-start” grant from California and a program commitment from The
New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s
Association, Inc. (NYTHA) of $185,000 per year in matching funds.
The U.S. Trotting Association, which acts as a single-source organization for the entire
Standardbred racing industry, maintains several programs that, while still in infancy, have shown
positive results for housing and aftercare of retired racehorses.
The USTA’s Support Our Standardbred program sets aside $100,000 each year to assist law
enforcement or registered non-profits that come into possession of abused or neglected
Standardbreds. The program has assisted more than 70 horses so far.
Other groups, including the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the Standardbred
Retirement Foundation, which are both 501 (c) 3 organizations, rely heavily on private donations
and fundraising efforts for their operating expenses.