Retired Racehorses

INCREASED FUNDING FOR RETIRED RACEHORSES
15
As previously indicated, the costs associated
with transition and retraining for newly retired
racehorses can be expensive. The current charitable
donation model has been difficult to maintain and
limits the number of horses that can be humanely
retired and retrained. Given the national and
statewide fiscal challenges, it is incumbent upon the
industry to look within itself to address the issue of
what to do with retired racehorses.
The Task Force believes that New York’s horse racing
industry and its participants – not the betting public
nor taxpayers – must take primary responsibility for
the after care of retired racehorses. For example, if
each racehorse owner was prepared to pay for six
months of a transition and retraining program at a
projected cost of $2,400, every horse raced would
be given an opportunity to be transitioned into
a second career. However, this will not be viable
for every owner and a number of horses will take
longer than six months to transition while others
will require full retirement.
Therefore, a dedicated funding component must be
established for these equine athletes.
Establishing a Retired Racehorse Fund
A series of potential funding streams to address
retirement needs are identified below. To ensure
these funds are handled appropriately and
distributed to qualified and responsible entities,
and further support the concept that the matter
be addressed by the horse racing industry, the
Task Force recommends the establishment of
an industry-comprised Retired Racehorse Fund,
overseen by an Advisory Board and maintained by
the New York State Racing and Wagering Board or
the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
The Retired Racehorse Fund Advisory Board should
consist of 13 members from the racing industry,
including:
• A representative from The New York Racing
Association, Inc.
• A representative from the Finger Lakes Racetrack
• A representative of the harness racing tracks in
New York state
• A New York-based jockey representative from
the Jockeys’ Guild
• A New York-based professional harness driver/
trainer from the Standardbred industry
• A representative from the New York
Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA)
• A representative from the Finger Lakes
Horsemen’s Association
• A representative from the Standardbred Owners
Association of New York
• A representative from the New York
Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
• A representative from the Harness Horse
Breeders of New York State
• An equine veterinarian from a New York-based
land grant university
• Ex-Officio: Commissioner of the New York State
Department of Agriculture and Markets
• Ex-Officio: Chairman of the New York State
Racing and Wagering Board
Photo courtesy of Tracy Egan