Retired Racehorses

REQUIRED TRAINING FOR LICENSEES
Any individual or group who considers owning
or training a racehorse must understand the
responsibilities that come with it. A horse’s racing
career often lasts less than one quarter of its life. The
owners and caretakers of horses must be prepared
to address the care and needs of horses for the
other three quarters or more of their lifespan. The
responsibility should be embedded systemically
from the start.
Therefore, the Task Force on Retired Racehorses
recommends that in addition to paying a
retirement/retraining surcharge for a license,
owners, trainers and assistant trainers seeking to
race horses in New York state must successfully
complete a training seminar detailing the
responsibilities of the owner and trainer in
managing the career and retirement of a racehorse.
A refresher course would also be a requirement
every three years for license renewal.
Standardbred Retirement Foundation.
Both programs should also include content
from those involved in further careers for retired
racehorses. Training materials could be created
by students and faculty at New York-based
colleges and universities that offer equine study
or sports programs under the supervision of the
aforementioned industry stakeholders.
NEW OWNER SEMINARS
NYRA, with coordination by former jockey Rich
Migliore, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association and the New York Thoroughbred
Breeders, Inc., regularly conducts “New Owner”
seminars. These events are appropriate venues
to educate owners on the needs of retiring
racehorses and aftercare. Other track operators
and organizations in New York state, including the
operators of the harness tracks and Finger Lakes,
should develop and continue similar seminars.
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The program, which should either be completed by
the applicant at Racing and Wagering Board offices
or online at the Racing and Wagering Board’s Web
site, should at a minimum address the life cycle
of the horse, associated costs, factors affecting
behavioral and physical soundness and the options
for aftercare, retraining and retirement. The
training should also make certain that licensees are
aware of the Performance Horse Registry and the
American Performance Horse Registry, sporthorse
pedigrees and sporthorse opportunities for
sound and suitably tempered Thoroughbreds and
Standardbreds.
The content for the Thoroughbred training program
should be generated by industry stakeholders,
such as The Jockey Club, New York Thoroughbred
Breeders, Inc., Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association (TOBA) and the National Thoroughbred
Racing Association (NTRA).
The Standardbred materials should be created by
industry stakeholders, including the U.S. Trotting
Association, horsemen’s associations, Harness
Horse Breeders, Harness Tracks of America and the
The Racing and Wagering Board has offered to
participate in these seminars in order to discuss
licensure requirements (including the training
requirement). The Task Force recommends that track
operators take advantage of this standing offer.
As part of a licensing discussion, the presentation
may dovetail with retirement and aftercare
responsibilities and opportunities.
Such seminars should be regularly conducted
by the Standardbred industry. The Racing and
Wagering Board should also participate in
these seminars to ensure that potential owners
understand the responsibilities and rules pertaining
to racing in New York state and to retiring
racehorses.
EDUCATING AND ENGAGING THE
BETTING PUBLIC
While the Task Force does not believe the fans and
betting public should have any portion of winnings
automatically diverted for retirement purposes, it
does believe that the public should be educated
and engaged on where horses go after the race