Retired Racehorses

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promoted or under consideration, the parole
division of the newly merged Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)
should survey – at no extra cost to the state
– inmates and parolees who have completed the
Wallkill program to determine:
• Parolee post-release job placement within the
racing or equine agricultural industry and in
general
• Attitudes about the program
• Recidivism rate
• Success measures
The Task Force on Retired Racehorses finds that
the correctional and therapeutic programs are
admirable for a population of retired racehorses.
Efforts such as the ones described are a small
selection of organizations that seek to help both
horses and people.
The Standardbred industry’s efforts should be
better publicized through a coordinated public
relations/marketing campaign at tracks and
horse related events to drive more donations and
resources to its efforts.
The results of the study should be published by
the DOCCS, with the outcomes of the program
clearly defined. If results indicate, they should be
promoted in order to bolster the development of
new programs and program providers where retired
racehorses are placed in additional federal, state
and local correctional facilities or other locations.
Photo courtesy of TRF, by Debby Thomas/AnimalArtAndPhotography