Following the example of Churchill Downs and Keeneland, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is pleased to announce that our community of supporters has again grown by two additional racetracks. Ellis Park, in Henderson, Ky., and Turfway Park, in Florence, Ky., have both signed on to match contributions made by owners at each track.
Owners are able to contribute $1 per start to the TAA for each horse that starts in a race at either track. Ellis and Turfway will then match the contributions made by owners during the race meets at their respective tracks.
“Turfway has been a longtime supporter of Thoroughbred aftercare and is happy to join the TAA community,” stated Turfway Park’s general manager, Chip Bach.
“We are always in support of our Thoroughbred athletes,” said Dan Bork, director of racing as well as racing secretary at Ellis Park. “We always want to put the horses first and that doesn’t end when they leave the track. We are thrilled to partner with this great organization that has made such impressive strides in a short amount of time.”
“We are greatly appreciative of both Ellis and Turfway for choosing to step up to support Thoroughbred aftercare with their matching donations, and to the owners who will be participating at both tracks,” stated Jimmy Bell, president of both the TAA and Darley America.
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the non-profit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To date, 42 aftercare organizations supporting 130 facilities across the U.S. and Canada have been granted accreditation and received funding from the TAA. To learn more about the TAA, visit www.thoroughbredaftercare.org.
