The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association has pledged $1 per start at Arlington International Racecourse and Hawthorne Race Course in 2019 to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
In addition to its support of the TAA, the Illinois THA created and supports Galloping Out, a TAA-accredited organization in North Riverside, Illinois that focuses on retraining, rehabbing, and adoption of Thoroughbred racehorses from the Chicago-area racetracks.
“The importance of Thoroughbred aftercare cannot be overstated,” said David McCaffrey, executive director of the ITHA. “To that end, the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is proud to partner with the TAA, the preeminent group in overseeing proper, effective horse rehoming programs. This partnership is a win-win-win, benefiting the ITHA, the TAA, and most importantly, the horses who will be retiring and are in need of a second career.”
“We are thankful for Illinois THA’s commitment to accredited Thoroughbred aftercare,” TAA operations consultant Stacie Clark Rogers said. “This partnership is a great example of the local industry working together with an accredited organization to assist horses after they leave the racetrack.”
The TAA’s funding provides annual grants awarded to accredited aftercare organizations and supports the inspection process of aftercare organizations. Earmarked specifically for equine care, TAA grants help support the work of TAA-accredited organizations to retrain, rehome, and retire Thoroughbreds. Since 2012, the TAA has granted more than $13.8 million to accredited aftercare organizations.
Photo by Suzie Picou-Oldham
