Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare

All Posts & News Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Retraining Tips Supporter Features Inspector Spotlights Previous Post the long road home The Long Road Home By: Alexis Arbaugh August 22, 2024 Success Stories Tags:accredited aftercare, Accredited Facility, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Success story, Trail Ridig Lora Eike was familiar with Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA) as she had previously adopted a 2009 grey gelding, Crafty Noble, in 2019. In 2022, Lora was enlisted to help a friend find an off-the-track Thoroughbred, so she reached out to Kelley Stobie, Co-Founder, Secretary, and Executive Director of CTA. Lora’s friend was looking for a horse suitable for a 13-year-old girl in a training program. Kelley recommended Trust in Russ, a 2015 Kentucky-bred dark bay gelding. In his four-year career from 2018 to 2022, Trust in Russ had 71 starts and earned $68,731. Lora’s friends decided to adopt a different Thoroughbred from CTA, which left Trust in Russ open for adoption. Kelley was adamant that Trust in Russ (Rico) would have been perfect for a 13-year-old girl because of his kind and sweet nature. “I knew he had to be good, and so I wanted him for myself,” Lora wrote. Lora planned to ship Rico from Puerto Rico to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Unfortunately, during his layover in Ocala, Florida, he ran into a fence and injured himself badly. “He is doing amazing now,” Lora wrote. After getting him home to Virginia and healing from his injuries, Rico is a happy and healthy horse. Rico spends his days “living his best life” by taking inexperienced riders through the mountains of Virginia. He takes perfect care of everyone who rides him and is “truly a gem and a complete gentleman.” Lora is immensely grateful for CTA and all that they did for Rico so that she can care for and love him for the rest of his life. “From the flight to Miami and the vet bills from the injury at the layover barn, I’d like you to know that this horse is worth every penny spent, and a whole lot more,” Lora wrote. Share This Article Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

All Posts Press Releases Success Stories Aftercare Editorials Previous PostNext Post 90 Races to Forever Home: Strike N’ Win 90 Races to Forever Home: Strike N’ Win By: Alexis Arbaugh December 12, 2023 Other, Success Stories Tags:Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Success story, Thoroughbred Aftercare, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare was established in 2008 and co-founded by Kelley Stobie. Ever Since then, she has run their wonderful program on her farm in Puerto Rico. Strike N Win found his way into Kelley’s program in 2017, though the circumstances of how he ended up on the island remain a mystery. There is no documented record of him being part of a sale or any evidence of him being brought to Puerto Rico. Kelley distinctly recalls the day she picked him up from the racetrack, primarily because of his evident apprehension when it came to trailers. It took some time and effort, but eventually, Strike managed to load onto the trailer, although not without a fair share of scrapes and bruises along the way. Strike, a 15-year-old bay gelding, had an impressive racing career in Puerto Rico, competing in a total of 90 races. Kelley had an immediate sense that there was something special about him from the very first moment she saw him. It was clear to her that she needed to bring him home and give him a chance for a new life beyond the racetrack. Being a seasoned racehorse with 90 starts, it would be expected that he would be a pro at loading onto trailers. However, Kelley had plans to find him a new forever home through adoption, so it was crucial to address his fear of trailers. They approached this process with great patience and care, taking things step by step. Over time, Strike was able to conquer his fear and learned to load onto a trailer easily, making him more appealing to potential adopters who could offer him a happy and loving home. Strike became a barn favorite when he arrived at Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare. “He is a blessing and always the first horse to greet people and be part of everyone’s conversations,” Kelley wrote about Strike’s lovely attitude. Strike can even freely roam the farm with his buddy Galen, a retired Paseo horse. He loves being able to check in on everything and oversees the farm operations. Kelley ended up adopting Strike after about 5 months on her farm. Later that year in September, Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rice, wreaking havoc and destroying a lot of the island. Thankfully Strike and 12 others on Kelley’s farm made it through. Kelley’s increasing responsibilities and the growing popularity of her farm have limited her opportunities to ride Strike as often as she used to. Nevertheless, she loves him so much, and riding him is still a cherished and delightful experience when she gets the chance to do so. Share This Article   Do you have a success story that you would like to share? Submit your experience with an accredited organization here: Success Story Submission

After 12 starts in the States, the son of Flower Alley ran an additional 23 races at Camarero Race Track in Puerto Rico. In 2020, “Vinny” was able to return home to the mainland with the help of TAA-accredited Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare and the willingness of TAA-accredited aftercare charities in the U.S. to take in these horses upon their return.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) hosted its Second Annual Calendar Photo Contest. Twelve winning photos were chosen to be featured in the 2023 TAA calendar. Entries for the contest were collected online from April 5 until June 11, 2022. Contestants had the opportunity to win the top prize of a Tipperary 9800 Devon with MIPS helmet, sponsored by Tipperary. The top 12 winners received a TAA swag bag and copy of the 2023 calendar. The first-place submission, which is also featured on the cover of the 2023 TAA Calendar, was won by Erin Degnan and her adopted off-track Thoroughbred Cackle the Cuda, courtesy of John Miller, Spectrum Photography. Cackle the Cuda made 43 starts before retiring from racing with a record of 8-11-6 and earnings of $118,790. Now this Kentucky-bred warhorse is enjoying a life of competitive trail and endurance riding. TAA-accredited After the Races began retraining Cackle the Cuda for a second career after racing, before placing him for adoption which ultimately led the son of Candy Ride (ARG) to Degnan. The 12 photographs chosen for the 2023 calendar photo contest are as follows: “Caribbean Meets Cowboy” by Chelsey Burris – TAA-accredited Organization: Friends of Ferdinand “Cackle the Cuda” by Erin Degnan (Photo by: John Miller of Spectrum Photography) – TAA-accredited Organization: After the Races “Hard Work Working Hard” by Natalie DePinto (Photo by: AK Dragoo Photography) – TAA-accredited Organization: Thoroughbred Placement Resources “Cyrus Looks to The Future” by Robin Doniger – TAA-accredited Organization: Equine Rescue and Adoption Foundation “Just A Girl and Her Heart Horse” by Lyndsy McLendon – TAA-accredited Organization: Equine Rescue of Aiken “Three Bears” by Anita Motion – TAA-accredited Organization: Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation “Peekaboo, I see you!” by Sarah Mowat – TAA-accredited Organization: Illinois Equine Humane Center “Learning Something New” by Natasha Roberson – TAA-accredited Organization: Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare “Let’s Rumble” by Courtney VanErstvelde (Photo by: Jessika Lester Photography) – TAA-accredited Organization: After the Races “Winter Walks” by Justine Watson (Photo by: Glenn Watson) – TAA-accredited Organization: After the Races “Playing in the Pond” by CJ Wilson (Photo by: Philip Martin) – TAA-accredited Organization: Win Place Home “Splish Splash” by Wendy Wooley – TAA-accredited Organization: Secretariat Center For the second consecutive year, the TAA calendar is sponsored by Repole Stable. “The TAA is an awesome organization that we are always thrilled to support,” said Mike Repole. “Their calendar is a great way to show off what our amazing Thoroughbreds can do off the track.” “Congratulations to all our Photo Contest winners, and thank you to everyone who entered,” said TAA Office Manager, Catherine Flowers. “We received many wonderful photos of Thoroughbreds excelling in their second careers, and we look forward to sharing these photos and stories with TAA supporters and donors. Thank you also to our generous sponsors Tipperary and Repole Stable for enabling us to put on this fun contest and produce this beautiful calendar for the second year.” The 2023 TAA Calendar is now available for pre-order. Every $20 donation to the TAA is eligible to receive a calendar upon request. Calendars will begin shipping in November. To preorder the 2023 TAA Calendar, click here.

By: Eric Mitchell/BloodHorse Florida breeder Joanna Reisler had been thrilled to watch Joe Pike , a son of Benny the Bull who she bred and raised, blossom from a $7,500 sale yearling to a stakes winner in Puerto Rico. Purchased and raced initially by high-profile Puerto Rican trainer Ramon Morales, Joe Pike won four of five starts at 2 and was stakes-placed. At 3, he won six of seven starts and won the Copa Quatro de Julio Stakes, which is considered a grade 1 stakes in Puerto Rico but is an ungraded, black-type stakes internationally. In the one race at 3 that he didn’t win, he was second in the Clasico Jose Celso Barbosa Stakes, another Puerto Rican-only grade 1. “He was kind of a celebrity,” recalled Reisler. “He had a following and a little fan club.” Joe Pike kept winning and placing in races through his 5-year-old season for a variety of owners and trainers. In 2018, when he was 7 and already earned more than $130,000, his form took a turn for the worse. Reisler knew racehorses that go off-form in Puerto Rico face few good options. Concerned about Joe Pike’s future, Reisler contacted Kelley Stobie, co-founder of the TAA-accredited Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare program, in 2018 and told Stobie she was willing to take Joe Pike back if the owner no longer wanted to race him. The horse’s owner told Stobie at the time he had plans to stand Joe Pike as a stallion, a plan that ultimately did not pan out because the horse was a reluctant breeder. Two and half months ago, Reisler got a call from Stobie who told her the horse had been turned over to the CTA and wanted to know if Reisler still wanted him back. Absolutely, was Reisler’s answer. The challenge, however, would be covering the more than $3,800 required to get Joe Pike through quarantine, flown to Miami, and then vanned from Miami to Reisler’s 10-acre farm near Ocala. “I can certainly afford to keep him, but I could not pull together the money necessary for the shipping and quarantine,” Reisler said. This is the quandary CTA faces every day. Shouldering the escalating cost of managing and shipping horses back to the U.S. that don’t have a future in racing but could have useful second careers, like Joe Pike. In the recent past, the association would have 40 such horses to manage annually, but a spike in the importing of inexpensive racehorses from the States has dramatically increased the demand for its services. As of June 21, the CTA has already taken in 38 horses, according to Stobie. An increase in financial support has not accompanied the increased demand. The CTA does get a portion of money wagered at Camarero Racetrack, but its 3% cut is on the on-track handle only, while the vast majority of wagers are made at simulcast outlets and through advance-deposit wagering. The CTA’s portion from the on-track handle is about $1,000 per month, according to Stobie. The CTA’s annual operating budget is around $270,000. Last year, according to a June 4 article published by the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico, the organization received $5,580 from Camarero, $7,912 from the Puerto Rico Breeders’ Association, and $27,977 from the Puerto Rico Horse Owners Association. CTA also got $60,000 from the Gaming Commission allocated over four years. In total, these sources cover around 21% of the CTA’s total operating costs and the shortfall has to be made up for through donations. The organization does get grants and donations from the U.S. horse community. “Joe Pike gave his all as a racehorse and was successful, he doesn’t deserve to be euthanized,” said Stobie. Hundreds of racehorses in Puerto Rico don’t have the options afforded Joe Pike. The Center for Investigative Journalism in its recent article about problems within the island’s horse racing industry reported more than 1,400 horses were euthanized from 2015-20 at the Equestrian Confederation Clinic, the larger of two veterinary clinics operating in the stabling area of Camarero. Why each horse was euthanized during that six-year period is not documented, though a communication from the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission reportedly indicates this documentation will be required beginning this year, according to the report. So while some horses were euthanized due to fractures or other career-ending injuries, many were euthanized because they have chronic injuries and are no longer competitive, according to several Puerto Rican owners and breeders. These owners and breeders told BloodHorse about 30 horses are euthanized each month. “Each owner treats their horse how they want,” Orlando Rivera Carrión, executive director for the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, told the Center for Investigative Journalism. “Those who have many resources treat their horses well. Those who have few resources, treat them with few resources.” With Reisler willing to take Joe Pike, the CTA bore the cost of the blood work and vaccinations necessary to be sure the horse was healthy and had him gelded. He was then doctored and monitored to be sure he could withstand the rigors of shipping. Stobie said each time the CTA puts a horse in quarantine, it puts out a call for funding for its Flight Fund. She said the donations rarely equal the cost for each horse, which forces the CTA to dig into its reserves. Reisler welcomed Joe Pike back home June 19. Without the CTA, she said, bringing the old warrior to the States likely would not have happened. “The CTA really did a great job staying in touch with the owner in Puerto Rico and reminding him he had other options if he no longer wanted the horse. Then once the horse was surrendered, they made sure he was healthy enough for the flight,” Reisler said. “He has had some soundness problems in the past and he has a softball-sized ankle, but now he is moving sound.” Joe Pike joins a couple of other retired geldings that Reisler has on her farm. Reisler said the

With a background in Paso Finos, adopter Ariana Rodriguez’s first OTTB ride was aboard the By My Side. And that ride sealed the deal.

Strike N Win made all 90 of his starts in Puerto Rico, mostly in the claiming ranks. The Illinois-bred son of Tenpins retired with 10 wins and $72,854 in earnings. Then he came to Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare.

Heather Wiley helped deliver All Hundreds and with the help of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, they have reunited and begin a new chapter together.

On the Pegasus World Cup card Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and approximately 25 of its accredited aftercare organizations accepted a check for $80,000 from Gulfstream Park.

Starting her racing career in the United States in 2008 as a 3-year-old, she ran in the U.S. until the fall of 2014 when she was sent to Puerto Rico. Worthy of Wings held her own in her new location, winning every year until 2018. That’s where TAA-accredited Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare and her future adopter, Kyle Rothfus, came in.