Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

The 2020 Sequel New York Stallion show has been changed to an Open House. For every contract signed on site and for every winner of the Stallion season raffle, Sequel will donate $100 to the TAA on behalf of the breeder and will match the total at the end of the day. In lieu of a fancy sit-down dinner with lots of giveaways, hats and swag, this year the focus will be on the breeder. “We have received so much feedback from our breeders regarding the tragedy in Peru and our beloved stallion, The Lieutenant. While we are heartbroken, there is nothing that we can do about it. What we can do is to help raise money for an excellent program that helps horses here in the United States,” owner Becky Thomas said. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Since 2012, the TAA has awarded more than $17.2 million to accredited aftercare organizations. “We have been putting these shows on for many years and have spent so much money to do so. We feel the money will be better spent this way and it will give us the opportunity to spend time with our breeders and to talk to them about their horses,” Thomas added. “The new open house format also gives our breeders an opportunity to meet Dr. Bill McQuire, our new assistant manager, as well as welcoming our new 2020 interns from Arkansas to South Africa.” Stallions will be shown throughout the day and the raffle will be held the following Friday giving breeders more time to sign up. Standing at Sequel in 2020 are Freud, Destin, Laoban, Mission Impazible, Stephanoatsee, and Union Jackson. The Open House will take place Sunday, Jan. 19 from 12-4 at the farm in Hudson, NY. A light lunch will be served. For more details, please visit www.sequelnewyork.com or call the office (800) 925-2916. Photo: Sequel New York

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance board of directors elected John Phillips as its President for the 2020 term and elected three new board members at its meeting Dec. 30.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced Nov. 18 that $3,420,000 will be awarded as grants to 74 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations that currently hold TAA accreditation. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has now awarded more than $17.2 million in grants to accredited Thoroughbred aftercare organizations. “The TAA is pleased to be able to award more than $3 million this year, especially with a growing list of accredited organizations,” TAA President Mike Meuser said. “We know these funds will help our accredited organizations retrain, rehome, and retire more Thoroughbreds. However, there is still work to be done and we urge racing industry stakeholders to continue to invest in Thoroughbred aftercare for the long-term survival of our sport.” Earmarked specifically for equine care, TAA grants have helped accredited organizations assist more than 10,300 Thoroughbreds since 2012. TAA-accredited organizations undergo a thorough application and inspection process prior to accreditation being awarded to ensure they meet the TAA’s Code of Standards, which covers five key areas: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Facility inspections are conducted at all facilities housing Thoroughbreds for each organization. Ongoing updates and re-inspections are required of all organizations as a condition of TAA accreditation. The TAA is supported by members from every aspect of the Thoroughbred industry, including owners, breeders, trainers, stallion farms, racetracks, sales companies, horsemen’s groups, foundations, veterinarians, horseplayers, racing fans, wagering technology companies, and many others. View the list of TAA-accredited organizations View the list of TAA industry stakeholders

Shortly after his 12th start, Kulik Lodge retired to TAA-accredited New Vocations with a record of 4-2-0 and earnings just under $181,000. Since the Kentucky-bred’s adoption, the pair has worked hard to build a solid foundation in eventing.

More than 100 equine enthusiasts participated Saturday morning in Gulfstream Park’s first Canter for the Cause, a unique opportunity allowing horse owners to walk, canter or trot their horses across the legendary South Florida track.

A shared love for horses between a father and daughter would bloom again years later when Heather Rio adopted Dusk to Dawn—a former competitor on the NYRA circuit—through TAA-accredited Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in the summer of 2018.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced Nov. 5 that 40 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations have been awarded accreditation effective immediately.

The last time the Breeders’ Cup was hosted in California at Del Mar in 2017, a gelding named Noble Nick ran a distant fourth in the Marathon Stakes Presented by TAA (G2). Through the help of the California Retirement Management Account, the son of Zensational found a home off the track. He first went to a layup facility for rehab before making his way to TAA-accredited Win Place Home.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has been named the official aftercare partner of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park.

More than 250 horses retired from racing through Beyond the Wire’s placement of horses into TAA-accredited organizations.