Thoroughbred Aftercare

The homebred son of Super Saver, Totalitario made his racing debut as a three-year-old at Finger Lakes Racetrack for Dr. Rafael Lopez, under trainer Rafael Rohena. After breaking his maiden at Laurel Park as a four-year-old, the Kentucky-bred was claimed by Erin McElwee, the Maryland Jockey Club director of facilities. “I took a job for The Maryland Jockey Club in 2017 and started a string here with trainer Kieron Magee,” McElwee said. “Kieron’s wife, Kelly called me one day about a horse she liked that was entered the next day. I saw he ran in New York and was going short but when they brought him to Maryland, they tried him long and he seemed to like that better. At the time I didn’t have any horses so I figured why not, this will be fun. The day I claimed him he won and I was so excited to see the progression he was making.” McElwee recalled meeting Totalitario, or “Toto,” for the first time. The chestnut gelding surprised her in more ways than one, but what surprised her most of all was his big, yet easy-going personality. “Toto has two personalities: Toto the lazy wanna be pony horse and Totalitario the competitive racehorse,” McElwee said. “As soon as he was in the paddock he was different. I remember looking at him and thinking– wow I might get second or third today. We ended up winning that day with one of the most confident horses I will ever own. He even almost set a track record that day, he ran 1:34.77 and the record is 1:34.2.” McElwee and Magee saw Toto through 2019 and the beginning of 2020 before he started to show signs of losing interest in his job. Instead of being eager for morning workouts, Toto preferred socializing at the gap and ponying horses back and forth. McElwee knew the racing chapter of his life was coming to a close. “At the end of the two years we saw his interest decline,” she said “He would want to stay with the ponies and outrider more and more in the morning. He would run a good race and then not try the next. I knew the time was coming for his retirement. So I talked to Kieron and Kelly and we made the decision to retire him.” McElwee and Kieron made the decision to retire Toto to Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)-accredited Foxie G Foundation by way of Beyond the Wire with a race record of 4-7-3 and earnings over $122,000. McElwee’s decision to retire the gelding sound and healthy provided Toto the opportunity to start a new career, but McElwee worried for her beloved four-legged friend all the same and was intent on keeping a close eye on him, wherever his next career may take him. “Owning a racehorse is the most expensive but rewarding experience of someone’s life if they embrace it,” McElwee said. “Retirement is part of their career and as an owner you always need to be emotionally and financially preparing for it. The key is to retire them when they will be set up for success in the transition. As an industry there are so many great programs out there to assist in their retirement. But as responsible owners we need to complement that with fiscal and medical support.” In March 2021, Christine Cook was working as a nurse on the front lines of the pandemic when she got a call from the Foxie G Foundation founder, Laurie Calhoun. Calhoun knew prior to the pandemic Cook had been interested in competing in the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover on a Foxie G Foundation horse, and she had the perfect one in mind for Cook. Despite being overwhelmed by the stress of working in healthcare during the pandemic, when Calhoun insisted she had found her ‘the one,’ Cook could not resist the temptation. “She said I really needed to meet [Totalitario],” Cook recalled. “I was immediately enamored with his athleticism and work ethic, and eventually fell completely head over heels for him.” Cook adopted Toto, and shortly thereafter the two began his retraining. Over the summer, the pair won champion at Toto’s first hunter show and went cross-country schooling at Fair Hill in preparation for the fall. When October–and the RRP Thoroughbred Makeover–came, it was time to showcase the culmination of their training. Cook entered Toto in both show jumping and eventing. Between the two divisions, they would compete against over 100 other Thoroughbreds. Cook recalls feeling nervous and worried about letting her new partner down in such a large atmosphere. “I did not ride my best, but he took me around the ring and remembered everything I taught him,” Cook said. “I sort of broke out into tears a little while exiting the ring because I was so proud of him.” Her faith in the gelding was well placed as they ended up finishing the makeover as the third highest amateur in show jumping. “Toto is absolutely wonderful,” she said. “I have worked with so many Thoroughbreds that I’ve loved, but after a year into our partnership I still feel giddy whenever I even think about [him].” Looking to the future, Cook plans to explore just all that Toto is capable of. Her years of experience with Thoroughbreds has proven the versatility of the breed, so she and Toto will continue training and competing in jumpers, eventing, and show hunters, but will also begin fox hunting next season– a challenge she is excited to tackle. “I love Toto so much,” she said. “He always challenges me and I know that if I put in the work he’ll be there for me when I need it.”

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Board of Directors elected Jeffrey Bloom as president for the 2022 term and elected new board members at its meeting Jan. 28. Bloom, managing partner of Bloom Racing Stable, has served as a TAA board member since 2019. A Thoroughbred industry veteran of 40 years, he was a professional jockey in addition to serving as a racing manager, bloodstock agent, marketing and media relations consultant, and broadcaster. Following his riding career, he earned a B.S. degree in Financial Services from San Diego State University and his business resume includes a successful venture in corporate business development in the software technology industry. He has selected and managed the careers of numerous stakes winners including the 2019 Eclipse award champion and multiple G1 winner Midnight Bisou. He is extremely passionate about racehorses and their overall welfare both on and off the racetrack. In addition to his involvement with the TAA, he also serves on the board of TOBA. “As a 37-year veteran of the Thoroughbred industry, horse welfare has always been an important part of the business for myself and Bloom Racing,” said Bloom. “Through serving on the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance board, I have come to realize how important this organization needs to be for all of us who are fortunate enough to work in such a dynamic sport. As incoming president of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, I look forward to assisting the board, the accredited organizations, and the industry at large with the ongoing plan that serves us all well.” James G. Bell, president and racing manager of Godolphin, served as TAA president in 2014 and 2021. Bell will remain on the TAA’s board and executive committee for 2022 as immediate past president. “Our board members stepped up to the plate in 2021,” said Bell. “Much of our success can be attributed to board members actively engaging other industry participants in discussion about aftercare solutions. Our new members all bring that same dedication and Jeff has been very instrumental throughout his time on the board. With his leadership and energy, many new goals will be reached for the TAA.” Bloom and Bell are joined on the executive committee by TAA Vice President Craig Bandoroff, owner of Denali Stud; TAA Treasurer Melissa Hicks, director of tax services at Dean Dorton; TAA Secretary Walter Robertson, attorney at Stites & Harbison; Madeline Auerbach, founding board member of the TAA, founder of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), and a Thoroughbred owner and breeder; Terry Finley, founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds, board member of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, and Belmont Child Care Association; and Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing and president of 1/ST Content. The TAA rotates its board of directors and its executive officers. The board members beginning service in 2022 are: Laura Barillaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Jockey Club; Dr. Jeffrey Berk VMD, Equine Medical Associates; Aidan Butler, chief operating officer of 1/ST Racing and president of 1/ST Content; Mark Casse, Hall of Fame trainer; John A. ‘Jack’ Damico, founding partner of Matson, Driscoll & Damico LLC, manager of The Posse Racing Stable and East Coast Partners; Terry Finley, founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds, board member of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, Thoroughbred Charities of America, Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund, and Belmont Child Care Association; Melissa Hicks, tax director of Dean Dorton. They join current TAA board members: Jimmy Bell, Jeff Bloom, Walt Robertson, Jr., Madeline Auerbach, Craig Bandoroff, Simon Bray, Donna Brothers, Boyd Browning, Tom Cannell, Brian Graves, Susie Hart, John Keitt, Chip McGaughey, Josh Rubenstein, Richard Schosberg, Tom Ventura, and Nicole Walker. Click here to see the full list of the TAA’s board of directors.

Dr. Hipp was thoughtfully retired by his connections to TAA-accredited Hope After Racing Thoroughbreds. The Iowa-based organization spent two months rehabbing Dr. Hipp before he was cleared to begin retraining for a second career.

The 2022 application for accreditation by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is now available on OpenWater and can be accessed by clicking ThoroughbredAftercare.org/Accreditation.

Upon retirement from racing, “Kid”, as he is affectionately known, became a track pony at NYRA, his friendly and easy-going personality making him a good candidate for assisting racehorses on the track.

Season 5 of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s popular live webcam series Foal Patrol is now available online at www.foalpatrol.com. Foal Patrol is a one-of-a-kind collection of live cameras following the daily activities of in-foal mares produced by the National Museum of Racing. Millions of people throughout the world have viewed the popular webcam program since its inaugural season in 2018. The Foal Patrol Season 5 participants are: Elate (in foal to Speightstown at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.), Spanish Bunny (in foal to Uncle Mo at Gainesway Farm, Lexington, Ky.), Traveling Tiger (in foal to Audible at Safari North at Pauls Mill Farm, Versailles, Ky.), Repeta (in foal to Volatile at Three Chimneys Farm, Versailles, Ky.), and Floripa (in foal to Vekoma at Old Tavern Farm, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.). Live footage will expand as the mares approach their expected foaling dates. Season 5 will feature a new education site at www.foalpatrol.com/education to connect Foal Patrol fans of all ages to online resources, videos, and podcasts that begin with breeding and reproduction and span the life of the Thoroughbred, including Just for Kids; our Insights videos for youth considering industry careers; online resources about the health and care of the horse; and the platform of Your Stories for viewers’ photo submissions and stories of how Foal Patrol has inspired them. New content will be added to the site weekly from January through June. A variety of Thoroughbred industry partners have committed to supporting Foal Patrol’s educational efforts with regular content and support throughout Season 5. “One of the many wonderful things about the sport of racing is that it has a great history of its industry partners working together to make projects such as Foal Patrol as successful as possible,” said Cate Masterson, director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. “We’ve received nothing but positive responses from within the racing community about Foal Patrol and we are so grateful for everyone’s contributions to the program.” Featured content partners for Foal Patrol this season include the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the Retired Racehorse Project, organizations whose content will focus on the lives of Thoroughbreds once their racing career is concluded. While Foal Patrol centers on the care of in-foal mares, foals, and early foal development, the platform also connects people to information and resources that span the life of the Thoroughbred – from foaling to retirement. “We’re thrilled to partner with the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Foal Patrol series to showcase off-track thoroughbreds finding success in the next phase of their lives,” said Alexandra Kokka, the marketing and communications manager for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. “Thanks to our network of 82 TAA-accredited organizations across North America, more than 13,700 Thoroughbreds have been affected by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, and we can’t wait to share their stories on Foal Patrol.” “We’re looking forward to bringing Foal Patrol fans a closer look at second career opportunities for horses after racing,” said Kirsten Green, interim executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that takes a market-based approach to Thoroughbred aftercare. “#SecondCareerSaturday will explore the next steps in a retired racehorse’s life and the many paths they can take once retired from the track.” Paulick Report is the primary media partner for Foal Patrol season 5. Other industry partners for content or promotion include Amplify Horse Racing, Equibase, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Harness Horse Youth Foundation, Horse Country, Jockey Club Technology Services, Keeneland Kids Club, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Equine Industry Pipeline, Mill Ridge Farm, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences, and University of Louisville Equine Industry Program. For more information about the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, including upcoming events, please visit www.racingmuseum.org or call (518) 584-0400.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced Nov. 18 that $3.7 million will be awarded as grants to 82 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations that currently hold TAA accreditation.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance announced today that 29 Thoroughbred aftercare organizations have been awarded accreditation.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the Official Aftercare Partner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 5-6 at Del Mar. The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is also an Official Charity of the Breeders’ Cup, along with aftercare partner California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). During the World Championships, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will present its Grade 2 namesake race, formerly the Marathon Stakes. In addition, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has partnered with TVG to be a part of the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), the feature race on Future Stars Friday Nov. 5. “We are delighted that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has joined with us again as our official aftercare partner of the World Championships, and by continuing their sponsorship of the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes” said Dora Delgado, Breeders’ Cup Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer. “As a foundation supporter, Breeders’ Cup salutes the exemplary work of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance in approving aftercare organizations in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds following their racing careers.” “It’s a privilege to have the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance partnered with the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile again,” said Andrew Moore, Vice President Racing TVG/FanDuel Group. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance does tremendous work and racehorse aftercare is a very important cause to the TVG team and all our viewers.” The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will have a presence on-site at Del Mar alongside CARMA. CARMA works with all 11 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organizations in the state of California to safely transition horses from California racetracks into the next phase of their lives. “Hosting the Breeders’ Cup in Del Mar provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the strength of California Thoroughbred aftercare nonprofits,” said Lucinda Lovitt, Executive Director of CARMA. “CARMA is excited to partner with the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at yet another Breeders’ Cup World Championships.” As a seed money donor, the Breeders’ Cup has been a supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since inception. “We are once again thrilled to be the Official Aftercare Partner of the Breeders’ Cup, who was a founding member,” said Vice President Jeff Bloom. “The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is our industry’s premier showcase and an enormous opportunity for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to highlight the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare and the financial support we provide to the more than 81 accredited organizations throughout the country.” Photo: Bill Denver/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup/Cal Sport Media

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit is the joint effort of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), and is a conference focused on education and networking among those with a professional interest in the retraining and rehoming of Thoroughbreds after racing.