Third Annual Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit to Take Place at Thoroughbred Makeover

September 17, 2021

DSC 0121

Panelists at the 2019 Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit

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.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will consist of four panel discussion sessions: “Proper Financials and Reporting;” “Best Practices for Rehabbing and Marketing Horses Retired Due to Injury;” “How the Pandemic Has Changed the Face of Fundraising;” and “Navigating Common Challenges Aftercare Organizations Face.” The panels and discussions offer opportunities for individuals and organizations to discuss and idea-share on challenges unique to Thoroughbred aftercare.

“Each year we work to curate session topics pertinent to those with a professional interest in aftercare, whether that be on the nonprofit side or in the private sector,” said RRP executive director Jen Roytz. “This year’s lineup of topics and speakers is a reflection of the current challenges many organizations and individuals are facing and will hopefully offer solutions and opportunities for meaningful dialogue.”

Confirmed panelists include Dr. Stuart Brown, DVM, Vice President of Equine Safety at Keeneland; Anna Ford, program director at New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program; Karen Gustin, executive director of Kentucky Equine Adoption Center; Beverly Strauss, co-founder and executive director of MidAtlantic Horse Rescue; and Matt Thacker, Finance and Data Manager at TAA. Panelists will be updated at TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit.

The conference is a collaboration of the four presenting organizations in an effort to bring together the Thoroughbred aftercare community in what is already the largest gathering of both individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in Thoroughbreds after their racing days are over.

“The pandemic continues to influence how aftercare operates and constantly presents new challenges to these organizations,” said TCA executive director Erin Crady. “The focus of this year’s Summit is intended to help organizations face not only the normal challenges of aftercare but the unique tests of working and fundraising during a pandemic.”

“The TAA is thrilled to once again participate in the Aftercare Summit,” said TAA operations consultant Stacie Clark. “Our newly acquired Finance and Data Manager Matt Thacker has been invaluable to the TAA and we are eager for him to share his insights during the summit. The advancement of aftercare governance and financing protocols is instrumental to the success of our collective mission to facilitate Thoroughbreds retiring from racing.”

Registration is required, which can be done online at the link on the TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit. The cost to participate is $10 per person, which will be collected as a donation and awarded as a 50-50 to a randomly selected aftercare organization in attendance. Registration will also include access to the live stream of the conference via Zoom so attendees can participate from anywhere in the world. 

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will be held in the TCA Covered Arena Lounge at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky on Tuesday, October 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. It is held in conjunction with the TCA Thoroughbred Makeover, a training competition for horses in their first year of retraining after retirement from racing. This year’s edition also features competition for horses from the postponed 2020 event which have had up to two years of retraining, competing separately. Over 500 horses between both competition years are expected to attend and compete across ten disciplines, including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, field hunter, freestyle, polo, ranch work, show hunter and show jumper. The full schedule of events can be found at TBMakeover.org.

For more information about the Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, please visit TBMakeover.org/aftercare-summit.

About the Retired Racehorse Project

The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for off-track Thoroughbreds in the equestrian world. In addition to producing the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the organization also publishes Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, hosts off-track Thoroughbred retraining clinics and programming at major horse expos and events around the country, and maintains the online Thoroughbred Sport Tracker (the internet’s only user-driven database tracking second career talents and accomplishments of registered Thoroughbreds). Visit the RRP online at TheRRP.org.

About the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance

Based in Lexington, Ky., the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, rehome, and retire Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $20.7 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations supporting approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.

About Thoroughbred Charities of America

TCA funds and facilitates the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations.  Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $25 million to more than 200 charities. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).

About The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program

Created and announced in October 2011, The Jockey Club T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbred through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards. Additional information about T.I.P. is available at tjctip.com and on the T.I.P. Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It founded America’s Best Racing (americasbestracing.net), the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing, and in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, operates OwnerView (ownerview.com), the ownership resource. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.

In Other News

October 3, 2024

2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Event Survey

No excerpt…
Read More
October 2, 2024

Follow Along with the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

The banner event of the Retired Racehorse Project is coming October 9-12! Here’s how to follow all the action.…
Read More
Featured image for “Follow Along with the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover”
October 1, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project Announces 2024 Makeover Champions Participants

The RRP announced today the list of former breeders, owners, trainers, stallion farms and other connections participating in Makeover Champions, the RRP’s new initiative to encourage more public support of Thoroughbreds in careers beyond racing via the Thoroughbred Makeover.…
Read More
Featured image for “Retired Racehorse Project Announces 2024 Makeover Champions Participants”
September 30, 2024

Connections Corner Signup Form

No excerpt…
Read More
September 27, 2024

Real Rider Cup Fair Hill Raises $80,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare, Announces Plans To Go West

As of this writing, the event has raised over $600,000 for Thoroughbred aftercare and Motion has a vision to expand the event model to benefit more aftercare entities.…
Read More
Featured image for “Real Rider Cup Fair Hill Raises $80,000 for Thoroughbred Aftercare, Announces Plans To Go West”
September 24, 2024

RRP Announces Format Changes for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover

Beginning in 2025, the Finale Championship event will be replaced by individual discipline championships, welcoming back the top ten highest-placed horses after preliminary competition.…
Read More
Featured image for “RRP Announces Format Changes for 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover”
September 23, 2024

Tieback Surgery 101: Possible Complications & Long-Term Care

Done correctly, tieback surgery helps a Thoroughbred both on the racetrack and in his second career.…
Read More
Featured image for “Tieback Surgery 101: Possible Complications & Long-Term Care”
September 17, 2024

2024 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Talk Show Man

Talk Show Man, a 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover graduate, is the first recipient of the reimagined Ambassador Award.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Bill Kraatz Thoroughbred Makeover Ambassador Award: Talk Show Man”
September 13, 2024

Churchill Downs Incorporated Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion

This title is awarded to the horse selected by a panel of judges as having the highest level of training at the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America.…
Read More
Featured image for “Churchill Downs Incorporated Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover Champion”
September 11, 2024

September Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Clinics, Party Tickets, and more.

26 days stand between all of us and the start of the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover. This email contains vital information to get you through those 26 days. Do not skip it. Special Award Nominations are posted and inquiries are open…
Read More
Featured image for “September Trainer Newsletter: Special Awards, Clinics, Party Tickets, and more.”
September 10, 2024

Trainer Newsletter: 2024 Makeover Clinics Now Open! (Plus Final Entry Edits & Fun Stuff)

Happy September, class of 2024! We’re pleased to announce that the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Clinics, sponsored by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services, are now open for sign-ups! Please log in to the Trainer Portal at theRRP.org and tap New Clinic Registration…
Read More
Featured image for “Trainer Newsletter: 2024 Makeover Clinics Now Open! (Plus Final Entry Edits & Fun Stuff)”
September 10, 2024

Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium

TCA provides exceptional commitment to improving the lives and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses both on and off the track, which has guided its support of the RRP since 2012.…
Read More
Featured image for “Thoroughbred Charities of America Returns as Title Sponsor of Thoroughbred Makeover & National Symposium”
September 6, 2024

Webinar: Diagnose Before You Treat

Sponsored by Bluegrass Equine Surgery; featuring Dr. Heath Manning of Bluegrass Equine Surgery. Recorded August 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “Webinar: Diagnose Before You Treat”
August 26, 2024

Meet the Thoroughbred Makeover Class of 2024

It’s time for our annual deep dive into the data we collected on this year’s Makeover class!…
Read More
Featured image for “Meet the Thoroughbred Makeover Class of 2024”
August 19, 2024

Joint Care for Racehorses & Its Impact on Post-Race Careers

Many options exist to help Thoroughbreds stay sound and comfortable at the racetrack and after racing.…
Read More
Featured image for “Joint Care for Racehorses & Its Impact on Post-Race Careers”
August 10, 2024

August Trainer Newsletter: Changes to 2024 Makeover

Please read this newsletter for a message from our Executive Director regarding changes that are being made to this year’s Thoroughbred Makeover event. The remainder of this newsletter will include reminders for upcoming deadlines and newly scheduled webinars. 2024 Makeover…
Read More
Featured image for “August Trainer Newsletter: Changes to 2024 Makeover”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: The Difficult-to-Place Horse

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 27, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: The Difficult-to-Place Horse”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Networking Within the Industry

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 20, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Networking Within the Industry”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: How Does Your Contract Hold Up?

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 13, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: How Does Your Contract Hold Up?”
August 5, 2024

2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Making Aftercare Your Full-Time Job

Presented by Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation. Originally recorded February 6, 2024.…
Read More
Featured image for “2024 Aftercare Industry Month: Making Aftercare Your Full-Time Job”
August 1, 2024

Trainer Newsletter: Final Entry Open

The Final Entry form is officially open! Log into the Trainer Portal now to complete your form. The Final Entry form will close at 5pm EST on Thursday, August 15th. If you do not submit the final entry form and…
Read More
Featured image for “Trainer Newsletter:   Final Entry Open”
August 1, 2024

Retired Racehorse Project Introduces Makeover Champions Program for Racing Industry

The program invites members of the Thoroughbred racing industry to demonstrate public support for former connected horses who are headed to the 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover.…
Read More
Featured image for “Retired Racehorse Project Introduces Makeover Champions Program for Racing Industry”
July 29, 2024

Selling the Transitioned Thoroughbred

Selling the transitioned Thoroughbred, whether that horse is still developing or is considered more finished, is a bit of a different process than selling prospects right off the track: we consulted two experienced sellers to learn more.…
Read More
Featured image for “Selling the Transitioned Thoroughbred”
July 16, 2024

Volunteer Sign-Ups Now Open for 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover

Help us produce the biggest celebration in Thoroughbred aftercare on October 9-12!…
Read More
Featured image for “Volunteer Sign-Ups Now Open for 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover”