The ITHA has developed a plan to assist in the orderly and proper retiring of Thoroughbred race horses.
It is expected that the plan will change as it develops, and this is the explanation for its initial form.
EVERYONE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY THE RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION OF THE HORSE’S OWNER TO ARRANGE AND PAY FOR THE RETIRING OF THEIR RACE HORSES. THIS PLAN IS MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT AND FACILITATE THAT PHASE OF THE HORSE’S CARE.
Eligibility
Not all horses are eligible for the program. The horse to be retired must meet at least one of the following conditions:
·The horse’s last race or work was at Arlington or Hawthorne, a veterinarian has certified that the horse can or should no longer race, and the trainer and owner regularly stable at the track
·The horse is an Illinois-bred and a veterinarian has have certified that the horse can or should no longer race
·The horse is ten years old, its last race was at Arlington or Hawthorne, and the trainer and owner regularly stable at the track.
Process Steps
1.The process is initiated by the current owner or trainer petitioning the ITHA Retired Horse Administrator to have the horse entered into the program.
2.It is determined by the ITHA Equine Welfare Committee that the horse is eligible.
3.The owner or trainer will surrender the horse’s foal papers to the ITHA Equine Welfare Committee. If there are no foal papers, the horse is not eligible.
4.The ITHA Equine Welfare Committee or its designee will counsel the owner (or the owner’s agent – the trainer). The counseling consists of:
·Explaining the program
·Providing the owner (or agent) with a description of a potential tax benefit
·Determining how much of the expense will be borne by the owner (for example, the van ride to the rescue farm, full or partial care at the rescue farm, vet care, etc.)
·Completing the contract with the ITHA and the rescue farm (when determined) covering the retirement arrangement.
5.Following counseling, the ITHA Equine Welfare Committee determines which rescue farm will receive the horse. This determination might be made based on many factors, such as:
·Space availability
·Cost
·Sex of the horse (whole males may not qualify)
·If a mare, if it could/should become a broodmare
·Medical condition
·Behavioral issues
·Expected length of time at the facility
·Potential next career for the horse
·Etc.
6.Upon determining the horse’s destination, the ITHA Equine Welfare Committee makes the arrangements for the vet care required, vanning, and paperwork.
If no rescue facility can take the horse, the owner (trainer) is to be so notified, and the owner will have to make other arrangements.
Funding
The ITHA has established an account for the funds collected to support the horse retirement process. Available funds will be used to supplement owner payments, and may be used for boarding at licensed rescue farms, vanning, special vet care, etc.
The funding will initially come from 0.3% of the Thoroughbred purse fund plus contributions from Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course. Arlington Park has agreed to pay a flat fee of $25,000 at the conclusion of its 2010 meet to the fund and Hawthorne Race Course has agreed to pay $12,500 at the end of its Fall 2010 meet and again at the end of its Spring 2011 meet.
As this whole process is new, it is likely to change as more is learned. Also, it is difficult to even try to estimate the funding required. The ITHA Board allocated $10,000 to start this fund out prior to the end of the Hawthorne meet and the above-described funding should provide a solid basis to continue that funding.
