CANTER Ohio

For everyone who truly loves these incredible Thoroughbred athletes, you’ll understand my frustration with @jockeyclub. Through the NTA, Pat and I spent months doing real work on aftercare research, due diligence, calls, meetings, and conversations with hundreds of passionate people across the industry. Sixteen months ago, we presented a sustainable funding model to the incoming Chairman and the longtime ineffective President of The Jockey Club, one we believed could generate $20 million annually in NEW aftercare funding. We even discussed issuing a joint press release. Months later, we were told they “passed.” Then in August at Saratoga, I met directly with the Stewards and asked a simple question: Why was this proposal rejected??? I was told, by the Stewards themselves, that they had never even seen the proposal. 😡 Let that sink in. A viable plan that could deliver $20 million more every year for aftercare was either ignored, buried, or intentionally withheld. How many Thoroughbreds could have been saved from slaughter, kill pens, or being shipped to Puerto Rico or Mexico with that funding??? How many more programs could have been supported??? How much more could the TAA and other aftercare organizations have accomplished??? This is disappointing, devastating, and beyond sad. The Jockey Club and its Stewards have failed the industry, and worse, they have failed the Thoroughbred. @BloodHorse, @theTDN, and industry leaders: please get answers. Transparency matters. Accountability matters. We must rally together and demand real, additional funding for aftercare, not optics, not excuses. You have my full dedication and commitment to lead this charge. We must demand immediate answers and action from The Jockey Club and its Stewards on this critical issue. Below is the basic model the NTA has been pushing for the past 18 months. What do you think???

@amytheartist And paper ballots aren't being offered? In Ohio you can request a paper ballot even if the machines are working. Weird.

I'm in a deep red part of swing state Pennsylvania, and all the voting machines are broken across this county and the neighboring ones. People are stranded in line, and a constable told them they don't get the machines working by 10PM, they will turn people away. I'm not sure what to do.

Another great day at the @RRP_TBMakeover! Love seeing our CANTER grads tearing it up!

Welcome to CANTER farm, Marsico. CANTER grad, Dukkhan is excited to show you around.

@fullcircleeq @mpadgett011258 Thank you! It's hard to keep up with social media as a team of volunteers who all have add'l FT jobs (and horses!). We try.

@mpadgett011258 Thank you for sharing. So many excellent orgs do not maintain active presence on X. We are grateful for the work of @CANTER_Ohio in particular. 🐎❤️

Many excellent orgs not active on X, here are a few more: Kentucky Humane Society Equine C.A.R.E. kyhumane.org/equine/care/ LOPE lopetx.org Mitchell Farm Equine mitchellfarm.org McConathy Farm Rescue mcconathyfarmrescue.com #EquineWelfare #aftercare

Happy to announce the 20 aftercare programs that were selected for this years @KentuckyDerby charity poker event. Sorry we couldn’t include everyone. We are raising $200k for thoroughbred aftercare. Many of you have helped to make this possible. Thank you. #actionnotwords #horseracing @theTDN @BloodHorse @ChurchillDowns Special thanks to all of those donating. @coolmoreamerica @RepoleStable @AirdrieStud @kdonworth @WhiteHorseIns @george__hills @TaylorMadeSales @WinStarFarm @QatarRacingClub @westpointtbred @Gainesway @HunterRankin @jeremysdelk @HillnDaleFarm @FourPillarsFarm @FasigTiptonCo @flothejock Mike maker

@fudwvu @MrKenRudulphTV The industry should be paying for aftercare. Not aftercare facilities begging from the public.

@RRP_TBMakeover Yes! Stories about the volunteers who help transition horses to new careers, and the money non-profits raise to do so.

Let's discuss (because we haven't in a while!): should aftercare stories be included in the pre-race programming on network TV on #KentuckyDerby day?

@LindaCKBL Accurate. My Tiznow child is similarly opinionated.

Tiznow! “I don’t step on concrete, I will never go into the exercise pen, I won races when I felt like it, and only Larry can bring me in from my paddock.” The most beautiful boy in Kentucky! 💋

@vmcernadas @RRP_TBMakeover 😂😂😂 fair. Like I said, I was only thinking of a situation here where we couldn't get the help we needed for a humane case because of the way the law works.

@RRP_TBMakeover @CANTER_Ohio ^this. Also, the way we treat a lot of "pets" would drive most horses bonkers. Hell, it drives a lot of "pets" bonkers.

Let's discuss: is it realistic to believe or expect that the first home post-racing will be a "forever home"?

@RRP_TBMakeover Little by little...which is why these conversations are so important! Education, education, education! Step one: no horse leaves the track without a promise of safety! (also unrealistic 😂)

@CANTER_Ohio There's no easy answer for sure! Hopefully there are routes to strengthening your horse protection laws locally that will help out your cause.

@RRP_TBMakeover Good point! I was just thinking about some humane cases we've dealt with... thanks for the perspective!

@CANTER_Ohio One example: in some jurisdictions, pets cannot be outside in certain temperatures unsupervised for more than 10 minutes. That doesn't really work for turning out horses!

@RRP_TBMakeover I was thinking about our humane cases in my area -- it's hard to prosecute because horses are livestock on our books.

@CANTER_Ohio Agree on traceability, but disagree on changing classification to pets. Livestock classification actually offers many protections to horses and horse owners that would be jeopardized by calling them "pets" (liability laws, research funding, veterinary care, legal protection, etc)

@RRP_TBMakeover @LindaCKBL Canter Ohio is interested in learning more about your ideas. We hold fundraisers at our track all summer long. Loop us in!

@LindaCKBL Great suggestions! We are starting to see the tide turning with more tracks taking opportunities to recognize and celebrate careers after racing. We are partnering with many tracks this year for one such project!

Let's chat: what steps can the racing industry take, big or small, to make aftercare a normal part of the conversation around horse racing?

@iamcatallen @RRP_TBMakeover What if all horses had to be registered every few years like we do for dogs & cars? I have to get a dog license every year, & my car has to pass an e-check to get tags. Horsed dumped could be traced to last owner & fined (jailed)

@RRP_TBMakeover Put a microchip scanner at every single US border. Every TB that does not return should be traced back to the last registered owner and that owner should have to answer for it, under oath. After a certain number of “strikes”, they should be banned for life from the sport.

Let's chat: how can the racing & aftercare industry work together to increase traceability after racing? Does the industry need increased traceability for its horses after they leave the track?

There is SO much to love about this photo. Trainer Kim Oliver reconnected with her stakes-winning stable star Mr Wild Kitty at the Spring Gulch Horse Trials on Sunday. Then “Tigger” and Pat Parkhill, his new rider who absolutely adores him, won the blue ribbon at Beginner Novice.

@kaitlinefree Lady Dyanaformer. Every entry.

What single (horse & race) was your most confident ever on a ticket?

This week’s #ThoroughbredAftercareThursday spotlights CHANGE OF FORTUNE, the Godolphin-bred out of MGSW Better Lucky, who found his second career in Western Dressage through @tbaftercare-accredited @CanterKentucky. Learn about him and his connections at foalpatrol.com/education/afte…

@ChampsTrack @JACKThistledown

What is your "home track" or the track closest to you? 🐴