Page 37 - 2021 TAA Magazine

Caribbean SANCTUARY

Thoroughbred Aftercare REHABILITATION
RETRAINING/ADOPTION

TESTIMONIAL:
“Being accredited by
the TAA gives CTA
the much-needed
validation for our
organization as we
strive to meet the gold
standard in aftercare!
With many logistics
involved to get the
horses in the islands
to better options on
the mainland U.S.,
TAA funding has
made it possible to
cover more of the
day-to-day care,
rehab, and retraining
Puerto Rico-bred Primer Portento, who made 119 starts and earned $78,346 on the racetrack, is
retraining for a new career with CTA co-founder Kelley Stobie. of our horses.”

Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare has been and USDA quarantine availability and also has FOUNDED: 2008

helping Thoroughbreds in Puerto Rico transition increased the difficulties of finding new homes ADDRESS:

to good lives off the track since 2008. More than for horses in Puerto Rico and on the U.S. main-
1,500 U.S.-bred Thoroughbreds race annually land. While we wait for things to pick up again, P.O. Box 43001
in Puerto Rico, a large percentage of which are we are focused on increasing the number of Thor- PMB 372
imported from the U.S. mainland. CTA is located oughbreds we help retire. Rio Grande, Puerto Rico 00745
at the foothills of the El Yunque national rainfor- CTA is proud of our positive working relation- PHONE:
est region and has 10 acres of large paddocks with ship with the Puerto Rico and mainland racing (787) 426-0845
shady shelters and an 11-stall barn. It has become industries. We continue our efforts monthly
a tropical haven and safety net for horses leaving with CTA Day at the races when we recognize MAIN CONTACT:
their racing careers behind. the grooms with the “Caballo Mas Vistoso” (best Kelley Stobie
During 2020, CTA has taken in 30 horses and looking horse) awards, hold live interviews with
adopted 27 to good homes, with 18 returned to the CTA board members, and present a trophy for WEB ADDRESS:
U.S. mainland and nine re-homed in Puerto Rico. the winning owner, trainer, and jockey of one www.ctahorse.com
CTA faces many challenges, including a 1,000-mile race that day. It is important to bring to light the SOCIAL:
distance from the U.S. mainland, lack of resources efforts of backstretch employees who work so horserescue
and qualified homes, poverty, and a tropical hard every day with the horses. @CaribbeanOTTB

environment. Fortunately, CTA has formed good The Caribbean is beautiful but also can be @Caribbean_ottb
working partnerships with several other TAA- unforgiving and very challenging for Thorough-
accredited organizations, as well as with breed- breds both on and off the track. CTA is grateful AVERAGE NUMBER OF
ers and former connections, creating a bridge for to TAA and to all the individuals that not only THOROUGHBREDS PER YEAR:

some horses to return to the United States. financially support our work and efforts but also
COVID-19 has made the placing and move- help with the networking that helps find homes 40-plus

ment of horses more difficult due to air travel for our former racing athletes.

DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 35