Page 6 - 2021 TAA Magazine

Welcome

The sport of Thoroughbred racing is an incredible privilege, and yet this priv-
ilege is at risk. If we want the sport to survive, all of us must commit to a broad
scope of aftercare, which means more than just taking care of one’s own.
Those who have enjoyed Thoroughbred racing and love its culture have an
obligation to secure its future. To do that, we need to make sure that our equine
athletes have a soft landing as they exit racing. The TAA is a well-thought-out,
practical, and effective vehicle to address this. Every year, the TAA’s “safe first
exit from racing” mission is another step closer to ensuring that all horses can
safely exit the sport.
This year, one such step was the expansion of our partners to 81 accredited
organizations, with 170 facilities across North America. These organizations
and their facilities are where the hard work of retraining, re-homing, and
providing sanctuary is accomplished. They are the heart and soul of aftercare.
We invite you to read more about their important work in the following pages.
Another step is the TAA awarding $3.5 million in grants to these organi-
zations in 2020. Despite the obvious fundraising challenges presented by the
COVID-19 pandemic, the amount was the most ever awarded in a single year.
Since its creation almost a decade ago, the TAA has granted $20.7 million to its
accredited partners.
In times of trial you learn who your real friends are. I am pleased to report
that so many of our relationships stepped up this year, especially financially.
Despite racing’s suspension in New York this spring, the New York Racing
Association and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association calcu-
lated their estimated contribution based on the $10 per starter fee and made a
corresponding contribution. The Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protec-
tive Association pledged monthly support to the TAA to further the work of
the accredited aftercare nonprofits in their state. Additionally, Fasig-Tipton
and Keeneland announced revised auction procedures to automatically collect
.05 percent of a horse’s sale price from sellers/owners. Again naming the TAA
as its official aftercare partner, the Breeders’ Cup put our message on a global
stage and encouraged its participants to pledge Breeders’ Cup earnings to the
TAA.
These gestures are more than just money. They are a commitment to and an
understanding of our financial ecosystem and unique equine culture. These
commitments clearly articulate that aftercare is not a charity, but is our
responsibility and obligation. The TAA thanks them and so many other indus-
try stakeholders who have shown their support and leadership in these times.
As we look forward to 2021, we ask industry participants to continue to
support the TAA and its mission. Regardless of where and how you experience
the Thoroughbred and the sport, know that when the TAA seeks your support,
our purpose is to protect the sport by securing a soft landing for our horses who
have given us so much.

John Phillips
President, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Owner, Darby Dan Farm

PAGE 4 DAILY RACING FORM