Page 9 - 2021 TAA Magazine

“It is vital that we take
care of our Thorough-
breds both during and
after their careers. For
all the opinions, ideas,
and strategies about
promoting the future
health of the Thor-
oughbred industry, I
think every breeder
and stallion owner
can agree on one
thing: Horses are our
lifeblood. As the ones
who are engaged in
the breeding of horses,
we breeders and stal-
lion owners have the
responsibility to do
suzie PiCou oldham more for these animals.
Numerous racetracks and horsemen’s groups have created per-start donations, claiming assess-
ments, and other built-in mechanisms designed to help fund Thoroughbred aftercare efforts. We have the most to
gain by meeting our
ing from California racetracks. A main source TAA. And in 2018, its board of stewards approved obligations for after-
of CARMA’s funding comes from a .03 percent a $35 fee on its Report of Mares Bred, which is
deduction from purses, something that owners designated to the TAA, The Jockey Club’s Thor- care, and we have the
are able to opt out of if they choose. Auerbach oughbred Incentive Program, and Thoroughbred
knew that similar mechanisms needed to be Charities of America. most to lose if we fail to
established nationwide for the TAA in order to In addition, industry participants from early do so.”
create a sustainable stream of income. touchpoints in a Thoroughbred’s life jumped on Antony Beck
“I knew that the most important thing that we board. Stallion farms pledged percentages to
had to work on in terms of funding was guaran- the TAA based off stud fees for stallions on their CEO, Gainesway
teed funding,” she said. “If we relied on the good- roster. Also, an aftercare assessment was created
ness of the people around us, although we had through the industry’s major sales companies –
some good people around us, we would never get Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, Ocala Breeders’ Sales
off the ground. Co., and Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Soci-
“In my point of view, the most important thing ety (Ontario) – allowing buyers, sellers, and the
that the TAA had to do was establish almost like sales companies themselves the opportunity to
a governmental entity where there was no argu- contribute .05 percent of a horse’s sales price.
ing about whether or not you had to pay, it was While these contributions are sustainable, most
provided for and the only way to do that was to ebb and flow with the Thoroughbred market.
go through an organization that everybody in “There’s also the fact that there are only so
the industry had to use, and that would be The many dollars,” Auerbach added. “You have to be
Jockey Club.” careful and structure your ask in a fashion that’s
In 2013, The Jockey Club increased its fees for doable and palatable because if you get too greedy
registry transactions by $25, which goes to the or too needy, you turn people off.”

DAILY RACING FORM PAGE 7