Industry Executive Admits: “[P]ost-racing traceability [of ‘retired’ racehorses] is practically non-existent; a safety net for vulnerable horses does not exist.”

The industry conversation on “aftercare” rages on, especially on the pages of the Thoroughbred Daily News. First, it was Mike Repole in Jan, then The Jockey Club’s answer a few days later, then Reiley McDonald last month. Now, Pat Cummings, executive director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance, weighs in.

Cummings, along with Repole, presented findings of a “10-month examination of the American aftercare ecosystem” to TJC in Dec 2024. Because those findings were pretty much kept under wraps, Cummings is now sharing them with the public (in the TDN).

Among Cummings and Repole’s 20 findings were the following. While reading, think about this: After all these decades, after an ungodly number – in the hundreds of thousands, if not more – of “retired” racehorses who landed in equine hell (aka the slaughterhouse) or who starved/froze to death after falling into the hands of evil human beings, how is it that the U.S. horseracing industry is still having this “conversation”? There can be but one answer – it, as an entity, simply doesn’t care. This alone should be enough for all Americans of good conscience to forever forswear this vile industry.

Nearly every entity across the U.S. aftercare space is underfunded, some chronically so. This includes most adoption facilities, sanctuaries, equine-assisted therapy outlets, track-based programs, incentive programs and other charitable groups.

The current Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is far more limited than its reputation or brand awareness might imply. … [T]he funds they raise are inadequate compared to the scope of need.

Individual, for-profit resellers and agents, entirely outside the bounds of any organizational control…are likely responsible for the majority of recently-retired racehorse sales. This can compound problems faced years after initial retirement.

[P]ost-racing traceability is practically non-existent.

Retired racehorses can change hands frequently amongst post-racing owners, particularly within the first 24 months after leaving the track, further inhibiting traceability.

A safety net for vulnerable horses does not exist in the U.S. This would be intended for the neglected, ill-treated, or those whose owners encounter severe financial hardship.

A viable…emergency contact system for ex-racehorses does not exist in the U.S.

The practice of slaughter has greatly diminished, but horses and the greater industry still experience bad outcomes. Individuals and organizations…routinely pay “bail” to operators of kill pens in the hopes of saving horses from bad outcomes, unfortunately perpetuating a vicious cycle.

Senior broodmares are a highly at-risk segment for slaughter, representing a significant threat to the image of the industry; few policies exist to protect them from bad outcomes.

Most major breeding farms do not dedicate space for retired racehorses or broodmares.

Industry-led research and policy advocacy on aftercare and ex-racehorses does not exist.

Those working across greater aftercare are tireless advocates for retired racehorse development…but a portion suffer from compassion fatigue. Skepticism of much-needed improvements across the space is rampant after decades of ignorance or insufficient support from the very industry they try to help.

Many non-profit groups in aftercare are fearful of speaking openly or publicly about challenges they face, believing that doing so could risk a cut in funding or accreditation while limiting greater industry awareness of the realities facing the retired racehorse ecosystem.