In the second article in his 3-part series on racehorse welfare in the United States, Patrick Lawrence Gilligan talks to Stacie Clark Rogers, operations consultant at the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, about the crucial role of the organisation.
Read the first part here.
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) was an industry initiative launched in 2013. It gave away $1 million that year to 21 different organizations involved in the care of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. The initiative was initially funded with seed money from the Jockey Club, Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland. Last year $3.5 million was donated to 81 different organizations, and the TAA has given away over $20.8 million to date.
Canada-born Stacie Clark Rogers, the TAA’s operations consultant, is the daughter of a racehorse-training mother and racehorse-owning father, and she has had a love of the Thoroughbred her entire life.
She galloped horses in the morning through college and even took a few years out from working in the film and television industry in Toronto to try her hand at riding races. She was nominated for the 1994 Sovereign Award as Outstanding Apprentice so is obviously someone who doesn’t do things by halves.
Clark Rogers’ interest and passion for retirement initiatives for racehorses dates back to 2004, when she was appointed retirement program manager for the Stronach Group’s Adena Springs breeding operation in the first ever in-house program of its kind.
In 2013 Clark Rogers, along with Steve Scheidler, produced the documentary Saratoga Warhorse about the charity of that name that helps veterans with PTS through handling and bonding with retired Thoroughbreds. The documentary became an Eclipse Award winner and was nominated for an Emmy.
PLG: What are the main functions of the TAA?
SCR: It has two. First, we are an accreditation body for aftercare and we give the seal of approval to aftercare organizations if they meet our rigorous due diligence. We look at their fiscal responsibility, horse healthcare practices, and their mission – ie, whether they are retirement sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, or retraining and rehoming facilities.
“We also have equine assisted therapy, helping families who have children with learning challenges, and many groups for veterans with PTS. There are even programs helping to rehabilitate people who are, or were, incarcerated.
“Our second role is as fundraisers and building awareness of ourselves and aftercare for retired racehorses.”
Where do most of your funds come from?
"With the assistance of the Jockey Club, the TAA raises funds from registration fees and other Jockey Club contributions.
“In addition the major sales companies of North America all contribute through automatic and opt-out programs, which the sales companies match. Fasig Tipton, Keeneland, OBS and CTHS [Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society] have all supported the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance since its inception.
“Some of the major stallion farms have been on board with the TAA since 2012 and continue to donate 25 percent of a stallion’s season each year. Their ongoing support has been invaluable.”
“We are the official aftercare charity for Breeders’ Cup, the Preakness, Pegasus Cup and in addition many racetracks do things like NYRA, Turfway, Del Mar, Santa Anita and Saratoga who will give us a day at their track for a race to raise awareness and funds.
“Racetrack participation for funding comes in many forms. Horsemen’s groups often donate and racetracks will often match the horsemen’s pledge. New York donates a fee per start and NYRA matches that and there is also 1½ percent fee added to each claiming tag in the state, which is directed to a variety of charities, including us. It varies from state to state, but in general it is a case of horsemen’s groups and racetracks combining.
“We would like to see more racetracks involved.”
It seems the growth of the TAA must be good for the sport’s public image.
“Philosophically, the development of TAA and all the bodies under it is one of the best stories the sport could tell.
“All aftercare organizations that are accredited by the TAA are carefully and continuously monitored so horsemen can have faith that all funds received are being well directed. Our aim is to provide retired racehorses with a good first step from the track.
“It has taken a while for the industry to gain confidence and awareness of who we are and what we do and that we are the official umbrella charity for all accredited aftercare organizations who we team with and try and aid all their hard work and efforts to care for our retired racehorses.”
Do you have a message for all stakeholders in racing?
“If, in everything we do, we put the horse first, we would have to worry a lot less about the perceived integrity of our industry.
“We have to be cognizant of these animals we breed for the sport, that we are their stewards and have some duty to try and ensure they get a soft landing when they leave the industry.
“I’m proud of the fact that, in North America, the Thoroughbred industry has been quite reflective of its responsibility. There is still more to do certainly, but we are in touch with other groups internationally. We need to be responsible for the horse, and thus responsible for the sport.
Is there more that could be done?
“If the TAA can put its best foot forward and highlight what is being done and convince the industry leaders all over the nation to support this as an industry initiative, that would be important. We have the organization - but we are underfunded.
“The breeders have been excellent, owners on the whole have been good, however from an economic point of view those further from the shank could do more.
“it would be nice to see more support more broadly across the industry’s racetracks. Some of the tracks make an awful lot of money from the horses, and really the retired horses should be a responsibility shouldered across the board, because if we don’t look after these horses we may not end up with a sport.
“It’s hard to tell people in this day and age to get involved or sponsor the sport. More often than not I get people say to me, ‘well I don’t even know how long your sport will be around’, or they say horseracing’s just not their thing.”
“The first step after a horse leaves racing has to be a soft one, we have to help them.
“I’m a lifetime race-tracker. At the end of the day we have to ask ourselves, do we believe our own story? It has to be authentic.”