The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit, a joint effort of the Retired Racehorse Project (RRP), Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.), and Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), returns to the Thoroughbred Makeover on October 11, 2022 at the Kentucky Horse Park.
This year’s summit takes a unique angle compared to past conferences, which traditionally include panel-based discussion on a variety of topics. The 2022 Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will take a hands-on workshop approach, allowing attendees (both in-person and virtual) to problem-solve through various scenarios that commonly face individuals and organizations in aftercare. Subject matter experts will help guide participants through a series of practice scenarios including biosecurity best practices, natural disaster preparedness, facility issues, and more.
“To provide the most value to our Aftercare Summit participants, both individuals and non-profit organizations, we decided to take a more interactive approach to our topics this year,” said the RRP’s development director, Erin O’Keefe. “By working through various scenarios, we hope participants will actively identify ways to apply the topics at hand to their own programs, while having the opportunity to receive input and guidance from our subject matter experts. We hope participants find this new format both engaging and educational.”
The conference is a collaboration of the four presenting organizations in an effort to bring together the Thoroughbred aftercare community — both non-profit organizations and the commercial sector — during what is already the largest gathering of both individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in Thoroughbreds after racing.
“The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit will be a great opportunity for those involved in aftercare to think about ways in which unexpected scenarios can impact their programs,” said TCA’s executive director Erin Halliwell. “When the unexpected does occur, having a plan of action can potentially minimize disruption and assist with program continuity. With the collective knowledge of the RRP, T.I.P., TAA, TCA, and our subject matter experts, we hope to provide attendees with best practices that they can implement into their specific programs.”
Registration is required, which can be completed at therrp.org/aftercare-summit/. The cost to participate is $10 per person, which will be collected as a donation and awarded as a 50-50 to a randomly-selected aftercare organization in attendance. Registration will also include access to the live stream of the conference via Zoom so attendees can participate from anywhere in the world.
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Summit takes place from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the TCA Covered Arena Lounge on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, one day prior to the start of preliminary competition at the Retired Racehorse Project’s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. The Thoroughbred Makeover is a retraining competition for horses in their first year of transition from racing. Over 300 horses are expected to attend and compete across ten disciplines, with one Thoroughbred Makeover Champion crowned at the conclusion of a Finale on Saturday, October 15. The full schedule of events and activities can be found at TheRRP.org/attend.
About the Retired Racehorse Project: The Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) is a 501(c)3 charitable organization working to increase demand for off-track Thoroughbreds in the equestrian world. In addition to producing the Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, the world’s largest and most lucrative retraining competition for recently-retired racehorses, the organization also publishes Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, produces the Master Class retraining clinic series, and presents programming at major horse expos and events around the country. The RRP maintains an educational library of content to empower more equestrians to ride a Thoroughbred.
About Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: Based in Lexington, KY., the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, rehome, and retire Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $20.7 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations supporting approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.
About Thoroughbred Charities of America: TCA funds and facilitates the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $26 million to more than 200 charities. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).
About The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program: Created and announced in October 2011, The Jockey Club T.I.P. recognizes and rewards the versatility of the Thoroughbreds through sponsorship of Thoroughbred classes and high point awards at sanctioned horse shows, year-end performance awards, a recreational riding program, and non-competition awards. Additional information about T.I.P. is available at tjctip.com and on the T.I.P. Facebook page at facebook.com/tjctip.
The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs to owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It founded America’s Best Racing (americasbestracing.net), the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing, and in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, operates OwnerView (ownerview.com), the ownership resource. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.
Contact: Kristen Kovatch Bentley
Retired Racehorse Project
kbentley@therrp.org | 410-798-5140