Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino has launched the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program Website (www.gpaftercare.com) to raise awareness of Thoroughbred retirement, supply information for adopting and sponsoring horses, and provide fans updates on some of their favorite equine athletes.
The Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program was launched in February by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stronach, who seeded the program by matching money taken from purses (one-third of 1%) at Gulfstream and distributed to retirement programs by the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association.
The Stronachs have been industry leaders in the retraining and rehabilitation of race horses as well as advocates and supporters of several retirement programs. They started a similar After-Care Program at Santa Anita.
On Aug. 8 Mr. Stronach was honored with the inaugural Earle Mack TRF Champions’ Award for his efforts regarding Thoroughbred retirement. In presenting the award, Mack said Stronach’s “leadership and desire to do what is right for the horses can be a template for all racing in North America.”
The Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program also has developed a curriculum for classrooms to sponsor a horse as well as children’s coloring pages featuring Hollywood the Horse, the official mascot of ‘Breakfast At Gulfstream,’ which takes place every Saturday morning during racing season between 7-10 a.m.