from CANTER Mid-Atlantic
CANTER-Mid Atlantic is opening a racehorse rehabilitation program with donations from Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association earmarked to serve Delaware Park trainers and owners.
The combined donation of $20,000 enables CANTER-Mid Atlantic to provide a practical solution for the local racing industry to rehabilitate, retrain, and place horses retiring from racing at Delaware Park.
“We are thrilled that Delaware Park and the Delaware THA has recognized the need for our program and are providing the necessary start-up funds to help retiring racehorses,” CANTER-Mid Atlantic executive director Allie Conrad said. “Our volunteers have worked very hard to provide racetracks in the Mid-Atlantic region with an outlet for trainers and owners looking to move their ex-race horses into second careers.”
CANTER-Mid Atlantic volunteers will begin track visits immediately to offer free sales listings to trainers and owners looking to move their ex-racehorses onto second careers. Volunteers will be canvassing the Wilmington, Del., area in search of appropriate facilities to rehabilitate and foster-care retiring racehorses being donated to CANTER-Mid Atlantic.
“We at Delaware Park and the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association have been working together for the past year to establish a retirement program for horses racing in Delaware,” Delaware Park executive director of racing John Mooney said. “Partnering with CANTER-Mid Atlantic will provide not only a service to our organizations but a life for horses after their racing career is over.”
“Thoroughbred horsemen wholeheartedly support this affiliation with CANTER- Mid Atlantic and its mission because it mirrors our love and compassion for Thoroughbred racehorses,” Delaware THA executive director Bessie Gruwell said. “We look forward to working with CANTER to provide our owners and trainers aftercare for their racehorses once their racing career ends.”
Over the last several years, CANTER-Mid Atlantic has taken in more than 90 retiring racehorses as funding allowed, and successfully rehabilitated, retrained, and placed them into caring homes. Horses in CANTER-Mid Atlantic’s care are boarded on farms deemed appropriate for the health and well-being of the horse.
CANTER-Mid Atlantic is currently managing the care of 20 ex-racehorses that have begun the rehabilitation and retraining process in order to prepare them for a second career.
CANTER-Mid Atlantic volunteers regularly visit Delaware Park; Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia; and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course, and the Bowie Training Center in Maryland to meet with trainers and owners of racehorses ready to retire from racing but capable of beginning a second career.