Horse Racing Forum - USA Thoroughbred Races

This is an interesting read:

RRTP Releases First National Study of Thoroughbred Racehorse Placement

A report released today by Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) is the first nationwide study of how Thoroughbred ex-racehorses are transitioned into second careers. It is based on a survey conducted in late 2013 titled Exploring the Bridge To Second Careers in which owners of 4,200 ex-racehorses from 47 states and Canada responded to 23 questions.

“The public believes that racing owners dump their retiring horses into auctions and that a lucky few get rescued and adopted,” said RRTP president Steuart Pittman.“Our survey tells a different story. Most of these horses were not rescued. They were sold or donated through networks of people both inside and outside of racing who work very hard to transition these animals.”

34% percent of these horses were acquired directly from racing owners.
31% were acquired from non-racing private owners.
13.5% were acquired from non-profit placement or rescue organizations, although that share increased from 11% to 19% over the last ten years.
9% were acquired from professional training or sales businesses.
2.3% of horses came through auctions.

more at http://www.retiredracehorsetraining.org ... Anewsflash

The following conclusions are taken from the full survey report:

•Racehorses are placed in second careers with long-term owners through a marketplace that lacks networks and forums through which the sellers, trainers, and buyers can find one another.
•Prices and adoption fees are depressed to a level that makes subsidies for those providing transition services essential until demand rises significantly.
•The financial incentive to retire horses sound from racing does not exist until increased demand raises prices for retiring horses.

None of these are surprising.

Actually the first point is wrong, "placed in second careers with long-term owners through a marketplace that lacks networks and forums through which the sellers, trainers, and buyers can find one another." RRTP solution is to provide a "first" state-by-state listing. Meanwhile:

• state-by-state listing at https://www.ownerview.com/racehorse-ret ... nt-listing

• state-by-state Racehorse Outplacement Assistance Network (ROAN) has been around "forever", may not be fancy but it works http://www.quarterpole.com/ROAN

• also, Alex Brown has sources listed by state (again not fancy) but it exists and he is a highly respectable source: http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/OTTBs

• http://registry.jockeyclub.com/registry ... ectLanding

Although RRTP may have in mind a more enhanced version, a print version, with businesses and other resources for owners of racehorses.