Thoroughbred Retirement FoundationMeredith Woolfod, Author at Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

TDN Letter to the Editor: What Will Our Legacy Be

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 19:03:04 +0000

By Maggie Sweet

Racing has a legacy to rectify before it can look to the future.

The “Racing in 2036” series struck me for its lack of perspective from the aftercare segment of the industry. Post-racetrack life for our equine athletes was mentioned a few times, but only in a cursory manner. And certainly without any accountability.

Thoroughbred aftercare is chronically underfunded despite the creation of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) in 2012. Aftercare organizations founded before the TAA was created have been underfunded for decades. Programs that predominantly follow the sanctuary model continue to care for horses born long before the industry attempted to establish a funding and accrediting body. These horses raced before the retrain/rehome model became widely available and, with fewer post-race options, they were often pushed too far and became unfit for other athletic careers. These horses are at a higher risk of landing in dangerous, often fatal situations.

They are The Legacy Herd.

Private sanctuary-model organizations cannot continue to carry the load of their care without broad support from the racing industry. There is often debate about who is responsible for these horses years after they ran their last race. For The Legacy Herd, the answer is all of us. Shaming and blaming are not long-term solutions. We were not aware enough, educated enough, responsible enough 25 years ago when we bred, sold and raced these horses. Now is the time to right that wrong.

Establishing a sustainable source of adequate funding can be done. Currently, consignors to all sales at the three major auction houses are required to pay 1/20 of 1% of the final sale price, which is donated to the TAA. Buyers at those sales have the option to contribute the same. From self-reported statistics, these three auction houses handled over $1.4 BILLION dollars in sales in 2025. Assuming all buyers opted in to the contribution, only $1.4 million was donated to be shared among the 87 organizations accredited by the TAA. Imagine if we changed that to 1/2 of 1%–those 87 organizations would be splitting over $14 million dollars, a portion of which could be earmarked for The Legacy Herd.

The vision of “Racing in 2036” that I share below is possible. But only if the major players in the industry commit to the thousands of horses who make up OUR Legacy Herd via a properly funded aftercare system that values all retired racehorses regardless of their ability to sustain another athletic career. Those of us in the trenches will never solve this alone. If you walk away from this letter with one impression, let it be this: the Thoroughbred industry is only as sustainable as its aftercare policies.

Here’s my vision for 2036:

In 2036, waitlists at aftercare organizations have been eliminated. The majority of Thoroughbreds who don’t retire to the breeding shed are responsibly retired to a retrain/rehome facility. These horses are sound enough to participate in a second or third athletic career because they were retired when it became apparent they didn’t have a dignified future as a racehorse, not because they were injured. When these horses age out of athletic careers, they move on to sanctuary facilities, where they participate in Equine Assisted Services that utilize the unique qualities of the Thoroughbred to create pathways for healing and growth while living their lives in peace and safety. The minority of retiring Thoroughbreds who aren’t used for breeding and aren’t sound enough to continue in an athletic vein go directly to the sanctuary facilities and begin what may be the most important work of their lives as teachers and healers. All of this is automatically funded by The Racing Industry, so the burden doesn’t fall too heavily on the shoulders of one sector and a sustainable source of support is guaranteed for these horses. Aftercare is no longer seen as charity, but as simply part of a racehorse’s life cycle. This is the legacy to which we should aspire.

Don’t let this letter sit on the shelf alongside so many of its predecessors. If you are an innovative leader call me at (518) 226-0028 or email me at maggie@trfinc.org. We have work to do.

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Aftercare a Priority for Horse Owner Alcaro

Meredith Woolfod — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:37:23 +0000

By Francis LaBelle

David “Chief’’ Alcaro gets around pretty well for a big guy.

A late summer weekend saw him at Delaware Park to watch Striker Has Dial win the $150,000 Endine Stakes and then immediately ride down to Dulles International Airport in Virginia to catch a flight to Ireland to see another one of his horses race at The Curragh.

As part of his 49th birthday celebration, Chief remained in Ireland for a week, visited trainer Joseph O’Brien’s Carriganog training center and then headed back to New York to resume his role as a commodities trader on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

On December 11th, he had a much easier trip when he went to Aqueduct in Queens, NY to watch Time To Roll win for the second time in four starts.

He lives a fast-paced life, which also includes heading his Thoroughbred racehorse syndicate, Chief Horse Futures (CHF), LLC, producing award-winning documentary films, rooting for the Bendigo Spirit, an Australian professional women’s basketball team of which he is part owner, and co-hosting a weekly sports radio program in Australia.

Yet, for all the territory he covers, Chief always makes time for worthy causes. And Chief has certainly made time for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).

This past summer, Chief attended several fundraisers in support of former racehorses, including three TRF Saratoga Springs events: Gumbo with jockey Kendrick Carmouche at the Principessa Elena Society; LALO for Jocks & Horses at the Adelphi Hotel that benefitted the TRF and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), and the Backyard BBQ at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.

A true racing fan, Chief has made aftercare a priority as a horse owner.

“I’m not sure specifically when I learned about the TRF,’’ he said. “I knew of the importance of aftercare generally as a fan of the sport, and then it was hammered home in the required viewing of the video by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) before granting an owner’s license.’’

NYRA, which operates Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack, and Belmont Park, has worked with the TRF and other Thoroughbred aftercare organizations over the years. NYRA television paddock reporter and analyst Maggie Wolfendale-Morley is a current member of the TRF Board of Directors, as is jockey Katie Davis McCarthy.

Although Chief has owned both Thoroughbreds and standardbred horses “off and on for two decades,’’ three years ago he dropped the vowels from his nickname and started CHF with three Thoroughbreds purchased at Keeneland.

Chief reached out to Horacio De Paz to train his horses. According to De Paz, Striker Has Dial illustrates Chief’s understanding of how to be a responsible horse owner.

“In addition to being a lot of fun, Chief is very patient and very low maintenance,’’ De Paz said. “When Striker Has Dial was a two-year-old, she came back from a breeze with a minor problem. Chief was a new owner for me and some new owners would have pushed to run her right back again because it was a minor injury. I told him that she might give one great effort, but there is no guarantee that she would give that effort again if that injury got worse. Instead, we agreed to give her some more time. With Chief, the welfare of his horses always comes first.”

The result is that Striker Has Dial became Chief’s first stakes winner for De Paz. The Endine Stakes was her third victory in six starts this year and pushed her career earnings to more than $300,000.

Chief – “A co-worker gave me that nickname when I worked as a clerk on the trading floor because he said that I looked and sounded like Chief Wiggum on The Simpsons.’’- is used to success. Born in Bristol, TN, he grew up in Orange County, NY, about 60 miles north of The Bronx, where his Italian American family has its roots. It was his Aunt Yola who fostered his love for racing, as she routinely brought her nephew with her on forays to Off-Track Betting. He became fascinated with racing and with numbers. An exceptional student, Chief attended the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School as a finance major.

“I completed the course work in three years, but failed to pass the foreign language requirement, so I didn’t graduate,’’ he said. “I worked on the New York Mercantile Exchange trading floor as a summer intern after my senior year of high school and through college. I returned back to my home base in New York City, became a trader in February of 2000 at 23 and was on the trading floor until it was replaced by electronic trading and the primary market for commodities trading in 2010. I have continued to trade commodity futures electronically ever since.

“Going to OTB with Aunt Yola, I loved the numbers and racing. I would follow horse racing through Sports Illustrated articles and sports radio. I was lucky to join a work trip that went to the Kentucky Derby in 1999. I was 22, just a clerk and really had no business being on the trip aside from being with a couple of older friends. I’ve been to every Derby since. ‘’

Chief was also in attendance five weeks after Charismatic won the Kentucky Derby in 1999 to see the colt’s bid to win racing’s elusive Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes. Charismatic finished third after suffering a career-ending injury. Jockey Chris Antley immediately pulled his mount up after the finish, jumped off Charismatic, kept him calm and held his injured leg until medical help arrived. Antley’s quick actions were credited with saving Charismatic’s life.

“The Belmont is when I saw how much the horse means to everyone involved,’’ Chief said. “It was not about the financial aspect. It was the connection and the emotions from everyone.’’

Certainly, Chief has shown connection and largesse to meaningful causes. The two documentary films he produced –Trouble the Water (2008) and The House I Live In (2012) – were both Grand Jury Prize winners at the Sundance Film Festival, with Trouble the Water receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. The films dealt, respectively, with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the 9th Ward of New Orleans, and America’s losing effort with the war on drugs.

For more than a year, Alcaro has been increasingly involved with TRF and other Thoroughbred aftercare programs.

“All of them are excellent,’’ he said, “As far as fundraisers, my favorite was the Gumbo because of the location and Kendrick now becoming a friend and not just my primary jockey.’’

The TRF is lucky to count Chief as a friend. He is a horse owner who not only gets around but simply gets it.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Sam Versocki

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 20 May 2025 18:54:01 +0000

At our Prospect, KY farms—Chestnut Hall and Nash—volunteers are the heart of our herd. And Sam? She’s a standout!

A recent graduate of the University of Louisville, Sam was honored as the Robert G. Lawrence Outstanding Senior in Equine Business. From mucking stalls to farrier days, planting flowers to extra feeding shifts, she brings grace, grit, and horse sense to every task.

Her favorite part of volunteering? “Stepping back from the hustle and just enjoying the peace of the farm with the horses.”
Favorite horse? “Not This Again,” aka Murray.

Farm Manager Nikki Bernstein says it best: “She’s the epitome of a team player—we’re lucky to have her.”

Interested in joining the volunteer crew at Chestnut Hall or Nash?

Send us a message—we’d love to welcome you to the herd! KYVolunteer@trfinc.org

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Sponsor Horse Spotlight: Raisin’ Silver

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 20 May 2025 18:50:31 +0000

Raisin’ Silver, a 22 year old thoroughbred mare, had a commendable racing career, earning nearly $50,000 across 24 starts with 2 victories.

While she didn’t clinch any stakes titles, her consistent performances on the track showcased her resilience and dedication.

Now enjoying her retirement at TRF’s Chestnut Hall Farm in Prospect, KY, Raisin’ Silver is known for her gentle demeanor and striking silver coat. She has become a favorite among staff and visitors alike, embodying the grace and spirit of retired racehorses.

Caring for a retirees costs around $5,000 a year for vet care, nutrition, and daily needs.

Interested in sponsoring Raisin’ Silver or another member of our herd?

Click here to learn more about our horse sponsorship opportunities and how you can make a difference.

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Prospect thoroughbred sanctuary saves retired racehorses

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:13:12 +0000

By Brian Shlonsky
Published: Apr. 28, 2025

Watch Segment Here

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – During Kentucky Derby week, many fans of the sport often wonder what happens to the racehorses once they retire from the track. For most, their racing careers are short, less than five years. For a lucky few, when they leave behind the silks, saddles, trainers and jockeys, they will get to live out their days with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

“When they come here and they’re retired, their job is to eat grass all day, their job is to hang out with their friends, their pasture mates,” said Nikki Bernstein, Farm and Event Manager, Chestnut Hall. “Their life is pretty relaxed and quiet and easy and worry free.”

Chestnut Hall is one of more than a dozen farms operated by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation around the United States. TRF’s national herd consists of 425 retired thoroughbred racehorses with an average age over 20 years olds.

“The racetrack span is pretty short for the average horse and there’s so many more years for their life after that,” Bernstein said. “The average person sees maybe a two-minute race on the TV and that’s what their perception is of horse racing, but it’s so much bigger and so much more broad than that.”

TRF’s mission is to give thoroughbreds who can no longer compete on the racetrack a life free of neglect, abuse and slaughter. Sadly, Bernstein said those horrors can happen – especially with horse buyers who don’t realize the responsibility and the cost of caring for the animals long-term.

Bernstein said caring for them is a big – and expensive – task. The average cost to keep a thoroughbred alive is at least $75,000, covering everything from feed to hay to medical bills. Bernstein said the prices for thoroughbred care have only increased with inflation. But for those who care for the horses, they say it’s worth every penny.

“They really just love these animals and care for them, so they get spoiled,” Bernstein said.

TRF also has something called a Second Chances Program that gives prison inmates the chance to build life skills while providing supervised care to some of the herd. There are eight of those facilities spread across six states, including outside of Lexington, Kentucky.

Chestnut Hall is one of TRF’s sanctuary farms. It sits on 25 acres off U.S. 42 in Prospect, KY, with the backdrop of a historic, 1860′s home. Bill Carstanjen, the CEO of Churchill Downs, Inc., purchased the land in 2019, Bernstein said, to protect it from residential development. It was once a farm called Hillcrest Farm, that served as everything from a cattle and tobacco production facility to a single-family home over the years.

Ten horses live on the property that offers tours and hosts field trips. People can even book the property for corporate events. Bernstein said it’s important for those who are not affiliated with the horse racing industry to see how the animals live.

“Coming out here and learning what the horse’s life is like after the racetrack,” she said. “[We are] giving these amazing animals a place to land and spend the rest of their life knowing they will be cared for.”

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation said it can always use help with donations and volunteers. For those people looking to donate to the cause, please click here to go to the TRF website. To book a tour of Chestnut Hall through Horse Country, please click here.

Watch Segment Here

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Maggie Sweet featured on the On the Lead Podcast

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:56:48 +0000

Maggie Sweet, was featured on the On The Lead Podcast presented by The Jockey Club.

At the 16 minute mark, Maggie shares a deep dive into the powerful TLORE database, originally founded by Tracy Attfield and now part of The Jockey Club.

TLORE was introduced to TRF as a trial run, but Maggie ensured it became our official herd database. With everything from race records to retirement histories at our fingertips, TLORE helps us provide the best possible care for our sanctuary horses.

Take a listen and hear how tech and heart come together in Thoroughbred aftercare.

Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-lead-horse-training-and-technology/id1747809063?i=1000702863304

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More is Better as TRF Equicizers Carry on Lovato Legacy

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 21:42:31 +0000

By Francis LaBelle

Frank Lovato Jr. knew early in life that he wanted to be a jockey. He shadowed his father, a leading jockey on the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred racing circuit during the 1970s and followed in Dad’s boot steps. Lovato, however, has always wanted more.

For instance, just riding horses wasn’t enough. He became the Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top apprentice in 1980. That launched a career that ended with retirement in September 2004 after he had ridden in 15,604 races and won 1,686 of them. Among those victories were 111 stakes triumphs.

Lovato was also an accomplished musician, but he wasn’t content to just sing. So, he learned to play guitar, keyboards, drums, pedal steel, a bit of banjo, write and even produce his own songs.

Still wanting more, Lovato even had three kids.

These days, Lovato continues to thrive as the owner of Equicizer, the mechanical horse that has been a mainstay of racetracks and jockey homes for decades. In 1981, Lovato invented the contraption during a 10-month convalescence for a broken leg suffered while riding. The Equicizer was a way for him to safely rehabilitate and train before he decided he was fit and comfortable enough to get back on a real horse.

“I was still on crutches, but I was able to ride my Equicizer,” Lovato said. “I got into shape and the first morning I returned to the track, people kept coming up to me and asked me when I was going to start riding again. I told them that not only had I already worked six horses that morning, but [trainer Johnny] Campo named me on one to ride in a race. That blew everybody away because they had not seen me at the track and couldn’t figure out how I was physically fit enough to ride without getting on horses. It was pretty funny.’’

The speed of Lovato’s recovery caught everyone’s attention and before long, Lovato began getting orders to build more Equicizers, which started popping up at racetracks as well as at jockeys’ homes. They were used not only to help riders recover from injury, but to maintain fitness, warm up before races and even give veteran riders a teaching tool to help younger, less experienced jockeys.

“I bet that almost every Hall of Fame jockey over the past 30 years has one in their home,’’ Lovato said. “They were everywhere. [Hall of Fame jockey] Chris McCarron used one to train [actor] Tobey Maguire while shooting racing scenes for the movie Seabiscuit. I even remember seeing [TV celebrity] Al Roker on one of them.”

Lovato is zeroing in on 1,900 Equicizers, each built by his own hand. He has kept track of his work, signing and dating each one. Recently, Lovato discovered that two of his Equicizers are in use at places connected to the Saratoga Springs-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). One resides at North Country Horses, where the TRF boards some of the former racehorses in their herd.

“She came with a name – Trigger – and since it is bad luck to change a horse’s name, we kept it,” said North Country owner and trainer Amanda Vance. “I just gave her a gender. Trigger is the TRF’s property, and basically, we board her here.” Vance uses Trigger for her hunter/jumper, dressage and Western lessons and has even given her a “stall” of her own.

“The TRF brought her out for its BBQ at the Barn last August, which was a lot of fun. We brought her out so that kids could use it, and we challenged adults to stay on using one of our exercise saddles.”

The TRF’s other Equicizer has a much busier daily schedule as part of the TRF’s Second Chances vocational program at the all-women Lowell Correctional Institute in Ocala, FL. Lovato claims that the bulk of his business has shifted from the racing industry and is now concentrated on equine-assisted programs like Second Chances and therapy programs that specialize in aiding people with disabilities. Lowell’s Equicizer came with a nameplate and “Bay Apache’’ has settled right into the job.

“Riding is a privilege here, and no one rides until they have passed all of their [Second Chances] tests – and there’s about 33 of them,’’ said former jockey Dean Purdom, who is approaching his second year as Lowell’s Second Chances Farm Manager. “The women have a textbook, but they learn hands-on about different aspects of taking care of horses. They learn nutrition, how to lead, how to groom, how to pick feet. They also learn to build barns, cut grass and how to handle heavy equipment and other skills just in case they ever need them later when working with horses.”

Purdom, who rode with Lovato at Belmont Park in 1980, likes how Bay Apache can simulate a real horse’s movements.

“Green [inexperienced] riders want to clamp onto a horse,” Purdom said. “At first, I’ll have the women sit there on the Equicizer and just relax. Then, I can start showing them how it works. The head bobs and the body moves, so you can shift your weight. It is just like a horse walking. It is a great tool, and visually, it is invaluable. I can stand in a round pen and tell everybody to do this or do that, but on the Equicizer, I can show them. In fact, they all get kick out of me saying, ’Get off and let me show you!’’

According to Lovato, this particular Equicizer was originally made for Thoroughbred breeder Stacy Leppala in March 1995. It is Equicizer No.196 and a model that includes a spring device underneath the body for added motion.

That Lowell’s Equicizer, now 30 years old, is helping people is a source of pride for Lovato, whose wife, Sandy, was killed in a car accident in 2014 at the age of 54.

“Sandy’s older sister had polio and inspired Sandy to always want to help people,’’ Lovato said. “We were already in business with the Equicizer when I stopped riding. The Equicizer opened doors into other markets. We started meeting people that were involved with therapeutic riding programs and equine-assisted programs for people with disabilities. Sandy started Stampede of Dreams.’’

Stampede of Dreams was a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International certified program that provided Equine Assisted horseback riding lessons. Sandy used real horses in her instruction, but also an Equicizer named “Brownie.’’

“Sandy loved people,” Lovato said. “And she would be happy to know that Equicizers are still helping people and horses in equine-assisted programs like TRF Second Chances. Her legacy lives on.”

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Kendall Norris Named Marketing and Communications Manager For TRF

Meredith Woolfod — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 20:34:13 +0000

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) proudly announces the appointment of Kendall Norris as the organization’s new Marketing & Communications Manager. In this pivotal role, Norris will lead the TRF’s marketing and outreach efforts, furthering the organization’s mission to provide dignified lifetime care for retired racehorses.

A seasoned marketing and communications professional with a deep-rooted passion for the equine industry, Norris brings extensive experience in strategic marketing, social media management, and sponsorship development. Her track record of elevating brand visibility and fostering meaningful partnerships makes her a valuable addition to the TRF team. Previously, Norris led digital marketing initiatives, managed high-profile PR events, and provided specialized marketing consulting for equine and technology businesses.

As a lifelong equestrian and advocate for the Thoroughbred community, Norris is eager to leverage her expertise to enhance TRF’s engagement with supporters and partners. Commenting on her appointment, Norris expressed her enthusiasm: “I’m incredibly honored to join the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. As a lifelong equestrian, I’ve always believed in the healing power of horses, and this mission, offering second chances to both horses and humans, truly speaks to me. Using my voice to raise awareness and support for retired racehorses fills me with purpose, and I’m excited to connect with the TRF community and help grow this meaningful work.”

TRF Executive Director Maggie Sweet remarked, “We are thrilled to welcome Kendall to the TRF team. Her diverse skill set and fresh perspective will play a key role in expanding our reach and strengthening our message. Her enthusiasm aligns perfectly with one of our major goals for 2025: raising awareness about dignified lifetime care for retired racehorses.”

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