Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society

L♡VE THIS 💞🏇💞🫶

We are so very very thankful and encouraged to have just received word from the HBPA of Alberta's Board of Directors that the 2024 Aftercare funds that have been collected from HRA liscensed owners at Century Racetracks throughout this season will be donated to support the Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society .

We would like to acknowledge, give a Huge shout out, commend and extend our genuine gratitude to all the Horsemen involved
that have joined this important global initiative that helps positively highlight and protect the future and integrity of Alberta thoroughbred horse racing through community & public awareness, accountability, and support.

The Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society’s newest “Ring the Bell” fundraising initiative has been mirrored and implemented after its successful roll-out at multiple racetracks across the United States. It is a chance for Alberta thoroughbred owners and trainers and the public to further demonstrate their support of thoroughbred aftercare and to combat any negative perceptions surrounding the sport of horseracing.

The Ring the Bell Initiative is 100% voluntary and the Society graciously accepts all and any donations.

There has been, in the past, a requirement for the $1/start and 1.5% claim levy to go to an aftercare organization eligible for TAA (Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance) accreditation and because of this, the initial collaboration in 2021 between Century tracks, HBPA and ATAS made sure the Society was specifically structured from inception to meet all TAA standards. (This history and rational is included in our Information Brochure (page eight), link listed below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10na_jEH186wvEb-m9wvdO5JlwsfE7f0q/view?usp=drive_link

Once our Charitable Status is approved by CRA, we will promptly be applying for TAA accreditation and any donation amounts to the ATAS will be eligible for tax credits, and can be carried forward for up to 5 years and be partially of fully transferred to your spouse or common-law partner. Donatations are considered to be anything of value: cash, property, securities, etc.

We currently have 5 horses available for adoption (listed on our website and social media platforms). Though there has been some intermittent interest expressed in a couple of them, there is also a specific TAA structured process for adoption in which all potential homes go through an assessment and certain and specific criteria must be met prior to the adoption of our program horses.

In the meantime, our horses are being well cared for and worked with at Westana Ranches. We have also had horses cared for at Highfield Stock Farm in the southern part of the province. Our veterinary/medical requirements are provided by Delaney Veterinary Services in the North and Moore Equine and Wise Equine Veterinary Services in the South. We are very grateful for the discounted services all of these ATAS partners have offered and maintained for the Society, helping each and every donated and fundraiser dollar stretch further.

ATAS raises Aftercare awareness of the athletic value of OTTBs by our involvement at various horse related events across Alberta (including, but not limited to; The Mane Event, Everything Equine Event, Alberta Horse Trials Association events and Aftercare spotlight days at the Racetracks modelled after Best Turned-Out race days by TAA at several North American racetracks.
ATAS also provides Best Turned-Out Awards to grooms on special Aftercare Awareness race days at Century Mile and Century Downs. Education about the second career possibilities of thoroughbreds coming off track is one of the key mandates of the ATAS organization. Highlighting the successes of OTTBs through our calendar photo contest also promotes awareness about the diversity of the off-track thoroughbred. (Our inaugural release of ATAS Calendars in 2024 was a huge success, and we are currently finalizing our 2025 Calendar).

Since March 2021, the ATAS has been its own Non-Profit Society and an incorporated entity within Alberta, enabling its perpetual existence, eligibility to receive gifts from registered Charities, donations from the public, as well as access to grants and fundraising. We are tax exempt and as a legal entity separate from its members and directors, have limited liability protection. We are in the final stages of acquiring our Registered Charitable Status in Canada which will further allow us to issue registered receipts for charitable donations for tax purposes to all donors. Since inception, this society has been 100% Volunteer Operated. It maintains its own governing body, set of bylaws, purposes, directives and specific director/member roles & responsibilities.

Our mandate is to provide Aftercare for the betterment of TB horses of all ages that have supported our AB TB Racing Industry (which includes, but is not limited to any medical, veterinary or rehabilitation services, and retraining as required prior to its horses being adopted out to forever homes). Our sustainability encompasses economic sustainability – the ability to secure continuous, diverse support and to use those funds efficiently and effectively to further the purpose of the organization, as directed by our Board of Directors.
We act and operate within the rules and regulations for Non-Profits within Alberta (Societies Act) and go further to encompass Best Practices into our regular operations, including external 3rd party yearly auditors of the Society.

We are an organization in its infancy and will continue to improve and add in additional protocols and practices as voted on and directed by our diverse Board of Directors who govern the Society, whilst continuing to practice sound financial acumen as we grow and diversify.

Most recently, in recognition of the benefits, and as a demonstration of good governance, the Society invited and subsequently welcomed Honorary Board Observers representing Industry Partners/Stakeholders from HRA, the Alberta Division of the CTHS, and the HBPA of Alberta. This was done in good faith and in the spirit of collaboration and full transparency.

ATAS has a number of valuable initiatives in the works for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. One of them is to educate and bring awareness and educational support to the entire Alberta Racing Industry . The recently published Aftercare information booklet contains very detailed information about the Society and the process and has been widely distributed, (on the backside, in public venues, and electronically). It further advocates for the merit of racing and its athletes after they no longer serve the racing demographic. The Society gives credit to the racehorse owners, trainers, and racetracks for showing their support and advocacy for AFTERCARE in its entirety.

ATAS requires multiple avenues of support in order to meet the needs of current and future OTTBs in its program. Initial industry financial support started in 2021 and it was meant to show the Industry’s support for and dedication to building the foundation for the future of Thoroughbred Aftercare in Alberta. At the time it was based on the model from New York Racing with input from Paul Ryneveld, GM of Century Racing, who also brought administrative experience from New Stride Aftercare in the BC Racing Industry.

When Century Casino owned racetracks initially applied to be accredited by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, they needed to have a plan in place, including an aftercare organization eligible for TAA accreditation and ATAS was specifically structured to align with those requirements.

All the horses that we have accepted into our program have been involved in the Alberta Racing Industry, whether by training, racing or breeding. It should also be noted that we do not restrict the program acceptance criteria of OTTBs to be solely from current AB Racetrack meets or its backstretch personnel, we are dedicated to the success of all OTTBs who have served the AB Racing Industry. Of note, we do not always provide specific details on who the horses come from, unless instructed/given permission to do so by those that donate or surrender them, thus abiding by privacy laws and to remove any stigma associated with surrendering a horse due to unforeseen personal circumstances or peril. We do not actively recruit horses, and we are not a rescue organization, rather the ATAS is here to provide a safety net to thoroughbreds that do not have an alternative, or for those owners that want to ensure their horses find forever loving permanent homes with required on-going reporting to ATAS after adoption into new homes.

All horses are fully examined by a veterinarian and assessed as to their viable future career prospects. For specific details on the future career prospects of any specific horse currently in our program, you are welcome to visit our website for their information and reach out to us via social media or by emailing [email protected].

ATAS has its own initial horse temperament and ability assessment guide with levels and descriptions, developed by members of the ATAS Board who are very experienced with re-training off-track thoroughbreds for second careers (available to view on our website).

The step of adding a qualified trainer to further work with horses is part of the next roll-out stage of the Society, (once we have Charitable Status and long-term support is secured), as this will significantly add to our operational/financial costs, and it would be irresponsible for us to implement this directive at this time. In the meantime, we are always looking for Ambassadors/volunteers and have added that outreach to our social media platforms.

There is a (TAA structured) adoption process that is required by all potential adopters of ATAS horses and that process takes time. (available for viewing on our website) In addition, these horses are not for sale and there is not a profit coming to the Society from them, but there is an adoption/placement fee for each of them prior to moving on to their new forever homes.

All available program horses are always listed on our ATAS website. Horses are promoted on ATAS social media as well as being posted on other social media platforms, groups, and by word-of-mouth by our dedicated and diverse Board Members, Observers, Ambassadors, and Supporters.

Some of the horses that ATAS accepts do not have other alternatives, whether it be because of medical needs, economic or financial hardship, or sudden change in personal circumstance. We provide the horses in our care with required veterinary treatment, rehabilitation programs and assessment to ensure they find the best fit for their current situation. The ATAS has adopted the guidelines for transitioning retired racehorses recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and will accept horses fairly and without bias. Each horse is reviewed and considered for acceptance into our program individually and depending on room and availability may be accepted or put on a wait list at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The current adoption process is designed to ensure that horses are provided with homes that match their specific needs. This is the reasoning for the extended assessment time before posting their availability, to ensure that we have the information necessary. This is also listed and available to view on our website.

https://thoroughbredaftercare.ca/adopt/

If you have any questions regarding the organization, please feel free to reach out to us as we are here to help and are always open to positive suggestions on how to grow and improve.

Our mandate is to help support these majestic athletes in the next stages of their lives and we ask for your patience and understanding as we try to best to navigate our way and establish recurring success for all involved. We encourage you to engage with us, and approach us to find out how you can become involved in an official capacity or as an Ambassador or Volunteer.

Our current Board of Directors Consists of the following members:

Our Executive-
Deanna Paton- President
Amanda Bennett- Vice-President
Robyn Morris- Secretary
Russel McLellan- Treasurer

Our Members-
Hazel Bennett
Dr. Brenda Abbey
Dawson Guhle
Amber Jacobson
Emma Bott
Helen Spiers
Shaun Rathy

Our Honorary Observers-
Brittany Davis -HRA Representative
Kate Fair- CTHS- (Alberta Div) Representative
Deanne Davies- HBPA Representative

Well Done :) 💞🏇💞

Bash at the Breeders’ Cup 2024 | WeDo Charity Auctions WeDo Charity Auctions Silent Auction for Bash at the Breeders’ Cup 2024. Smartphone bidding web application.

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It's Breeders' Cup World Championships week! We're looking forward to a great weekend of racing... and we also can't help but wonder what Thoroughbred athletes will emerge from this great event down the road at the Makeover and competition arenas beyond. There's no breed quite like the Thoroughbred that can transition so easily from racing to other sports, and that applies to those at the highest levels of racing just as much as the weekday ranks!

In this year's Makeover class, we saw Decorated Invader, who ran in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, turn his athleticism and trainability to Dressage with Mary Termer. Decorated Invader (Declaration of War - Gamely Girl, by Arch) was bred in Kentucky by Redmon Farm, LLC and was a $200,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland. He was campaigned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Inc. and retired a multiple graded stakes winner, earning over $600,000.

Keep an eye on this weekend's Breeders' Cup contenders... because you never know who you will see in their next chapter in just a few years!

A huge thank you to all the support received again today at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino for the Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society your donations and support of our 50/50 and Ring the Bell fundraising initiatives help with all our expenses associated with the horses we have in our program & promoting the merits of OTTBs when their racing careers are over.

We have 5 amazing OTTBs available for adoption or sponsorship. Check out our website or contact us for more information. www.thoroughbredaftercare.ca [email protected]
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Well bred broodmares still able to conceive, be companions or be retrained, and a young sweet gelding, all looking for their forever homes and people .. :) Daisy, Elliot, ET, CC and Bonnie all are excited to meet you and also wanted to THANK YOU PERSONALLY 🥰🏇💞🫶!

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE "DANARD CLAN" :) WINNERS on the Track today and also to Alix Danard, Winner OF TODAY'S 50/50 DRAW, WHO SO GENEROUSLY DONATED THEIR Winning ticket Money DIRECTLY BACK TO OUR AFTERCARE PROGRAM!
WE ARE BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THE ENDLESS SUPPORT SHOWN BY THE FANS, HORSEMEN, & Century Downs Racetrack and Casino during the Fall Race Meet.

"Feeling so Blessed" 💞🫶🏇💞

We Also Loved Hosting all our Bell Ringers...who supported us with personal donations and Bell Ringing Arms trackside, in and out of the winner's circle :)
•Rachelle Normandin (Race 6 Winning Owner)
•Ashley Gilkyson (for) Sharon Bott
•Bo Stone (Race 3 Winning Owner)
• & all our other Ringers that opted to stay anonymous....💞🏇💞

Well done Calgary & Area! & Thank you HBPA Director (& ATAS Board Member) Emma Bott for making the trek down and selling 50/50 tickets today! 💞🫶✨️

Huge Congrats & shout out to all the connections of the 2yr old winner in the 3rd race at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino

And to the owners of "Worthy Spirit" for donating to our Ring the Bell fundraising initiative supporting Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society and our cause.

Click below to hear the amazing backstory on this filly that was orphaned...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LvnnktgCFwYkpMafjWM7mgm7h_MX8k5w/view?usp=drivesdk

We hope to see you at Century Downs Racetrack today ! Post time is 12:45pm We'll be by the Winner's Circle ) 🏇

#50/50Draw

Century Downs Racetrack and Casino

A huge thank you to all the support received today at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino for the Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society your donations and support of our 50/50 helps with all our expenses associated with the horses we have in our program ...

We have 5 amazing OTTBs available for adoption or sponsorship. Check out our website or contact us for more information. www.thoroughbredaftercare.ca [email protected]
😍🐎🥰

Well bred broodmares still able to conceive, be companions or be retrained, and a young sweet gelding, all looking for their forever homes and people .. :) Daisy, Elliot, ET, CC and Bonnie all are excited to meet you and also THANK YOU PERSONALLY 🥰🏇💞🫶

A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO CLIVE OWEN AND HIS CREW & TEAM THAT GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED OUR SOCIETY & CAUSE!

We are waiting for our 50/50 winner to come claim their money with the winning Red Ticket #000302.... please contact us or come see us at the winner's circle tomorrow:)

"Feeling Blessed" 💞🫶🏇💞 at Century Mile Racetrack and Casino

We are waiting for our 50/50 winner to come claim their money at the winners circle...red ticket #000302....
Century Downs Racetrack and Casino

Hope to see you at Century Downs Racetrack today ! Post time is 12:45pm We'll be by the Winner's Circle ) 🏇 #50/50Draw

Century Downs Racetrack and Casino

#7 in this awesome series.... 💞🏇💞

Life After Racing - Video 7: Turnout Life After Racing: A Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance video series about transitioning Thoroughbreds post racing career. FEATURING LongRun.Video 7: TurnoutLau...

Just WOW! Pure class and integrity shown right here.... L♡VE it !
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BREEDERS’ CUP LAUNCHES TEXT-TO-DONATE PROGRAM IN SUPPORT OF THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE Beginning Oct. 24, by texting BC4TAA to 56651, patrons will donate directly to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the official aftercare partner of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

We love costume classes! Great job! HAPPY HALLOWEEN 🎃!

We also have 5 amazing OTTBs available for adoption or sponsorship.WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE DRESSED UP BY THEIR FOREVER ADOPTIVE HOMES.... 💞🏇💞🫶

Check out our website or contact us for more information. www.thoroughbredaftercare.ca [email protected]
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Well bred broodmares still able to conceive, be companions or be retrained, and a young sweet gelding, all looking for their forever homes and people .. :) Daisy, Elliot, ET, CC and Bonnie all are excited to meet you !

ACCREDITATION IS KEY...AND WE HERE AT ATAS CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS THIS VERY GOAL....💞🏇💞



Harrison Ford once said:
"They will criticize you for what you are, for what you are not, and for what they think you are. They will judge you for what you do, for what you don't do, and for what you fail to do. They will talk about you for what you say and for what you keep silent about. They will point at you for your successes and for your mistakes, for your decisions and for your doubts. No matter how much you try to please, there will always be opinions. So, live for yourself, because in the end, the only thing that matters is being true to your own path."

The Alberta Thoroughbred Aftercare Society is:

•Dedicated to finding loving, adoptive retirement homes and/or alternative careers for thoroughbred racehorses who are no longer able to compete or add value to the racing industry.
• Committed to help in the movement to educate owners, trainers, breeders and the general public about the merits of thoroughbred racehorses and humane care of thoroughbred horses when their racing careers are over.

HOW DOES ALBERTA THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE WORK?

Through donations, fundraising and volunteer work, the ATAS evaluates OTTBs (Off-Track Thoroughbreds) and retired racehorses, provides all needed care they require at our sponsor farms, and works to place them in permanent, loving forever homes.

The ATAS has adopted the guidelines for transitioning retired racehorses as recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners and selects horses fairly and without bias.

Funds raised by, and donated to the ATAS are used to cover expenses, such as: feed, shipping, farrier services, basic re-training, medical expenses, as well as for miscellaneous expenses such as blankets and halters.

https://thoroughbredaftercare.ca/

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a nonprofit organization, is responsible for accrediting, inspecting, and providing grants to approved aftercare groups. These funds are used to retrain, rehome, and retire Thoroughbred horses, with financial support coming from the entire industry.

Since its establishment in 2012, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance has emerged as the comprehensive solution for accredited aftercare in North America. Thanks to its rigorous accreditation and inspection procedures, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance's accreditation seal is widely recognized as the highest standard in Thoroughbred aftercare.

Your donation will make a significant difference by supporting Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and assisting retired racehorses through accredited aftercare.

Click here to explore the ways that you can show your support:
https://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/donate/

This is one of our next steps...as soon as our CRA Charitable status is granted...we are almost there....sooooo excited! :)))) 😍

Next in the series :) 🫶👍

Life After Racing - Video 6: Shoeing Life After Racing: A Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance video series about transitioning Thoroughbreds post racing career. FEATURING LongRun.Video 6: ShoeingLau...

😍🐎 such a great series :)

Life After Racing - Video 5: Nutrition Life After Racing: A Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance video series about transitioning Thoroughbreds post racing career. FEATURING LongRun.Video 5: NutritionL...

Just Wow! Congrats to all the connections! :)🥰🐎🤩🫶

Big Fame Is Named 2024 Thoroughbred Makeover Champion, Sponsored by Churchill Downs Inc. - Retired Racehorse Project The top title went to Big Fame, trained by Angela Carmitchel.

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The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) and Stable View are disappointed to announce that the T.I.P. Championships at Stable View, originally scheduled for this weekend, have been rescheduled to October 24 - 27, 2024.

As many participants are aware, Stable View has a reputation for not deferring or cancelling events; however, due to the extensive recovery effort being undertaken in the community of Aiken after Hurricane Helene, the circumstances are so extreme that the decision was made to reschedule. A full refund will be available to all competitors who find this date unmanageable. In addition, T.I.P. Championships declarations and entries will re-open, providing an opportunity to participate in the event to those who may not have been able to make the originally scheduled dates.

All scratches must be communicated via email to [email protected] by Friday, October 4th. These entries will be refunded.

Those not requesting a full refund will have their entry transferred to the new weekend.

For new entries, please use evententries.com. If you also need to declare your horse for T.I.P. Championships, please visit tjctip.com/About/CSF for a link to the declaration form. New declarations and entries will close October 15, 2024.

T.I.P. and Stable View are sorry for the inconvenience this will cause. Safety and offering a good quality event are of paramount importance to T.I.P and Stable View. Not having electricity and thus no running water and the state of the roads and the immense impact of Hurricane Helene on our surrounding community are significant areas of concern. Please accept our apologies and will transfer your entry to the new date.