Sports: Where Do Racehorses Go? | The New York Times 

Wow just wow . The original owner still running him at 10 and careless enough to throw him in a claiming race? What a freakin jerk.

If the owner of Tour of the Cat was so concerned about the welfare of the horse after he was claimed, why didn't she make an effort to get him claimed by a trainer who would return him to her or buy him out-of-pocket off the track herself? The horse won over a million bucks for her and she was too tight to fork over 5K for him so he'd be safe?

I hear a lot of racehorses are put on the track at around the age of 2, and many end up unsound or lame as a result of being pushed to hard. Where there's money, there's suffering in some way. Sad.

Why did Tour of the Cat's owner enter him in a claiming race in the first place? Don't complain afterwards that he got claimed. She could have retired him at any point.

I just bought an ottb in october and he is the best horse ive ever been around! So sweet and full of personality! Glad I bought him too since his owner wanted to send him to race again!! He's learning to be a great riding horse and we have to work a lot on stop since race horses are always taught GO GO GO. He has also learned that its ok to go slow and walk when someone is on his back. such a fast learner! He even knows how to bow on command and wont stop once you ask him cause he wants you to keep on giving him treats haha

thats about right its not the owner who he made a million dollars for looking after him. But a amazing kind hearted man running a rescue. Wonder how much money tour of the cat former loving owner donates to the charity that stepped up when she didnt. knocks me sick they 'love them' yet cast them off like trash why didnt she buy him back then if she cared about him so much. Oh yeah thats right because he wasnt gonna make him any more money!

I visited Old Friends recently, and wow, this is an amazing establishment, if you are ever in the area, I HIGHLY recommend visiting.

My old horse had 119 starts. With only 2 first, 4, seconds and around 11 thirds. He was raced for 9 years. I bought him to retrain to jump but he ended up unsound and was semi-retired. They push these horses far too hard.

The lucky ones get rehomed, and retrained like my favorite gelding at the therapy farm I volunteer at. Junior is an off the track Thoroughbred who was trained as a jumper and later as a dressage horse before landing a job as a therapy horse. At 23 years old, he still loves people and to run, and puts his heart into everything he does.

if only there were more facilites like Old Friends to care for all of these unwanted horses!

The lady is acting all innocent and like she’s some amazing owner wanting to retire him. Yet, she happily entered him in a claiming race. She is no better than the man who bought him. If someone won the winning horse they aren’t going to let a $16,000 horse retire in their paddock. You’re no saint lady. I myself have a very expensive horse with medical problems who can’t be ridden (a dressage horse not a race horse, who’s injuries are not riding related). Now I cannot afford another horse because all my money is going to her care. But that’s what you sign up for with horses, they give you their all, so when it’s time you have to take care of them!

Could you not have a small tax on tickets sold that must go towards a retirement place for these horses. I don't follow horse racing so they might already do this.

Thank you wonderful man for saving that precious boy Tour of the Cat as well as all the others.

A friend of mine just bought a 2 yo with bowed tendons at the auction for$550 dollars he was still a stallion. He had been sold to his racing owner in Jan for $9500. So don't say thoroughbreds always get rescued because he was the only one that was and there's an auction every week.

It's so sad what we've done to these animals. There's no love for horses in racing

You think you are bad ? Come to Ireland and the horse and greyhound industry sometimes would make you Sick

The New York Racing Association came up with $125,000. That's it?! When state roads need to be fixed they come up with a million, or billions of dollars then. This is outrageous.

So great to see someone taking care of beautiful animals thank you so very much.

Why didn't the woman who profited from him for 8 years not claim him back in the very next race?

We really need a complete overhaul of the racing industry!!!!

These horses ran like kings, they deserve a retirement like kings.

I'm an animal lover. I have owned ottb horses since I was 11. I am against animal cruelty and believe too many good horses are being put down. At the same time, I'm a farm kid who knows that animals need to earn their keep, as most of us cannot afford to have a beautiful herd of horses just eating us out of house and home. lol. And they do. I was up to 16 horses at one time. If they don't race them, there is no reason to breed them. If you don't breed them, you lose the genetics, and they are gone forever. More drug testing, strict medical records (maybe chipped?) and retirement plans need to be made. I would love to see more law enforcement in large cities on horseback for crowd patrol. These horses would reign superior in this area. Something does need to be done.

(2:45) he loved to train Me: dose he also like being druged and abused?

I purchased a Racehorse from Kentucky 17 years ago, she is now 20 yrs old. I have had alot of other breeds in my life. Faith is by far the BEST HORSE I have ever owned. She is level headed kind and extremely gentle. No Regrets!!

And at the same time, horses are pushed so hard during their careers on the track that it becomes difficult to rehome them. People are terrified that they'll commit to these horses knowing that they might have a range of old injuries that will come back to haunt them later.

I'll take one! I don't care if it has an injured tendon, I just love the breed's personality and they make great trail horses too. Don't send them to Juarez!

Even responsible owners and trainers are a part of the problem. The Thoroughbred industry regularly cranks out literally tens of thousands of new foals each year, only a tiny percentage of which go on to earn their keep, and there are no guarantees even for those who do. (Google "Ferdinand"--a Kentucky Derby winner) Guess what happens to the rest? It's too awful to say, but involves a cattle truck and a trip to Canada or Mexico. The only ethical answer is to stop breeding so many animals and spend more resources finding good homes for the ones that already exist. What can you do? Adopt if you're qualified. Donate to rescue organizations if you can. Otherwise refuse to participate as a spectator in this ingratiating, abusive 'sport' whose time has past

That's right...everyone that has profited from that horse in the industry...owes them something back. This has to change. Either set up a program to retire these horses...or stop breeding them!!!

I owned a race backed quarter horse mare, and she was heavily abused, mistreated, and mishandled. I finally found someone who could handle her meltdowns and now she's a kid show pony. The thing with quarter horses and thoroughbreds is they're versitle. You can do just about anything with them. They're not useless after racing. They just need rehab and love

This is so sick , horses shouldnt undergo such a " life "

Thank you for taking care of these beautiful horses. So many of them are sent to auctions to be bought be sold for slaughter daily

They need to close ALL slaughter houses

lol at the beginning so cute! lol

Over breeding must be stopped , stop the greedy syndicates who don't give a rats where their horse will end up , probably at the slaughter house , it is a greedy buisness , make every owner look after their horse for the rest of their lives , or they don't get to own one , goes for trainers as well. Who don't care about the welfare of their horse , all they want is money , to slow u die , shame on the racing industry world wide ,karma is all I can say will happen to these greedy. Selfish people

You are doing a honorable work Sir💞 God Bless you n your staff😢 🙏

No more breeding...the law should be that people have to use the horses that are already on the ground, there are thousands of them.

Horses can live several decades. It’s upsetting to hear people talking about a 10 year horse as ‘old’. But the industry runs baby yearlings with barely formed bones and tendons. So yeah, ten would be considered old in that exploitative environment. 🥲

That's so fucked up! Made me cry! With all the money they make for there owners you think they would find house for them! Or treat them better when there old!

When the guy says they have to "be rehabilitated" that says a lot. I have an OTTB and he's needed more than 1 surgery. My life is basically paying for rescue animals.

That woman was actually at fault. She knew horse was old but still raced him. Thank goodness he ended up at Old Friends. Great, caring place.

That lady should never have let the 2nd owner get that horse. I used to love bathing my quarter horse, Bob

Does anyone know of any off the track thoroughbred adoption places or websites? I want to find a good rescue and get a few to train ect and give a good home.

A LOT of ex-racehorses go on to have careers as jumpers; hunter/jumpers, eventing, and pony club. Some even have the right temperament to become lesson horses. There's a whole market of loving homes out there for them if the owners would offer them up for affordable prices...which some do. I had several ex-racehorses that I retrained for eventing and I encouraged my students to buy them as well because there are a lot of pluses in buying an ex-racehorse. For example; they load and ride in trailers well, they're good with their feet and don't mind having a bath. Sure, you have to teach them steering and brakes, but it isn't hard for a knowledgeable rider. And some come with neurotic habits like cribbing and weaving that needs to be dealt with, but an honest seller will tell you about it so you can weed those ones out. But you do need to have a thorough vet-check with xrays before buying because injuries are a real problem with race horses. Tip: shop for "losers" because they have short careers, but are still plenty fast for other sports...and they are a lot less likely to have injuries.

aww i want to help care for them :((

What a great and wonderful initiative to look for these horses after their carreer!!! Didn't know of the existence…..Landed here because of my profession (vettechnician). Hope this loving and concerning man is still among us? Racehorses, as all the horses, deserve the best!!! Not only for the money they earned but also for the sake of this wonderful species and their deducation to us. As dogs are our companions and friends for ages, horses have been our slaves for centuries. We should remember that! I watch them as I see them wasted like carbage. You were there beautifl horse and you ment something to the world that's my point of view. Racehorse owners should be ashamed (and that's an understatement) in the way they treat them and say don't say goodbye...…...When they're the star of the track they have all the attention, grooming and looked-after, but after thatthey become 'a waste of money'.

OTTB's are FANTASTIC horses for more experienced riders. Been the best horse I've ever worked with and owned. Never known a healthy, sound TB off the track not get sold on to an eventing or competing home around here.

They have 2 slaughter house auctions a week here in CLEBURN TEXAS. And Grand Prairie has Lone Star Park, and I have been at the auctions for many yrs and know they sell the race horses there because i have rescued a few but cant save them all.

I work in the racing industry and a lot of horses after they are retired are found suitable homes where they are transition into riding horses. Theres a big market for off track Thoroughbreds because they are cheap and tend to excel in other equestrian sports. I myself own an ex racehorse. Have many friends who own ex racehorses. While working on my track know a lot of trainers have back up plans set up for their racehorses. Let it be some go to an organization that specialize in transitioning the racehorses into riding horses, and knowing people who will adopt. Their are probably some that sadly do end up to slaughter. But there's less thoroughbreds at auction and going to slaughter then any other breed. These documentaries do not know what they are talking about.

I find this so sad- 36,000 breedings for 1 race horse to win? This is why I have a rescue TB and I know a few other people who do too. I love him he is wonderful . I have a purebred Arab mare also a rescue whom I have had for almost 22 years-she is just about 31 now. She and her dam were found on a killer buyer lot in southern CA -owner was called - rescue asked if he wanted his horses back- he said NO. He did this often apparently with his horses- so very sad! Makes me angry! There are far too many breeders !! There needs to be a national law to protect horses from this!

These horses make good jumpers

Heartless owner or tour of the cat. She run the horse in the claimer so she had no right to criticise the new owner

1:22 Shacking the bit in his mouth to cause nothing but pain to try and stop the horse from acting up.

Mike is the best. Spent a day with him on his Kentucky retirement farm. Overbreeding is a problem. Sadly to many go to slaughter. Or ignored & abused. As a horse owner, I hate what's done to horses. I've seen things that tear your heart out. All horse owners need to give to a fund that supports unwanted horses. Ferdinand a KY Derby winner was sold to a Japanese stud, after his yrs of servicing mates, they sent him to slaughter. Demand these noble beautiful horses are cared for with love, . & excellent care.

My thoughts after reading the title was the horrible practice of killing these limp horses for meat and glue. O_O I know that was bad thinking on my part, but we know the history and reality of what happened to horses back then. All for the mighty dollar. :~( These horses deserve better. Far better retirement than being passed around like that. Good on the kind hearted man to run a retirement facility for these beings.

Love my ottb and ottstb . Both boys are amazing horses.

I love Old Friends!

Please donate if you can to help make sure these athletes get the retirement they deserve.Jn Saratoga they have the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation...It is a great cause that needs your help. I donated last week and feel great that i did a little...Much more has to be done.If you love horses or horse racing, donate..Please !!!

If she cared so much about the horse then why did she put him in a claiming race 🤣🤔🤣

To the glue factory with you Seabiscuit! No but seriously , its good to know that horses have a place to go to retire to.

Jump horses can race into their teens

thanks New York Times.

It just hurts me that horses have to go the the slaughter houses and that why I WANT ALL SLAUGHTER HOUSE SHUT DOWN!!! I work on a farm that buys retired horses and works with them also one more thing u can get riding lessons too! I care so much for horses I hate how they be treated like be thrown away like it’s trash when really the horse is got u the money and I honestly think that people should take care of them no matter what they are precious!!!!!!!

Just goes to show the bs trainers and owners talk . It’s all about the money. Horse racing should be banned

those horses are going throw so much already

Actually if you educate yourself very few horses found on slaughter trucks are thoroughbreds. More than 50% of slaughter bound horses are AQH every year. Where do racehorses go when they retire? 2nd careers and retirement homes.

Summer camps, barns, used for intercollegiate teams I rode on etc. I have ridden them in my life time.

wonderfull horses !

Thank god that they're saved...

We know what to do. Train them to be the best dressage barrel or just ridding horse money can buy. And sanctuary.

everyone says that they hate horse slaughterhouses and that’s it’s terrible and shouldn’t exist but then they turn around and happily eat their steak dinner.

Take the darn halters off.. so dangerous

how is this fun to watch, the horses are suffering and the only thing the riders think about is the money

Live into their 20s? Try 40s.

What I really hate is how they race horses at 2 years old. There should be a law that says they can't be started before 3.

My dad and i have 400 acres here in Ensenada Mexico, seeded with alfalfa, oats , barly and dandy lions. Plenty of room to have them roam free and no need to be saddled at all. All racehorses deserve that right to be treated like kings after they are dome at the racetrack. Question is how do i get them to the property.

To get stunned/ shot, hanged, bled out, have lowerlegs removed, skinned, head cut off, body cut in two halves and then stored in the meatlocker with a destinaton code along with a few other horses on a daily basis....

Horses should not be used for human entertainment 😡😡😡😡

No matter what intent in the beginning it always whines up the same when they stop producing they become expendable. Retirement means the horse is injured not suitable to race or even ride in most cases. The oldest stories we see everyday people bringing there old dogs to the pound because their not fun or beautiful anymore, let alone an old horse who is to expensive to keep. With all animals taken in there is a RESPONSIBILITY to take care of them. It may be glitz and glamour on TV during the Kentucky Derby or some other major races but over all most tracks are composed of low income owners struggling to keep themselves alive let alone their horses. There are far more low life’s then there are high life’s in the so called SPORT OF KINGS. IN fact when it’s all said and done it may only be a step or two above DOG FIGHTING.

In Australia I used to get horses off the track and train them as competition horses... eventing, show-jumping... whatever they were good for. There are always horses that, for whatever reason, were no good as riding horses. Given that a high proportion of fillies and mares go on to breeding operations, it's really geldings that are left over. So, if there is this huge amount of wastage you would think that they would be easy to get. The reality, in Australia anyway, is that you really need to be on the ball to get horses off the track. The vast majority of horses are already promised to someone... this idea that they all go to slaughter might be true in some places... but absolutely not in Australia... not from my experience anyway.

It upsets me that most Thoroughbreds are sent to slaughter. I wish there were more places like Old Friends. My trainer, she rescues Thoroughbreds from off the track and retrains them as school horses (most are) or she would keep them for herself (where she only has 3 😂)

2K a year to care for a horse? Try 4-600.00 a month just in stall rent, and add vet and farrier bills. It's a whole lot more than this narrator thinks.

A lot of them are sold for meat and some of that meat ends up in dog foods, so if you buy the right kind you can actually end up with racehorses on your neighbor's lawn!

2k per year to upkeep a horse per year??? Where? I want to move there. Try closer to 20k per year.

This is the wake up call that people need

I totally agree this people make so much money they should have to pay more.Let’s care about the horses and stop so much slaughter.

Where the rest of them go? They generally become dog food.

It’s a shame these horses are treated this way this needs to be stopped

Lot of ignorant people in the comments who you can clearly tell have never had a racehorse. My dad and family have had race horses, and they are loved like you would love a family dog. Don't even mention the money that goes into caring for them...

Everyone needs to know what happens to the horses disgusting cruelty in the first degree

They dump them anywhere they can. Mexican Slaughter houses are quite popular. 😪

Can't these horses that were bred to be athletes be used for show jumping or dressage careers after racing??? Seems to me like it's such a waste of good breeding to not use them in other disciplines when they are finished running.

If Tour of the Cat won one million dollars for that lady why did she not retire him and then when he was claimed in his supposedly “last race” why didn’t she claim him back

People are just monsters... that is so sad

I no longer like horse racing. It's barbaric and causes a lot of premature injuries and causes many to be disabled before their time. They are beautiful animals and deserve to have a good life. I'm so glad that people like you care about these horses and give them a good home. But those who never have a chance to have that life after racing makes me sick and how they are treated. My hope is that all horses will be treated right.

The lady said he loves to train, no he doesn't he gets nervous and scared and he isn't having a good time he's being abused.

This would then create jobs for cowboys and Ranch hand herdsman. And Trainer. All could be trained and used in the wild.

.Help phase out this exploitative “sport”.

@sheedalaadie Wouldn't it be better to just not breed them in the first place ?

Why didn’t the original owners claimed him if she loved him so much…

Bless Mr. Blowen for providing a safe place for these athletes in retirement I donate when possible 😬Hope zenyatta ends up there when Mosses give up on breeding her ( would love to visit her and imagine she’d attract many fans and thereby help support the retiree population and she reportedly loves fans and people attention 😍