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Ohio HBPA Supports Thoroughbred Aftercare

The Ohio HBPA desires to give our owners good options for the placement of their horses when their racing careers are over.

In 2026, the Ohio HBPA will make available up to $100,000 to any TAA accredited facilities which accept donations of horses which made their last start at one of Ohio’s three thoroughbred tracks in the past 12 months or which were stabled at an Ohio thoroughbred track at the time of donation. For each such horse the Ohio HBPA will donate to the TAA accredited facility $2,500 per horse for those which do not require surgery and $5,000 per horse for horses which have surgery set up through the TAA accredited facility to which it was donated.

All TAA accredited facilities are eligible to the program discussed above. Below are a list of TAA accredited facilities which have taken in horses from Ohio’s thoroughbred tracks in the past year along with contact information:

New Vocations-Erin Doty 859-252-9574 ext 0
CANTER Michigan- Robbie Timmons 248-736-4092
Second Stride-Kate Cooper Olson 502-241-8440
Serenity Oaks Equine Sanctuary-Nicole Paige 586-864-3344

Ohio HBPA Donates $50,000 to Support New Vocations’ Aftercare Efforts

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program announced today that the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) has donated $50,000 to support the program’s aftercare efforts at their Ohio facility. In 2016, New Vocations took in over 450 retired racehorses, 66 of which came directly from an Ohio racetrack or farm.

“It is important to the Ohio HBPA that our retired Thoroughbreds be given a chance to thrive in a second career. We are proud to continue our partnership with New Vocations, an organization that began 25 years ago right here in Ohio to give our horses that chance,” said Dave Basler, Ohio HBPA Executive Director.

“We are extremely grateful to the Ohio HBPA for their generous donation and ongoing support of our aftercare efforts in the state. Their support over the last several years has allowed us to expand our rehabilitation program and ultimately help more horses. The funding is greatly needed and will help us continue to serve horses retiring from Ohio racetracks,” said Anna Ford, New Vocation Program Director.

The Ohio HBPA donation comes during New Vocations’ 25-year anniversary of operations in Ohio. With seven facilities in Kentucky, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the program has grown into the largest racehorse adoption organization in the country. Its mission to rehabilitate, retrain and rehome retired racehorses has led to the placement of over 6,000 horses. New Vocations serves over 40 racetracks and focuses on working directly with owners and trainers in need of racehorse aftercare options. To learn more about the program, visit www.newvocations.org

About the Ohio HBPA: The Ohio HBPA is a multi-jurisdictional, benevolent and trade association. It provides financial assistance to members in need, educational and informational programs, health fairs, social events, services to members, representation before the Ohio General Assembly and the Ohio State Racing Commission, and negotiates contracts and resolves disputes with tracks.

Best of Ohio series coming to Mahoning Valley this fall

Joe DeVivo, Daily Racing Form
Posted: 01/31/2016 3:07 PM

The five richest stakes for Ohio-breds will be contested at Mahoning Valley Race Course near Youngstown in 2016.

For the first time, the Best of Ohio series in the fall will be held at Mahoning Valley. The five Best of Ohio stakes, worth $150,000 apiece, will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Ohio plans to rotate the Best of Ohio series among Mahoning Valley, ThistleDown Racino in suburban Cleveland, and Belterra Park in Cincinnati.

The Ohio State Racing Commission approved a schedule of 41 stakes for Ohio-breds during its January meeting last week in Columbus. With the exception of the Best of Ohio series, all stakes will be worth $75,000 apiece.

The first stakes of the season is the Southern Park for 3-year-olds going six furlongs on March 26 at Mahoning Valley.

The stakes are almost evenly divided among Ohio’s three racetracks. ThistleDown will have 15 statebred stakes, one more than Mahoning Valley during its 100-day season that is split between a winter-spring meet and a fall session. Belterra was assigned 12 stakes, six of them on turf.

The Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund will be worth $5.79 million in 2016. Of that total, $2.59 million is earmarked for Ohio-breds in overnight races. Based on 100-day seasons, Mahoning Valley and ThistleDown will get $883,000 and Belterra will get $838,000 for its 93-day meet.