Fuld transskription af Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation: Aftercare, Second Chances & Advocacy with Maggie Sweet

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Welcome to the Destination Saratoga All Access Podcast.
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Brought to you by Discover Saratoga.
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Welcome back to the Destination Saratoga All Access Podcast.
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I'm your host, McKenzie, and today I am joined by Maggie Sweet, the executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
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Welcome.
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Thank you.
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How are you?
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I'm good.
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How are you?
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Coming off a track season here.
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What's that like?
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Busy for you guys?
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Very busy.
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Very busy.
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Yes.
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We have um most of our events in the summer.
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Okay.
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Fundraising events.
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We one down and two to go.
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Before we talk about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the horse racing industry?
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I got started in the horse racing industry through my father, who was a horse racing fan.
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He took me to Narragansett Park in Rhode Island, where I grew up when I was six.
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He made me stay for the last race and told me that if he won, we would stop and get Burger King on the way home.
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And he won.
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Yes.
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And then he took me to Saratoga, I think the next year, for the Travers in 1981.
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And it poured rain, but I was hooked.
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Ah!
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Did you get Burger King?
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No, we didn't.
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No, we went to the farmer's daughter.
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Ooh.
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We did.
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I grew up in Skyleville and farmer's daughter was such a treat.
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Like, love it.
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The soft ice cream.
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And they have food there.
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I don't know.
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We ate the food.
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Okay, I was gonna say, not everyone goes for the food, but they have good fried food.
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You spent several years working for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
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What was that experience like for you?
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And what did you learn from him?
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I actually spent 25 years working for him.
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25 years?
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25, almost to the day.
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Holy smokes.

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Yeah, holy smokes is right.
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It was very different from uh year one to year 25.
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Um, it was really exciting.
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It was a really exciting job.
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It was a really fun job.
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When I started with him, I think he had 30 horses.
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Um, so it was very much he'd been in, he had been training, I think, for about 18 months or two years, but we took it to the next level.
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I mean, the next level being Hall of Fame.
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That's incredible.
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Yeah.
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I mean, I was there when he won his first derby.
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Wow.
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Super Saver in 2010.
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So cool.
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Uh, yeah, it was really cool.
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Um, multiple Belmonts, multiple Travers, Breeders' Cups.
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I think what I the main thing that I learned from him, our personalities are very much the same.
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Um, we worked really well together.
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Yeah.
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But the one thing I think that I took from him was not ever to get too high and not ever to get too low.
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Yep.
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Because you'll inevitably have both ends of the spectrum.
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Yeah.
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And to maintain sort of that that middle ground.
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Um, I think about the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic, we ran 17 horses.
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Holy crazy.
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And that's when they were only eight races.
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It was a one-day event.
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We didn't win a single race.
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Oh my god.
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We didn't win a single race.
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And I have this, I remember him walking back along the track after the last one, the last like zero for 17 race, and he looked so downtrodden.
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And I was like, I cannot believe that we just went over 17.
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Oh, it was it was awful.
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And then we went back to the barn and it was all right, you know?
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Yeah.
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You were back there and you you do your work and and I don't know.
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It's it's it's just okay.
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You get up the next day and you do it again.
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How do you come back from that?
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Like what what motivates you to keep competing when you have a day like that?
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The Breeders' Cup is kind of tough because that's the end of the season.
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So when you you do that in the Breeders' Cup, it is hard to get to get um excited again, yeah, to get motivated again.

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When you go oh for five in the derby, which is something we also did in 2007, um it it's the beginning of the season.
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So that's a lot easier.
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You knew you have things to look forward to, you have the Belmont to look forward to, you have the Saratoga race meat to look forward to.
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But um, I mean it that's the nature of it's the nature of horses.
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There's always another day.
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The next round of horses are getting ready to go.
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So you have to have this.
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I mean, the the big race, the two-year-old race in Saratoga is called the hopeful.
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Oh it's called the hopeful for a reason.
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Okay.
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Because whoever wins that race, you're like, you start dreaming.
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Yeah.
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You start dreaming out about the Derby.
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Which interestingly, now that I'm um in the aftercare segment of the racing industry, I look at it differently.
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Yeah.
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Um, you're you're that that thought of, you know, there's always something, there's always another one coming.
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You know, we we still have hope because we have another shot.
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I look at it differently now because I think, okay, well, that horse that that didn't pan out, where is that horse now?
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You know, because that horse, that horse may not have made it as a racehorse, may not have made it as a champion racehorse, may not have been good enough to go into the breeding shed, but that horse is still valuable and that horse deserves, as we say at the TRF, dignified lifetime care.
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I love that.
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Yeah.
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We interviewed Jenna and Tanucci for the limited podcast series, and we talked a little bit about that.
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What's it like after a thoroughbred race is and the racing is really only like a third of their life.
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Not even.
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And it's not even, it's I would say it's a fifth of their life.
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And then they have what 15 at least more years.
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15, 20 years.
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And that's where Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation comes in.
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You are really taking care of them for the majority of their life.
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We do.
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Uh, we are a sanctuary model of aftercare.
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I'm not sure if you're familiar with those two.
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There's essentially two models.
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One is rehab retrain, okay.
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Meaning that the horse comes off the racetrack and is sound enough, which means healthy enough, um, you know, not sore.
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Like no, no, no injuries.
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No injuries that would prevent it from having an another athletic career.
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So you you retrain that horse to for another equine discipline.
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Okay.
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And then the horse gets adopted out and becomes a show jumper, a uh an inventor, you know, um, something like that, trail riding, lessons, that kind of thing.
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That's rehab, retrain, re-home.
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But what our model is, it's called sanctuary.
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It means that for the most part, we take horses who aren't able to have a second or third athletic career, and they come to us with the idea that they're going to spend the rest of their life in sanctuary, meaning they're they're properly taken care of.
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Um, they live in herd environments, um, you know, they have ample acreage, food, vet, all that stuff.
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Um, and then half of them end up serving an additional purpose as teachers and healers to incarcerated individuals in vocational training programs.
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What is the mission of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation?
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The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation provides dignified lifetime care for retired thoroughbreds while creating pathways for healing and growth through the transformative power of the human-horse connection.
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Wow, that's textbook.
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That was textbook.
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Can you say that in Langman's text?
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Yes, I definitely can.
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Um it basically means that uh we take care of retired thoroughbreds uh for their entire lives.
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We offer them lifetime care.
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Uh we offer them good lifetime care.
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We recognize um that connection between a human and a horse, and we want to create that path to purpose for that.
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Um yeah, that's what we want to do.
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Currently it's in correctional facilities, but we hope that um it can it can touch more people.
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I'm glad you brought that up.
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One of the things I wanted to talk about today is how your organization has the second chances program.
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Can you tell us how that works?
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Yeah, so um when a racehorse comes to us, a retired racehorse, um so we have a herd of approximately 325 horses.
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Wow, on the same farm.
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No, not in the same farm.
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I was gonna say multiple farms.
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Okay, um, about 13 farms, uh, mostly on the east coast, um, as far west as Arkansas.
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Um, half of those farms are at correctional facilities.
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Wow.
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And the horses are used in vocational training programs for incarcerated individuals.
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They learn um equine care, nutrition, um, veterinary aspects.
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They learn farm management, they learn about taking care of the infrastructure of a farm.
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Um that's really cool.
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And so it started as vocational training with the idea that the incarcerated individuals would would be released from prison and they could go on to another, they could go on to a career.
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There'd be a job waiting for them.
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And then anybody who's been around horses knows that they have a very therapeutic side to them, that they are natural healers and teachers because they're intuitive, uh, they're prey animals, which means that they are very aware of everything that goes on around them.
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They have to be for survival, but they're not a prey animal like a little bunny who's a prey animal.
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They're a 1200-pound prey animal.
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So you can't push them around.
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You have to learn how to work with them.
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Yeah.
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So um, you know, you have these incarcerated individuals who live who live one life inside, which is where you don't let anybody see that you're vulnerable.
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And then you live can live this other side out on the farm where you can let your guard down and you learn about conflict resolution, you learn about communication, learn about caring for another living being.
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Imagine trust.
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Trust.
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Trusting the animal, the animal trusting you.
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Yes.
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And that's a big thing because there's also the lack of judgment, trust and lack of judgment, because a lot of these people don't trust anyone and they have been judged their entire lives.
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And like literally judged at the end to incarcerate themselves.
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And the horse isn't gonna judge them because the horse doesn't care what they did.
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The horse only cares that they're having this healthy relationship with each other.
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That is so lovely.
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It is lovely, it really is.
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The idea of retired race horses helping incarcerated individuals is incredible.
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Like I have chills listening to you talk about this.
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Why do you think this program has been so successful?
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I think it's been successful because it works, which sounds like a non-answer, but you can see it work.
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Yeah, you're there.
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You can you can see the interactions between the horses and the humans.
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Um when you speak to somebody who's in the program or has graduated from the program, um, you know, their their anecdotes and and what they would what they'll share with you, you know that it's touched this person.
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On a more practical level, we have a program in Ocala, Florida that that's for women.
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And the number of job placements that come directly out of that program are astounding.
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I mean, they're these women leave prison and then the next day there's one or two jobs waiting for them because they are so skilled.
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Yeah.
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It's a really great network down there.
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It's something that um that we want to make every single one of our programs like the the network on the outside.
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Um, and then there's also data.
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There's recidivism data that backs up what we're doing, you know, that that if if an incarcerated individual has gone through our program, the recidivism rate is less than other vocational programs and it's less than the general population as well.
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It is so amazing that these opportunities exist and the fact that they have jobs lined up.
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I can't imagine what it would feel like to get released from prison and not know what your next step is.
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That's probably why so many people end up back in prison because you just you don't have any direction or purpose, and this is incredible.
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The horses get something out of it, the individuals get something out of it, and you're making a difference in people's lives.
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So that's that's so cool.
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Yeah, it's a real difference.
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And and thoroughbreds are um their nature is they they like to work for the most part.
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They like to work, they're they're they're smart creatures.
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Um, so with them having a purpose, a job is something that they want.
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I love that.
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Yeah.
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I love that they're not gonna be able to do that.
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But they're willing, they're very willing.
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Yeah, no, I I love that you brought that up because I talked to Jenna about that too.
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And I know being like in a horse racing town and having a track, there's a lot of naysayers, make that joke, about um the horse racing industry that we are making them do something they don't want to do.
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Right.
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And that seems like a common theme that horses like to run, they like to work, they like to have a purpose.
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So it just it makes me happy because I know we're not forcing them to do something that they don't want to do or it's not in their nature.
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Yeah.
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I mean, you'll see them in in the fields in our farms.
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They all they just take off running.
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I mean, that's what they do.
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They're herd animals who run.
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Do you have a favorite success story from the Second Chances program that you could share?
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I think my favorite success story, and this is partly personal just because she's the graduate that I know the best.
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Um, a woman named Julianne Stowell, who graduated from the program in Ocala.
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She went from there to immediately to a job with Stephanie Brennan, Niall Brennan.
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They have uh two-year-old in training program that they own.
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Um, she went to work for them, and within a year, she was chosen as the industry's newcomer of the year.
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Wow.
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That's incredible.
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It is incredible.
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Everything she learned, she learned in prison.
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That makes my heart so happy that people can change and grow and your life doesn't end.
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It doesn't end.
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It doesn't end at all.
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And to hear her talk about it is beyond moving.
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I mean, I wouldn't even try to to summarize what she says because it's just so raw and so honest and so deep what she has to say.
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So I I think I'm sort of biased, but I would I would say that one.
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I thought her journey, the full circle nature of her journey was really cool.
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It feels like both the horses and the participants are really getting a second chance through this program.
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Definitely.
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Cambiamento LLC, helping organizations build stronger teams and stronger futures.
00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:42.960
So we talked about, you know, the individuals getting a second chance, but let's talk more about the horses and what happens, you know, after a thoroughbred finishes their career.
00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.759
Just like any athlete, at some point they have to retire.
00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:49.600
What is the next steps from the track to retirement?
00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.320
I think there's a lot of possible options.
00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:54.159
There's a lot of answers to that one.
00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:58.559
Uh a lot of it depends on um how sound the horse is.
00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:03.120
Um, if the horse has an injury that prevents it from having an additional athletic career.
00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:03.519
Yeah.
00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:06.720
So then you uh go back to the those two different models.
00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:13.360
Um, you either retrain the horse for another athletic career, second or third athletic career.
00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:18.879
At the end of that, it will eventually come to sanctuary, or the horse might go directly into sanctuary.
00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:21.679
So those are the basically the two options.
00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:26.159
Ugh, it's just so nice to hear that they're treated well and they're not discarded.
00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:34.159
I feel like that's another thing people think if they're not good enough to be uh a winning thoroughbred that they're kind of just discarded.
00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:36.080
But that doesn't sound like the case at all.
00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:37.360
I it does happen.
00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.759
I mean, I'd be lying if I said it doesn't happen.
00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:54.320
Um I I couldn't tell you exactly how many, you know, the what percentage go on to retrain, which percentage go on to sanctuary, which percentage end up someplace that nobody really wants them to end up.
00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:56.879
Um I don't have those numbers for you.
00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:58.399
How do you get involved though?
00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:05.279
Like how do you decide which ones are gonna come to geek with to you guys, to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation to be retrained or sanctuary?
00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:12.080
Anybody who wants to retire a horse with us, they fill out a intake application.
00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:12.399
Okay.
00:16:12.720 --> 00:16:15.200
Um we have a wait list that is constantly full.
00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:15.600
Wow.
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:17.519
Because there's not enough space for them.
00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:23.440
Um so we prioritize them based on our internal regulations.
00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:23.919
Yeah.
00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.440
Um, we take as many as we can, we take them as quickly as we can.
00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.960
We work with other organizations, other aftercare organizations.
00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:37.120
If we get a horse who's coming right off the track and is sound, um, that's something that we we can do.
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:39.200
We can retrain them and rehome them.
00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:40.399
It's not our forte.
00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:47.759
Um what we would likely do in that case is refer them to um the other model of aftercare.
00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:54.000
So then the horse finds a home and then we still have a space for another horse who can't who can't do that, who needs just sanctuary.
00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:56.799
So there's a lot of interconnectedness between the organizations.
00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:03.360
It seems like there is a lot that's going on there, a lot of steps and a lot of different parties involved with making the right decisions.
00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:05.920
It's very much a moving, a moving um target.
00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.960
So you have been around for more than 40 years.
00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:10.160
As a human?
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:10.960
Yeah.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.039
That was funny.
00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.720
The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation has been around for more than 40 years.
00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.519
Yes, it has.
00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:22.960
Um, since it was founded, you've helped save more than 4,500 horses.
00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.319
What does that mean to you?
00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:29.200
I think the first thing, the first comment I would have about that is the use of the word save.
00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:32.000
We have saving horses in our tagline.
00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:35.119
Um, it's an internal conversation that we've had.
00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.839
Some horses are saved, like I mentioned before.
00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.160
Some are saved, but they're not all saved.
00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:43.279
And I think that's a that definitely is a point that I would like to make.
00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:43.599
Yeah.
00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.720
Is that horses are responsibly retired.
00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:55.759
And I wouldn't want to ever group them together as all responsibly retired, because that's not true, or all saved because that's not true either.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:00.559
Um, one thing that we're trying to promote and encourage people to do is to responsibly retire a horse.
00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:00.880
Yeah.
00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:14.000
Which is um, you think about the evolution of aftercare, and it used to be a big thing, you would donate your horse, but if you donate your horse, you're actually giving us a bill for$75,000 because it costs a lot of money to take care of horses.
00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:14.400
Yep.
00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:21.759
Um, so it's great that your horse isn't going to a livestock auction, but still somebody's got to pay for that horse.
00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:24.160
Like that that bill doesn't disappear.
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:35.440
So I know there's been a um education and awareness increase within the racing industry about responsibly retiring horses, and that is where things are trending now, which is wonderful.
00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:46.480
Would you say that's kind of what your role is or or how you're advocating for them is to educate them about the, I don't want to say correct, but the steps to retiring a horse properly.
00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.200
Definitely.
00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:51.519
The last two years we've spent a good deal of time on education, awareness.
00:18:51.680 --> 00:19:04.960
Um, the industry itself, I would say in 2026, I feel like there's been um major steps towards towards not, you know, they've had the awareness, they've had the education.
00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:09.759
I shouldn't say they, we, because I firmly believe that aftercare is part of the racing industry.
00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.480
We have had the education and the awareness, and now it's time to implement.
00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:14.960
Yeah.
00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:21.839
Um, and I think that's where, you know, the industry as a whole is is getting closer to to taking action.
00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:23.680
I like that and not just talking about it.
00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:24.240
Agreed.
00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.119
It's very easy to talk about.
00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.440
Yeah, definitely.
00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.960
What is one thing that the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is doing to educate the racing community?
00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:37.920
So the last two years we've held bell um breakfasts during the Belmont Stakes Festival.
00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:46.079
Um and we also held a breakfast um in August, two breakfasts with new vocations.
00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.480
Lovely.
00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:51.279
Which is another aftercare organization that specializes in retraining and re-homing horses.
00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:55.759
So what we wanted to do was spread the awareness about our mission, but also about the synergy between the two.
00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.079
Yeah.
00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:04.559
And how in an ideal world a horse is retired responsibly and soundly, and they go on to a second, third, fourth athletic career.
00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:08.480
And when that horse needs sanctuary, the horse comes to us for sanctuary.
00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.759
And it encapsulates the entire life cycle of that horse.
00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.000
Because as we mentioned before, the racetrack is really only about a fifth of their time.
00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.400
Yeah.
00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.039
You know.
00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:24.559
So that's, you know, if it's five years being born, getting ready to be a racehorse, being a racehorse, you still have 20 hor 20 years left.
00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.119
Yeah.
00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:30.160
That's incredible that you guys do this and start edge and are educating the industry.
00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:31.839
What kind of people attend these events?
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Is it like horse racing, owners, trainers, or does the general public come?
00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:37.359
Like, what are these events like?
00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:44.720
So these events were held um on the Oklahoma training track, and they're held in a location where you have to have a license to get to.
00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:44.960
Okay.
00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:50.160
They're not aimed at the general public, they're specifically aimed towards licensed horse professionals.
00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:54.640
Um, we also have other events that we hold outside of.
00:20:54.799 --> 00:21:01.119
We had a polo event, we had a gumbo event with the Jackie Kendrick Carmouche, we had a cocktail party at the Adelphi.
00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:03.680
Those are all events that the general public can come to.
00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:05.519
So they should look for those in 2027.
00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:06.319
Absolutely.
00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:16.160
One thing that really surprised me when I was looking at your site and educating myself about the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation is the cost to care for one thoroughbred lifetime.
00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:19.440
So you said, what is it, a year is about$75,000?
00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.759
No, one year is about$7,500.
00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.400
Lifetime.
00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:23.359
$7,500.
00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.960
$7,500 for one year.
00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.960
We estimate about$75,000.
00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.200
Okay.
00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:30.880
Um, it would cost the time that the horse is in our care.
00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.079
$75,000.
00:21:32.400 --> 00:21:33.519
Yeah, because if a little bit of money.
00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:38.640
If a horse is in sanctuary for 10 to 15 years, and you never know exactly how long it's going to be.
00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:40.559
So we've come up with$75,000 as our average.
00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.519
Yeah.
00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:41.920
Yeah.
00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.440
And people can't be donating.
00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.119
No, you're you're not donating.
00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:51.039
If you're caring for uh a living creature who is very big and I imagine needs a lot of care and food and attention.
00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:53.119
Which brings me to my next point.
00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:57.599
So uh TRF, the RoboD Retirement Foundation, relies heavily on philanthropy.
00:21:57.839 --> 00:22:01.519
Where does the support come from and why is Is every donation important?
00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:08.319
So our um support comes from directly from individuals, a lot of individual donations.
00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:11.839
Um it comes from fundraising events that I mentioned.
00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:19.519
Uh it comes from direct appeals, either direct mail, social media, it comes from grants, it comes from planned giving.
00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:23.039
Um, it's sort of a uh combination of those things.
00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.519
Yeah.
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.920
We don't have an alternative source of funding right now.
00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:36.559
We are not a retrain, re-home organization that adopts out horses um for a fee.
00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.480
That's their business model.
00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:41.680
It's a great business model, um, but it's not ours.
00:22:41.920 --> 00:22:45.359
It doesn't make Sanctuary any less important or any less valuable.
00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.759
Yeah.
00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:49.599
But we do rely 100% on philanthropy.
00:22:50.000 --> 00:23:05.359
I'm so surprised that the horse racing industry, whether that's Naira or a more broad organization, doesn't funnel some funds to these types of organizations to keep the industry full circle, sustainable.
00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.240
They do.
00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:06.559
Okay.
00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.200
They do.
00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:17.039
But again, that's um very few of it is automated or um it mo it's mostly if you choose to do it, you can do it.
00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.799
So we do get some of it.
00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.599
There's a little bit that's automated, but we can't sell our services, so to speak.
00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:24.079
Yeah.
00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.720
That's right.
00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:27.599
That's that's kind of what I'm I'm trying to get at.
00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:29.279
So it is philanthropy.
00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:38.799
It may be funneled through Naira, it may be funneled through the Jockey Club, funneled through the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, but at the beginning it's all it's all philanthropy.
00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:39.359
Yeah.
00:23:39.599 --> 00:23:43.440
I mean, it's incredible what you guys do, and it's incredibly important.
00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:47.920
Um, as we've said, the horse lives for 25, 30 years, so someone needs to take care of it.
00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.640
And if it wasn't for organizations like yours, I'd hate to think what happens.
00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:54.240
It's it's really sad.
00:23:54.559 --> 00:24:02.160
For someone listening or watching today's podcast, where would they go to donate if they wanted to um make a donation to TRF?
00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:06.880
The easiest way is to go to our website, which is trfink.org.
00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:09.039
Uh, we have a donate button on our homepage.
00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.920
Go there.
00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:15.440
Um honestly, the best thing you can do is to donate unrestricted funds to us.
00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:24.480
You can restrict your funds to a certain program, to a certain state, um, but the best thing that a nonprofit can receive is an unrestricted donation.
00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.359
We're legit.
00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.960
You can check us out on uh Charity Navigate or anything like that.
00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:33.440
If you if you trust the organization, then you should trust them to do the right thing.
00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.319
Yeah, with your money.
00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:34.880
With your money.
00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.079
I couldn't agree more.
00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.559
So please, please make a donation.
00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:44.640
Um, let's support this great cause because you need it, the horses need it, and it's really great for our horse racing community.
00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.039
Yes.
00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:45.519
For sure.
00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:48.720
So, Maggie, you've dedicated your career to thoroughbreds.
00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.880
What makes these horses so special?
00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:58.240
I think they have a lot of spirit, they're very intelligent, they are willing, they're really brave.
00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:03.279
But I think what I come back to over and over is they are just so fast.
00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.200
They're so fast.
00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:12.079
If you can get somewhat up close to them, I've been in I've had insider access, so to speak, occasionally.
00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:20.640
Um, I remember one time being on the infield at in Saratoga when they run on the inner turf course and standing, you know, three feet off of that hedge.
00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:20.880
Yeah.
00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:29.119
And to hear them come by and to feel them come by, I mean, it's it's it's it's so moving.
00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:34.240
There's I don't know, there's just something about them that is I could watch them all day.
00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.119
I know, me too.
00:25:35.200 --> 00:25:35.440
Yeah.
00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.440
Ah, I just watch them in a field.
00:25:37.680 --> 00:25:42.880
They don't need to be on the racetrack, but to watch them and to to feel that, you know, you can feel it and you can hear it.
00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.720
And they can feel your energy too, right?
00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.039
Yes.
00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:57.920
Isn't that part of like the second chance program or you know, um, PTSD, the what they do with um war veterans, war veterans, or even uh like kids with handicap.
00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:58.319
Yes.
00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:05.200
Um, I think it's so incredible that they come in and like you said, they don't know your track record, they don't know your name, how much money you have.
00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.480
They read your energy.
00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:06.799
Yeah.
00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.079
And then they reciprocate.
00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:13.279
If you give in positive energy, they give it just the whole experience just like melts my heart.
00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:16.240
I just think it's so incredible the therapy behind it.
00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:18.400
They act as they act as mirrors.
00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.039
I love that.
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:22.240
And a lot of times you don't even know what energy you're giving off.
00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:22.720
Yeah.
00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:28.400
So you give it off and they give it back, and you're like, oh, huh, I didn't know I was in such a rotten mood today.
00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.279
That's incredible.
00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:29.920
It really is.
00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:33.440
And it really makes you recognize like you have to become self-aware at that point.
00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.960
Major self-awareness.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:37.200
That's that is so incredible.
00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:39.359
I couldn't imagine working with a horse day after day.
00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:46.480
It's like you not that you have to be in the best behavior or the best mood, but when you see it, it's like, oh wow, I gotta like, I gotta fix that.
00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:52.720
Yeah, it's really hard to be in a bad mood if if you can.
00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:57.759
I I don't know if you've ever hugged a horse, you know, kind of stand under their neck and hug them.
00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.720
It's I think it's pretty special.
00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:04.799
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00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:48.079
The summer meet just wrapped up.
00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:55.519
How does the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation work alongside the racing industry to ensure every Thoroughbred has a life after racing?
00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.000
We have various forms of support that come from the racing industry.
00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:04.319
A number of our board members are active participants in the racing industry.
00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:09.039
Um, a lot of our donors are active participants in the racing industry.
00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:18.000
There are certain um checkoff percentages that come from sales companies uh that come from the purse structure.
00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:20.480
Um personally, I don't think it's enough.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:24.640
I know it's not enough, and I think the industry is becoming aware that it's not enough.
00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:31.920
Like, for example, Naira allowed us to hold the um awareness breakfasts during the Belmont Festival and during the Saratoga meet.
00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:34.079
Those are on, you know, that's on track.
00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:36.400
That's you know, you need permission for that.
00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.720
Um, so that's a way that they can give back.
00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.839
What more could be done?
00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:45.359
If you could talk to, you know, the listeners or the industry and you could change something today, what would that be?
00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:50.400
Honestly, what I would change today is um there would be a percentage.
00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:56.799
There is a percentage um that is deducted from the sale price of a horse at a public auction.
00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:57.279
Okay.
00:28:57.519 --> 00:29:03.519
Um, it's optional for or what it was optional for buyers.
00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:08.720
It's always been required for sellers, it's now required for both.
00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:16.000
The percentage is tiny, and bumping that percentage up would make an enormous difference immediately.
00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:16.319
Yeah.
00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:21.680
Uh, there's so much money that goes through a horse sale, and there's a lot of horses that are valuable.
00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:26.240
Uh they're worth a million dollars one day, and a year later they're worth$20,000.
00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:32.559
So if you're gonna pay a million dollars for a horse, you really need to kick in for the life of that horse.
00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.359
Totally.
00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:33.680
Yeah.
00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:37.359
And does that percentage get split between organizations like yours?
00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.480
It gets split.
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:43.920
So it goes to um the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, okay, which is sort of an umbrella organization.
00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:48.160
And I think this year they've credited about 86 organizations across the country.
00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:51.279
So that money is then split among the 86 organizations.
00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:59.839
So it it's not, it sounds like a big number when you say it, but it's not a big number when you say$75,000 lifetime care.
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.079
Yeah.
00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:03.920
When you say$7,500 per year for$325 horses.
00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.880
That's a lot of money.
00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:05.759
It is a lot of money.
00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.640
It's a lot of money.
00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:07.359
That's yeah.
00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.799
It's too much to raise.
00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:09.119
Yeah.
00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.079
It honestly is.
00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:12.559
It can be done, but it's exhausting.
00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:31.200
And wouldn't it be great if the TRF and and our staff, if we could spend our time working on our programs, yes, working on second chances and making it really, really good at every location and expanding that instead of every year starting up that fundraising wheel again over and over and over.
00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:34.400
It's just a poor use of it's a poor use of resources.
00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:34.799
Yeah.
00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:43.200
And and I think and hope that industry is starting to realize that the racing industry is only as sustainable as its aftercare initiatives.
00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:43.759
Yeah.
00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:46.960
I mean, gosh, it's it's kind of like humans, right?
00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:54.079
I feel like we invest all this time in babies and before care and daycare and all of those steps, right?
00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:57.519
And then sometimes we get to that elder stage in life and it's like an afterthought.
00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:04.880
And I think the horse racing industry is really starting to come around to seeing this and making contributions, which I think is great.
00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:09.119
It is an ecosystem, it is a whole, you know, beginning to end sustainability.
00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.880
It's a very important part of it.
00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:19.839
And I I hope you guys can get more funding for it or raise more money without you having to put all of your time and energy into it because what you're doing is so important.
00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:22.559
And it wouldn't be horse racing without it, right?
00:31:22.640 --> 00:31:25.680
Just like we have the breeding farms, we need the sanctuaries.
00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:28.799
And I think it's so, so important what you do.
00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:34.160
One of the TRF staff members came up with our tagline for 2026, making sanctuary sexy.
00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.279
I love it.
00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:39.039
Because it's hard to sell people on elderly horses.
00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:42.720
It's so funny that you see elderly though, because they could be five, they could be seven, right?
00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:44.319
They could be five, they could be seven.
00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:48.799
But a 20-year-old horse is not as sexy as I mean, me myself.
00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:51.599
What did I just tell you about what I like about a thoroughbred?
00:31:51.839 --> 00:31:53.279
It's watching them race.
00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.519
They're fast and they're vibrant.
00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:58.640
And, you know, you just talked about humans.
00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:04.160
There's your 20-year-old athlete versus your 70-year-old retired athlete.
00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:05.920
You know, it's not sexy.
00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.400
Yeah.
00:32:06.720 --> 00:32:09.519
The retired athlete, but I want an elderly thoroughbred.
00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:09.680
Okay.
00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.440
I want to go out and ride.
00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:13.759
I feel like I would be no good at taking care of that.
00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:14.880
You can't ride ours.
00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.200
Oh.
00:32:15.359 --> 00:32:15.920
They don't ride.
00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:16.400
No.
00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:18.400
Well, some of ours you can ride.
00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:21.440
But um, most of ours are not fit for athletic careers.
00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:21.680
Okay.
00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.960
Which is why they're in sanctuary.
00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.359
Yeah.
00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.960
But I want to snuggle them.
00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.079
You can snuggle them, definitely.
00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:29.359
Snuggle them, pet their ears, give them peppermints.
00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:29.920
Yes.
00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.599
They're so great.
00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:44.480
Well, I'm glad someone's taking care of them because it's just it's so sad that we spend all this time as spectators or visitors or whatever, you know, watching what happens on the race, and then I feel like we can walk away and not think about it, right?
00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:46.400
It's easy to walk away and not think about it.
00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:54.880
But then for someone like you who's been involved from, you know, beginning to ends to training now, aftercare, sanctuary, it's important that you're out there advocating for this.
00:32:55.119 --> 00:32:55.759
It really is.
00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.480
I wish.
00:32:56.559 --> 00:33:11.200
So I've been with Tatera F now for two and a half years, and I wish I could go back to those 25 years, or it's actually 28 years in the industry, 25 with Todd, but I wish I could go back in a sense with with what I've learned in the last two and a half years.
00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.519
Yeah.
00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:20.559
And and advocate more from that position of being, you know, the right hand person to a Hall of Fame trainer.
00:33:20.880 --> 00:33:21.119
Yeah.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:24.880
I know more now and I see how things could have been done differently.
00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:29.440
And I wish that I and in a sense could have could have done that.
00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:36.640
Something that I feel like it's often overlooked is how much the horses give throughout their careers.
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:42.240
How can owners, trainers, and fans help make sure they have a great life after racing?
00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:47.680
Honestly, the best thing you can do is to donate money to us.
00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:50.720
Um, the other thing that we would love to have is land.
00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:54.960
Land in Saratoga County where we can have our horses.
00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.400
Um, we can have them accessible.
00:33:56.559 --> 00:34:01.200
The closest horses we have are located at a correctional facility two two hours from here.
00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:01.920
No way.
00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:05.119
Yeah, I mean, it's it's not easy to get into a correctional facility.
00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:08.960
I can't say, hey, Mackenzie, after this, do you want to come meet our horses?
00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.800
Because I we can't do that.
00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:11.039
Yeah.
00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:17.599
So that's one thing that we really are hoping for is to get some land locally where we can have some of our horses.
00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:21.760
Um so we can engage with the community more, engage with volunteers more.
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:22.320
Yeah.
00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:28.559
Um, and it's just, you know, a whole lot nicer to work in an office on a farm than it is to work on a in an office building.
00:34:28.719 --> 00:34:30.559
Okay, so we got to find you some land here.
00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:32.639
We need some land or give me the money for the land.
00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.440
Yeah, totally.
00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:35.840
I mean, there's so much land in Saratoga County.
00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.400
There is.
00:34:36.639 --> 00:34:38.719
Would you ever be able to rent from a farm?
00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:39.760
Like, how would that work?
00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:40.800
It's probably not possible.
00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:43.840
Um, yeah, I mean, you can lease a farm for sure.
00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:45.679
Uh donation is better.
00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:47.360
Donate, of course, of course.
00:34:47.519 --> 00:34:48.559
That would be so cool.
00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:50.400
And we could do farm tours.
00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:51.119
Farm tours.
00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:52.480
Team up with Naira.
00:34:52.639 --> 00:34:55.360
They do breakfast and farm tours, which are incredible.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.000
Exactly.
00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:59.360
Maybe a little bit more um like therapy type stuff.
00:34:59.519 --> 00:35:01.599
Maybe you could expand outside of the incarcerated.
00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:03.360
We would love to expand.
00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:08.719
Um, as you mentioned, there's so many groups who could use some time with horses.
00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:08.880
Yeah.
00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:11.440
You don't even have to be, you don't have to touch them.
00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:12.880
Just watching them.
00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:17.199
You watch them in the field, and very much they they will lower your blood pressure.
00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:17.840
Yeah.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:24.800
So for somebody who who isn't naturally inclined to be with a horse, just that environment itself.
00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.199
Yeah.
00:35:25.440 --> 00:35:27.039
I happen to think they smell really good.
00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:29.679
Some people don't, but even just that smell of a barn.
00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:39.280
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00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:17.280
Talk to me about like the horse, the psychology of the horse.
00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.400
What makes them so special?
00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:21.519
Why are they such good therapy tools, if you will?
00:36:21.679 --> 00:36:23.199
Like it just, uh, I don't know.
00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:30.159
I'm just so amazed by how they operate and how this huge animal is so willing to trust us, and vice versa.
00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:36.320
It's very intimidating to try to be to engage with a horse that could trample you, right?
00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:36.719
Right.
00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:37.920
Like, how does that whole process work?
00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:40.639
I don't think that they're necessarily willing to trust us.
00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:44.400
I think they make us I mean, you you can't really generalize.
00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:53.440
There's there's so many individuals, but because they're a prey animal, a very large prey animal, they're not going to automatically trust you.
00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:55.119
You do have to earn some of that trust.
00:36:55.280 --> 00:37:00.400
Which I think if you can earn trust in a relationship, whether it's with a human or an animal, it becomes a deeper relationship.
00:37:00.639 --> 00:37:01.039
Totally.
00:37:01.199 --> 00:37:07.280
So I think just their nature, the nature of the horse makes them suitable for therapeutic purposes.
00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.559
I love it.
00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:15.920
And it's it's interesting to hear the word prey because I would that wouldn't be the first thing that comes to mind for me when you think of a 1200-pound animal.
00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:16.559
Exactly.
00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:19.519
But they especially one that can run that quickly.
00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:20.000
Right.
00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:24.079
And is running around you or, you know, and has hooves and teeth.
00:37:24.400 --> 00:37:26.880
Sounds so scary, but they're like gentle giants, right?
00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:27.360
Yeah.
00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:30.800
I mean they can they can if provoked, you know.
00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:33.360
Have you ever seen a horse go like crazy?
00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:39.440
Um, well, I I think when they're on the racetrack, it's a heightened atmosphere.
00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:43.599
You know, the energy is definitely high, um, especially as they're going into the starting gate.
00:37:43.679 --> 00:37:43.920
Yep.
00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:48.159
It's just that that's it's like if you were about to run the hundred-yard dash.
00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:48.480
Yeah.
00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:51.840
You know, you're you're dancing and your yeah, your adrenaline's going.
00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:58.159
So yeah, I mean, I've seen horses act unlike they would in a field in a pasture.
00:37:58.880 --> 00:37:59.199
Yeah, yeah.
00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.960
Those are the horses I usually bet on.
00:38:01.199 --> 00:38:11.199
Like when you see them in the paddock and they're getting like giddy and the handler's trying to walk them and they're like, or they have um their blinders on, so they can't, you know, and they're trying to figure out what's going on.
00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:16.159
I'm like, those are the ones who I think have the energy and the spunk and they're ready to go out there and tear it up.
00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:19.760
That fine line between game face and like washed out.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:22.400
And washed out is a literal term that they use for horses.
00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.360
You can see them.
00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:25.840
Um, they'll foam up the sweat.
00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:27.280
Oh, I didn't know that.
00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:27.599
Okay.
00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.000
Yeah.
00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:30.559
So if a horse washes out on a cool day, bad sign.
00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:30.880
Oh.
00:38:31.199 --> 00:38:33.519
Means they're like nervous, nervous, nervous.
00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:34.559
That's a lot of pressure.
00:38:34.800 --> 00:38:41.360
And the thing they don't realize that there's like hundreds of thousands of people watching them and they do betting the house on their success.
00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:47.440
But they well, they probably don't, they don't know that part, but they feel the energy of 35,000 people around them.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:47.920
Yeah.
00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:54.719
Honestly, in my short life, there's nothing more exciting than the thrill of the horses coming down the stretch.
00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:58.000
I feel like it's so cliche and so like Saratoga to say.
00:38:58.239 --> 00:39:06.320
But when you are on that rail and the horses turn the corner and everyone's screaming and you hear the hooves, it's like I can feel my heart racing right now.
00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:09.840
It's like one of the, it's like riding, it's like the first drop on a roller coaster.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:10.239
It is.
00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.719
It really is.
00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:11.519
So thrilling.
00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.480
That's a great analogy.
00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:12.880
Right.
00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:16.800
And I just like for anyone who isn't into the races, it's not their thing.
00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.360
That's fine.
00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:17.920
That's cool.
00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:20.719
For me, it's like I look forward to this every summer.
00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:22.239
It's just so exciting.
00:39:22.320 --> 00:39:22.480
Yeah.
00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:26.159
And the fact that I can share it with my family and like my kids love it.
00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:28.639
We always get a picnic table close to the paddock.
00:39:28.800 --> 00:39:30.800
They love to watch them come out.
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.199
Yeah.
00:39:31.360 --> 00:39:39.039
I'm not like a huge gambler, so I'll pick them by like if I know the jockey or like the color as a cool name, or like I said, if they're a little spunky in the paddock.
00:39:39.199 --> 00:39:42.000
And it's just such a fun experience.
00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:42.719
It is.
00:39:42.880 --> 00:39:43.280
It is.
00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.400
I don't bet either.
00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:47.519
I it's probably been 15 years since I placed a bet.
00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:48.400
Really?
00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:56.559
But that experience, that roller coaster that you were talking about, and when you've been involved with that horse, oh my God, that feeling.
00:39:56.639 --> 00:40:03.440
There's like there's this feeling that you get at the top of the stretch at the Kentucky Derby when your horse is there.
00:40:03.599 --> 00:40:04.239
Yeah.
00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:06.320
It gives me chills thinking about it.
00:40:06.639 --> 00:40:08.559
I mean, it is insane that feeling.
00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:10.639
And then when you win, oh my God.
00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:11.360
I can only imagine.
00:40:11.599 --> 00:40:12.400
The elation.
00:40:12.880 --> 00:40:16.880
It's it's I've only felt it, I don't know, a handful of times.
00:40:17.119 --> 00:40:18.320
So give me your best story.
00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:19.679
Was it at Kentucky Derby?
00:40:19.760 --> 00:40:21.679
When did you have that feeling that your horse won?
00:40:21.760 --> 00:40:25.119
And you were like, oh my God, like best feeling in the world.
00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:27.920
Two races, neither of them are their Kentucky Derby.
00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:31.360
Um, one was the Belmont when Rags to Riches won in 2007.
00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:31.599
Oh.
00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:34.480
Uh, she was the first Philly to win it in, I think, a hundred years or something.
00:40:34.639 --> 00:40:35.119
Oh my god!
00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:36.400
So she ran against the men.
00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:37.280
Yes, she did.
00:40:37.599 --> 00:40:39.679
Yeah, we were just talking about this earlier.
00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:44.559
Any Hall of Fame voters watching, shame on you for not putting her in the Hall of Fame yet.
00:40:44.960 --> 00:40:46.800
Every year she comes up and they don't ever pick her.
00:40:47.039 --> 00:40:47.519
Why?
00:40:47.760 --> 00:40:54.639
I don't know, because not only did she beat the boys in the Belmont, she stumbled at the start, she beat Curlin.
00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:56.960
Multiple horse of the year curlin.
00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:57.679
She beat him.
00:40:57.840 --> 00:41:01.360
Man, it was ding-dong down the stretch, and she nailed him.
00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.639
Way! She did.
00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:03.280
She had him.
00:41:03.440 --> 00:41:04.000
She had him.
00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:05.199
That was such an exciting race.
00:41:05.519 --> 00:41:06.320
So cool.
00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:11.920
And then one of my all-time favorites was a Philly named Malathot, uh, 2020.
00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:14.320
She won she won up here a number number of times.
00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:17.599
But the 2022 uh Breeders' Cup was at Keeneland.
00:41:17.679 --> 00:41:28.239
She ran in the Distaff, and she um she was especially meaningful because I was at the sale with Todd, it would have been, I think, 2019.
00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:32.079
We saw her and she was just gorgeous.
00:41:33.039 --> 00:41:39.360
And after he looked at her, we turned to each other and we're like, wow, that's a beautiful horse.
00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:40.639
Like, that's the horse we want.
00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:42.239
And somebody else bought the horse.
00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:47.519
And the horse was gonna go to another trainer, and then that trainer retired, and they sent this Philly to Todd.
00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:52.800
So we got her as an unnamed two-year-old, and she was multiple graded stakes winner.
00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:56.000
Her two-year-old year, her three-year-old year, she won the Kentucky Oaks.
00:41:56.320 --> 00:42:02.239
Um, and her four-year-old year in her very last race, she won the distaff at Keeneland by a nose in the last jump.
00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:07.360
And that was another one that was just you know, you just burst into tears.
00:42:07.920 --> 00:42:08.239
Yeah.
00:42:08.480 --> 00:42:09.840
That's so cool.
00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:10.400
Yeah.
00:42:10.639 --> 00:42:11.599
I love it.
00:42:12.000 --> 00:42:13.840
How did horses get their names?
00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:15.679
Is that a trainer thing or an owner thing?
00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:16.480
It's an owner thing.
00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.199
It's an owner thing.
00:42:17.360 --> 00:42:17.519
Yeah.
00:42:17.599 --> 00:42:19.119
Some owners are very bad at it.
00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:21.039
Some of the names are so funny.
00:42:21.440 --> 00:42:22.639
I won't mention names.
00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:28.639
Uh there's a couple weeks ago a horse named Miss Mackenzie ran, and I was like, putting five down.
00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:29.519
How'd she do?
00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:30.480
Last place.
00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:31.599
Story of my life.
00:42:31.760 --> 00:42:32.480
But you know what?
00:42:32.639 --> 00:42:35.519
It was exciting, and I had so much fun with it.
00:42:35.599 --> 00:42:36.719
And I love the gray horses.
00:42:36.880 --> 00:42:37.280
I don't know why.
00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:38.559
I'm always like, oh, it's a gray horse.
00:42:38.800 --> 00:42:40.159
Gray horse for a gray day, they say.
00:42:40.400 --> 00:42:40.960
Love it.
00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:41.760
Yes.
00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.559
Oh my gosh.
00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:46.400
Do you have any like other inside tips about horse horses or the racing?
00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:49.679
If I had inside tips, then I would not have to work anymore.
00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:50.239
True.
00:42:50.639 --> 00:42:50.960
Honestly.
00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:51.599
True that.
00:42:51.840 --> 00:42:54.079
Nobody would have to work anymore that works on the backside.
00:42:54.159 --> 00:42:54.559
Nobody knows.
00:42:54.639 --> 00:42:55.599
They're animals, you know.
00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:56.559
And you know what?
00:42:56.639 --> 00:42:57.840
That's such a good point, too.
00:42:57.920 --> 00:43:02.079
It's they could just wake up one day and be like, eh, I don't want to do this.
00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:02.559
Yeah.
00:43:03.119 --> 00:43:07.360
And also they could they could have something like they could have a headache.
00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:08.800
We don't know if they have a headache.
00:43:09.199 --> 00:43:11.599
Um, you know, just not feeling it.
00:43:11.840 --> 00:43:12.400
Yeah.
00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:15.039
You just it's it's hard to know all the time.
00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:15.599
Yeah.
00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:30.000
So from your perspective, do you think the folks in the back stretch, the trainers, the horsemen, all of that, do you think they love taking care of those horses and that the horses are like in good condition, priority number one?
00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:30.719
Yes.
00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:31.840
I think the majority.
00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:34.480
I mean, you're gonna have a bad apple anywhere.
00:43:35.039 --> 00:43:47.199
Um I think especially at the higher level of the game, Saratoga being the higher level, um, where there's more money to adequately take care of a horse.
00:43:47.280 --> 00:43:47.599
Yeah.
00:43:47.760 --> 00:44:00.960
Um, where you're paying people legal wages, um, where they have access to housing and child care and health care, like they do on the backstretch and Saratoga.
00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:04.239
I mean, that just makes for happier people.
00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:06.320
It's like you set somebody up for success.
00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:06.639
Yeah.
00:44:06.800 --> 00:44:08.960
When when you meet their their basic needs.
00:44:09.280 --> 00:44:09.440
Yeah.
00:44:09.679 --> 00:44:16.719
You'd be hard pressed to work 24-7, 365 days a year, if you didn't actually like it.
00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:17.440
Right.
00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:21.440
And that's, I think, a big thing about the horse racing industry that not everyone thinks about.
00:44:21.599 --> 00:44:26.400
Visitors come and watch a race, and it could be half day, all day, what have you.
00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:30.159
But the backstretch day typically starts at what 4 a.m.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:33.039
You're out there feeding, training your horses.
00:44:33.280 --> 00:44:36.480
All of that is probably done before the races actually go off.
00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:38.559
And then the races go off and you have all of that.
00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:41.119
And then you have to, you know, feed them, take care of them, put them to bed.
00:44:41.199 --> 00:44:44.239
It's a lot of work involved in maintaining those horses.
00:44:44.559 --> 00:44:45.440
It's 24 hours.
00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:47.519
Um, Todd always had a night person.
00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:50.159
So you literally have somebody there 24 hours a day.
00:44:50.320 --> 00:44:50.960
That's incredible.
00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:55.039
Um, and then, you know, you talk about what you have to do before they run.
00:44:55.440 --> 00:45:00.000
But another thing to remember is that while they're running, that's all still happening.
00:45:00.159 --> 00:45:00.239
Yes.
00:45:00.559 --> 00:45:09.840
Because if you have 35 horses at Saratoga and you're running two on a day, somebody's still taking care of the other 33 and running those horses at the same time.
00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:11.119
It's an enormous amount of work.
00:45:11.360 --> 00:45:12.159
It sounds it.
00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:18.000
I mean, just hanging out on the backstretch for one morning and the amount of people and horses and energy that goes into it.
00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:18.239
Yeah.
00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:20.079
It's like you're all literally always working.
00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:25.679
And I heard um someone say, it's like, I think we were there on a Monday or Tuesday, and they're like, it doesn't matter.
00:45:25.760 --> 00:45:26.400
Like it doesn't stop.
00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:32.800
Just because the races aren't going on for the public doesn't mean all of the work in the back end of the backstretch stops.
00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:36.960
So and you can't, you can't not show up after a bad day.
00:45:37.119 --> 00:45:40.559
You know, like I was saying before, you go for 17 in the breeders' cup.
00:45:40.639 --> 00:45:41.519
You still need to show up.
00:45:41.760 --> 00:45:42.079
Exactly.
00:45:42.719 --> 00:45:45.519
You still need somebody to feed them the next morning.
00:45:45.840 --> 00:46:08.960
Um and that's a little bit of privilege to go over 17 in the Breeders' Cup because there are people who aren't ever gonna get to the Breeders' Cup, and they might go over 17 at the Saratoga Race Meet or over 17 at Aqueduct in the winter, and that person is trying to, you know, feed their family, and like that's really hard to then show up the next day again and just keep doing it.
00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:09.599
Yeah.
00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:10.480
Woof.
00:46:10.960 --> 00:46:12.079
You really gotta love it.
00:46:12.159 --> 00:46:14.480
It's not all the glitz and glamour, it's it's hard work.
00:46:14.639 --> 00:46:15.599
It's really hard work.
00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:24.320
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00:47:04.800 --> 00:47:06.480
See you out in Saratoga.
00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:10.079
So, what brought you to Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation?
00:47:10.159 --> 00:47:13.840
So you so you went from working for a trainer to the retirement foundation.
00:47:14.079 --> 00:47:16.239
What's your role as executive director like?
00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:18.480
I feel like that's a that's a big change.
00:47:18.800 --> 00:47:20.719
It it is a big change.
00:47:20.960 --> 00:47:23.760
Um it is a big change in a sense.
00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:35.119
Um I was approached by a member of the board of directors, TRF board of directors, who knew that I was transitioning out of off the racetrack.
00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:39.280
And she asked me to come and meet her and you know, talk about the role.
00:47:39.440 --> 00:47:44.559
There are similarities in that you're um there's a lot of coordination.
00:47:44.639 --> 00:47:48.159
You know, there's there's I mean, there's still horses in both sides of it.
00:47:48.239 --> 00:47:51.519
Um a lot of the same people are involved in both.
00:47:51.679 --> 00:47:58.239
Um, but it's essentially, you know, we have a programs department, which is the horses and the second chances programs.
00:47:58.400 --> 00:48:01.199
We have a finance department, we have a development department.
00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:09.280
Um, so it's essentially a three-pronged organization, so to speak, and sitting at the top of those three and then working with the board of directors.
00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:12.480
I mean, I think that's pretty, pretty standard for a nonprofit.
00:48:12.719 --> 00:48:12.960
Yeah.
00:48:13.119 --> 00:48:17.519
Do you like being on the nonprofit side versus the business side, if you will?
00:48:17.840 --> 00:48:19.760
Um, there's pros and cons.
00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:20.960
Hard work, right?
00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:22.159
It is hard work.
00:48:22.480 --> 00:48:27.840
It's hard to be in the spot where you're doing all the asking instead of getting asked all the time.
00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:28.320
Yeah.
00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:32.960
Um, because when I worked for Todd, I mean, at the beginning, he wasn't a Hall of Fame trainer.
00:48:33.519 --> 00:48:40.559
But um, you know, you you get to a certain level and there's an enormous amount of pressure because if you don't win, it's considered a failure.
00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:44.559
Um, so that's difficult, but at the same time, you're playing at the top of the game.
00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:53.360
Now, here, if we don't win, it's not considered a failure because we don't win a lot of the time, but you're always you're always asking.
00:48:53.519 --> 00:48:54.719
You're always asking.
00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:59.519
And I I mean they call it it's fatigue, you know, nonprofit fatigue.
00:48:59.840 --> 00:49:02.239
It's because asking all the time gets really tiring.
00:49:02.480 --> 00:49:03.039
It does.
00:49:03.599 --> 00:49:09.360
I wish there was a magic money tree out there, and you could just say, Okay, I need this much to do this, and then it disappears.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:10.079
Yeah, yeah.
00:49:10.239 --> 00:49:11.039
Wouldn't that be nice?
00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:18.320
It would be nice, but it's important, and I can imagine um the fatigue really hits you, and sometimes it gets exhausting to do what you're doing.
00:49:18.559 --> 00:49:19.360
So thank you.
00:49:19.760 --> 00:49:21.679
It doesn't, I've only been in it for two and a half years.
00:49:21.920 --> 00:49:23.760
I mean, there's some people who've spent their lives in it.
00:49:24.079 --> 00:49:25.599
Takes a special type of person.
00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:26.480
It does.
00:49:26.639 --> 00:49:27.119
For sure.
00:49:27.360 --> 00:49:27.679
It does.
00:49:27.840 --> 00:49:33.920
So it's a different kind of victory in nonprofit work than there is in winning the Kentucky Derby.
00:49:34.159 --> 00:49:34.480
Totally.
00:49:34.559 --> 00:49:39.920
I mean, both sound well, winning the Kentucky Derby is like it's gotta be like a whole new level high.
00:49:40.159 --> 00:49:44.480
But long term, I feel like what you're doing is very impactful.
00:49:44.960 --> 00:49:52.320
Yes, it is, and the timing of it um towards the end of my career in the racing industry is timely.
00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:55.599
Yeah, it's aligning with the sanctuary retirement aspect of it.
00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:57.840
It's provided so much.
00:49:58.239 --> 00:50:06.880
The racing industry and the horses have provided so much for me and for my family for 28 years before I I got into this side of it.
00:50:06.960 --> 00:50:13.679
Um it feels it feels good not only to do meaningful work, but to to give back to the horses.
00:50:13.920 --> 00:50:17.199
To the horses that have that I mean I built my life on.
00:50:17.599 --> 00:50:18.079
That's so sweet.
00:50:18.320 --> 00:50:19.920
They helped me raise my child.
00:50:20.239 --> 00:50:20.960
I love that.
00:50:21.119 --> 00:50:21.360
Yeah.
00:50:21.519 --> 00:50:22.079
Do you have one?
00:50:22.320 --> 00:50:22.559
One.
00:50:22.719 --> 00:50:23.519
What's your child's name?
00:50:23.760 --> 00:50:24.320
Carolina.
00:50:24.480 --> 00:50:25.280
Oh, Carolina.
00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:25.760
That's awesome.
00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:27.199
Shout out to Carolina Sweet.
00:50:27.440 --> 00:50:28.400
Carolina Sweet.
00:50:28.480 --> 00:50:29.519
That's an excellent name.
00:50:29.760 --> 00:50:30.159
Thanks.
00:50:30.400 --> 00:50:30.960
I love that.
00:50:31.280 --> 00:50:32.559
Carolina Sweet.
00:50:33.039 --> 00:50:37.119
So we talked a little bit about how people can donate to TRF.
00:50:37.360 --> 00:50:42.400
But if someone wanted to help a Thoroughbred today, what is one thing they could do in addition to donating?
00:50:42.639 --> 00:50:53.280
I guess it depends how you want to help the Thoroughbred, but you should find an organization that is accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
00:50:53.440 --> 00:50:58.000
Um, find an organization that passes that has good charity rating.
00:50:58.079 --> 00:50:59.599
Um, you know, do your homework.
00:50:59.760 --> 00:50:59.920
Yeah.
00:51:00.239 --> 00:51:06.480
Make sure, make sure the person that you're either trusting your horse to or trusting your money to is legit.
00:51:06.639 --> 00:51:08.400
Go to them and see how you can help.
00:51:08.480 --> 00:51:09.280
Can you volunteer?
00:51:09.440 --> 00:51:10.559
Can you give them money?
00:51:10.719 --> 00:51:12.960
Um, can you help spread the word?
00:51:13.119 --> 00:51:22.320
I mean, for us, follow us on social media and and help us increase our presence so that our message then gets disseminated more widely.
00:51:22.400 --> 00:51:25.760
Um, sign up for our newsletter so that you know what's going on.
00:51:25.920 --> 00:51:29.199
Um, and you can do that wherever you are, wherever you're listening.
00:51:29.360 --> 00:51:33.360
Find a find your local aftercare organization.
00:51:33.519 --> 00:51:34.480
Um Yeah.
00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:37.360
You said volunteers, and I guess it's something I didn't think about.
00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:40.960
I was focused on the philanthropy, but how can someone volunteer for TRF?
00:51:41.280 --> 00:51:42.719
So it depends where you are.
00:51:42.800 --> 00:51:53.119
Uh, if you're local and you want to volunteer for the TRF, at this moment, it would be more like office work because as I said, we don't have a farm in Saratoga.
00:51:53.599 --> 00:51:57.599
Hopefully, when we get our farm, because we are gonna get it, manifesting it.
00:51:57.760 --> 00:51:59.199
We're manifesting it, exactly.
00:51:59.840 --> 00:52:02.559
Then you can come and help us take care of the horses.
00:52:03.360 --> 00:52:05.039
Yes, or help us repair a fence.
00:52:05.599 --> 00:52:08.880
Help us with what it's incredibly effec important.
00:52:09.039 --> 00:52:14.480
You don't have, I mean, if you're a carpenter, we'll take you once we get our farm.
00:52:14.639 --> 00:52:14.960
Yep.
00:52:15.199 --> 00:52:24.400
Um, if you happen to be listening from another location, like Ocala, um, you can uh be a volunteer at our program there.
00:52:24.559 --> 00:52:27.280
We have volunteers at our program in Maryland.
00:52:27.440 --> 00:52:30.000
We have a program in Lexington, Kentucky.
00:52:30.159 --> 00:52:32.960
Um, we have programs in South Carolina.
00:52:33.280 --> 00:52:37.599
So if you're in one of those locations and you want to do something in person, then reach out to us.
00:52:37.679 --> 00:52:40.320
Uh info at trfinc.org.
00:52:40.480 --> 00:52:48.639
Um if we're not in your location, then as I said, find a legit, find a legit aftercare organization and contact them.
00:52:48.800 --> 00:52:51.840
Um everybody's always willing to take on some help.
00:52:52.079 --> 00:52:56.559
Definitely take her up on that because I think these organizations are so special and so important.
00:52:56.639 --> 00:53:04.400
So whether you can support them financially or volunteer your time, I think it's definitely something we should we should all do for sure.
00:53:04.639 --> 00:53:07.760
So looking ahead, what are your biggest goals for TRF?
00:53:08.079 --> 00:53:08.960
We have three of them.
00:53:09.119 --> 00:53:12.239
One is the farm that we talked about, a farm in Saratoga County.
00:53:12.719 --> 00:53:16.639
Yes, uh that is a that is a goal, and that's gonna happen.
00:53:16.880 --> 00:53:25.360
Um, I think on a broader, from a broader perspective, um, I want the TRF to be the national leader in the sanctuary model.
00:53:26.000 --> 00:53:26.400
I love that.
00:53:26.800 --> 00:53:27.920
Racehorse aftercare.
00:53:28.079 --> 00:53:36.960
I want us to have a voice in this rejuvenation of aftercare, this sort of fine-tuning of the aftercare segment of the industry.
00:53:37.119 --> 00:53:40.079
Um, I want us to to have a big voice in that.
00:53:40.239 --> 00:53:44.000
We have a lot to say, we have a lot of horses, we've been doing it the longest.
00:53:44.159 --> 00:53:45.760
Um it's a good goal.
00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:46.639
It is.
00:53:47.199 --> 00:54:10.800
Um, the other thing, and this is a goal more of 2026, and I know it'll extend into 2027, and and I think from here on out is educating the local Saratoga community about what we do, especially the Saratoga community that doesn't go to the racetrack because the racetrack's economic effect on our local economy is enormous.
00:54:10.960 --> 00:54:11.280
Yes.
00:54:11.599 --> 00:54:14.239
Um, we think about, you know, how much do you pay in taxes?
00:54:14.400 --> 00:54:15.679
How good are our schools?
00:54:16.079 --> 00:54:20.639
Um, all these good restaurants, all the vibrancy of downtown.
00:54:21.519 --> 00:54:25.119
That was founded on racehorses, you know.
00:54:25.360 --> 00:54:27.760
I don't even know what we are at, 160-something years.
00:54:28.079 --> 00:54:28.719
1863.
00:54:29.199 --> 00:54:30.320
1863, yeah.
00:54:30.480 --> 00:54:32.559
So 163 years.
00:54:32.960 --> 00:54:34.559
That may not have been the correct math.
00:54:34.639 --> 00:54:35.519
I'm not really sure.
00:54:35.760 --> 00:54:36.639
It's been a lot of years.
00:54:36.880 --> 00:54:37.679
It's been a lot of years.
00:54:37.840 --> 00:54:39.280
It's been a lot of years.
00:54:39.599 --> 00:54:42.159
So this community is built on that.
00:54:42.559 --> 00:54:47.440
That is built on the backs of racehorses, literally and figuratively.
00:54:47.760 --> 00:54:52.800
So if you like living in Saratoga, but you don't go to the racetrack, that's fine.
00:54:52.880 --> 00:54:54.320
But we still need your support.
00:54:54.480 --> 00:54:54.719
Yeah.
00:54:54.960 --> 00:55:01.119
Because these racehorses are are a huge part of creating this amazing community that we live in.
00:55:01.360 --> 00:55:03.119
I mean, we live in a great place.
00:55:03.280 --> 00:55:03.840
We really do.
00:55:04.000 --> 00:55:06.320
It's such a wonderful place to raise a child.
00:55:06.480 --> 00:55:07.840
It's beautiful.
00:55:08.079 --> 00:55:15.199
It's, I mean, it's cold, but that's okay because, you know, there's a lot of things to do outside in the winter.
00:55:15.440 --> 00:55:17.760
But but I just want people to think twice about that.
00:55:17.840 --> 00:55:20.320
You know, I don't go to the racetrack, you know, I don't have to deal with that.
00:55:20.400 --> 00:55:31.840
Well, you do because we're really affecting these horses, they are a huge part of your local economy, and you really should support the organizations that do support them.
00:55:32.159 --> 00:55:44.320
I'm so glad you said that because I do think a lot of locals might think, oh, I avoid union, or I don't go downtown during the summer, or there's too many visitors, whatever the reaction may be.
00:55:44.639 --> 00:55:55.360
But you're right, if it wasn't for tourism because of horse racing, because of arts and culture, because of the natural beauty in the mineral springs, we wouldn't have this wonderful city.
00:55:55.519 --> 00:55:59.280
We wouldn't have these great schools, we would pay more annual in taxes.
00:55:59.440 --> 00:56:06.400
I think it's like the average Saratoga citizen would have to pay$900 more a year in taxes if it wasn't for tourism.
00:56:06.480 --> 00:56:06.639
Wow.
00:56:06.880 --> 00:56:17.760
And I think these are really important things for us to think about when we're annoyed by the line outside of a restaurant or exactly, you know, the traffic downtown because it's what makes our community so great.
00:56:17.920 --> 00:56:18.239
Yeah.
00:56:18.400 --> 00:56:23.039
And how lucky are we that so many people want to visit where we live?
00:56:23.280 --> 00:56:23.599
Yes.
00:56:23.760 --> 00:56:25.039
Like I think about that all the time.
00:56:25.199 --> 00:56:30.960
When I see people downtown visiting from wherever, and they're like, oh my God, your city is so great.
00:56:31.119 --> 00:56:34.400
And you have all of these things within walking distance.
00:56:34.559 --> 00:56:36.320
And I'm like, I am lucky.
00:56:36.400 --> 00:56:36.639
You are.
00:56:36.880 --> 00:56:39.679
I could walk out of my office and go to four different coffee shops.
00:56:39.840 --> 00:56:40.079
Right.
00:56:40.239 --> 00:56:44.079
There's more restaurants per capita in Saratoga Springs than anywhere else.
00:56:44.159 --> 00:56:44.400
Yeah.
00:56:44.559 --> 00:56:47.199
The hardest decision I have to make tonight is where I'm gonna eat dinner.
00:56:47.360 --> 00:56:47.679
Exactly.
00:56:47.840 --> 00:56:48.639
Like it's incredible.
00:56:48.800 --> 00:56:53.760
And then if it gets too much, well, then just drive 10 or 15 minutes and you can be completely by yourself.
00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:54.480
100%.
00:56:55.039 --> 00:57:03.440
You could go to the battlefield in still water and drive around miles of rolling hills and see this untouched land where the American Revolution took place.
00:57:03.840 --> 00:57:06.800
I can go to Schatlerville, where I grew up, and just drive through farms.
00:57:06.960 --> 00:57:07.119
Yeah.
00:57:07.280 --> 00:57:07.920
It's incredible.
00:57:08.000 --> 00:57:09.840
And then 15 minutes, I'm back home again.
00:57:09.920 --> 00:57:12.000
It's it is we are so, so fortunate.
00:57:12.159 --> 00:57:14.400
Despite the cold, I love the four seasons.
00:57:14.639 --> 00:57:16.079
Florida, Florida is great.
00:57:16.159 --> 00:57:19.199
I do love going to Florida once or twice a year to visit relatives.
00:57:19.440 --> 00:57:19.599
Right.
00:57:19.679 --> 00:57:21.840
Um, I couldn't make it, I couldn't survive there in August.
00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:22.480
Neither could I.
00:57:22.719 --> 00:57:24.480
But I love the seasons, you know.
00:57:24.639 --> 00:57:35.119
Every season, it's like summer is my favorite time of year, but then fall when the leaves start changing and the air gets crisp, and then even winter trying to get out and ski or sled.
00:57:35.199 --> 00:57:36.880
I just I love the change of seasons.
00:57:36.960 --> 00:57:39.039
I feel like it always gives me something to look forward to.
00:57:39.280 --> 00:57:39.599
It does.
00:57:39.679 --> 00:57:42.880
Um, and the Adirondix and Lake George, it's spectacular.
00:57:43.119 --> 00:57:43.440
It is.
00:57:43.840 --> 00:57:45.039
We're just so fortunate.
00:57:45.280 --> 00:57:47.519
And I do think you have a really great point.
00:57:47.679 --> 00:57:53.760
If you appreciate where you live and you appreciate everything we have, you have to give back to these organizations who make it all possible.
00:57:54.000 --> 00:57:54.800
Yeah, definitely.
00:57:55.280 --> 00:57:55.679
Definitely.
00:57:56.079 --> 00:58:01.920
And you can give back to the organizations that make it possible and make such a difference for human beings.
00:58:02.079 --> 00:58:02.400
Yeah.
00:58:02.719 --> 00:58:09.199
Because that's as that's as important as what we're doing for the horses, is what we're doing for for people.
00:58:09.440 --> 00:58:09.760
Yeah.
00:58:10.000 --> 00:58:11.199
I think that's a great point.
00:58:11.440 --> 00:58:14.960
Maggie, what is your um website again for donations?
00:58:15.280 --> 00:58:16.719
TRFink.org.
00:58:16.960 --> 00:58:18.400
TRF Inc.org.
00:58:18.639 --> 00:58:19.840
Make sure you visit them.
00:58:19.920 --> 00:58:26.159
You can donate, check on them, follow them on social media, sign up for the newsletter, stay educated.
00:58:26.320 --> 00:58:36.159
I think it's really important that you educate yourself in this and you know everything about it to be able to make a you know a good decision and how you want to spend your time and money in supporting the industry.
00:58:36.320 --> 00:58:37.039
Yeah, definitely.
00:58:37.360 --> 00:58:38.719
I think that's really, really important.
00:58:38.960 --> 00:58:39.760
This was so great.
00:58:39.840 --> 00:58:53.360
And it's so eye-opening to talk about, you know, the aftercare of a her a thoroughbred because I feel like in Saratoga, like I said, we're very focused on the races and what's happening now when they're young and they're fast, right?
00:58:53.679 --> 00:58:55.199
But that's only a fifth of their life.
00:58:55.280 --> 00:59:00.480
And I think it's important that you've educated us about what happens after that and how we can support you.
00:59:00.639 --> 00:59:00.960
Yes.
00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:08.000
So please, please, please, please make sure you check out their website, um, make a donation or volunteer if you feel so inclined.
00:59:08.159 --> 00:59:09.519
Subscribe to the newsletter.
00:59:09.760 --> 00:59:12.480
I think this is really great, Maggie, what you guys are doing.
00:59:12.639 --> 00:59:17.199
And I really, really appreciate you taking the time today to talk to us about it and tell your story.
00:59:17.360 --> 00:59:18.239
Oh, thanks for having me.
00:59:18.480 --> 00:59:19.119
I really enjoyed it.
00:59:19.440 --> 00:59:19.920
Oh my gosh.
00:59:20.000 --> 00:59:27.280
Well, you're gonna have a successful remainder, 26 and 27, and we're manifesting that farm in Saratoga County.
00:59:27.599 --> 00:59:30.400
And when you do it, when you open it, I would love to be there.
00:59:30.559 --> 00:59:30.880
Okay.
00:59:31.199 --> 00:59:33.039
You can be our volum first volunteer.
00:59:33.199 --> 00:59:33.679
I would love to.
00:59:34.159 --> 00:59:35.360
I'll luck a stall for you.
00:59:35.519 --> 00:59:36.159
Yeah.
00:59:36.719 --> 00:59:37.840
We'll take you up on that.
00:59:38.000 --> 00:59:38.719
Thank you so much.
00:59:38.960 --> 00:59:39.679
No, you're welcome.
00:59:39.840 --> 00:59:41.199
And keep fighting the good fight.
00:59:41.360 --> 00:59:41.679
Thank you.
00:59:41.760 --> 00:59:42.559
Thanks for having me.
00:59:42.719 --> 00:59:43.199
Thank you.