Beyond the Finish Line: CARMA’s Commitment to Thoroughbred Aftercare
For those working in horse racing, the responsibility to a Thoroughbred should not end when the horse crosses the finish line for the final time. What happens next can be just as important as what happened during its racing career.
University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) students recently had the opportunity to learn more about that responsibility through a presentation from Lucinda Lovitt, an RTIP alumnus who heads up the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA). The discussion offered students an inside look at how the organization has spent two decades building a system to help California Thoroughbreds safely transition into life after racing.
CARMA grew from an equine retirement committee within the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). The TOC committee, which included Lucinda, was looking for safe and responsible ways to retire horses when their racing careers ended. However, their main challenge was finding a sustainable source of funding. A voluntary purse contribution program was established whereby California owners, trainers and jockeys contribute a small percentage of purse earnings unless they choose to opt out. Those small contributions made a substantial difference. CARMA generates approximately $280,000 annually from this program.
Initially, CARMA primarily raised money and distributed grants to nonprofit aftercare organizations. That changed in 2012 with the creation of its Placement Program, the first expansion of CARMA’s programming. The Placement Program has since become one of CARMA’s signature efforts. It creates a bridge between the racetrack and an appropriate aftercare organization by allowing CARMA to take in a retired horse, assess its condition, and determine what is best for their future. That distinction matters because there is no single path for every retired racehorse. Some Thoroughbreds may become sport horses, while others may become trail horses, therapy horses or companions. Some may require permanent sanctuary home. The goal is not simply to move a horse away from the racetrack; it is to help determine where that individual horse has the best chance to succeed. CARMA has also influenced aftercare beyond its own placement work. Its process of reviewing grant applicants and conducting in-person farm inspections became a model for broader aftercare accreditation efforts.
One of the most interesting parts of the discussion was how much time a successful transition can take. When the Placement Program was first created, the expectation was that horses might remain in CARMA’s care for 30 days or less. However, many horses remain in the program for nine to 12 months. That time allows CARMA to better understand a horse’s physical condition, temperament and potential limitations before deciding where it should go next. By taking their time, CARMA helps prevent unsuccessful placements.
CARMA also partners with more than 20 aftercare organizations across the country and conducts annual inspections as part of its grant process. During the grant cycle, CARMA had 28 applications to review and expected to conduct site inspections at more than 20 organizations. condition of the horses. Feed, water, hoof care, body condition and even how horses interact with people can all help tell the story of how a facility is operating.
CARMA’s evolution has also required creativity. When COVID-19 eliminated traditional in-person fundraising opportunities, the organization created CARMAthon, an online fundraising event supported by the racing media. What began as a response to an unexpected challenge became one of CARMA’s major fundraisers, raising more than $150,000 annually.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from CARMA’s story is that successful aftercare is not one action. It is a process. It requires owners and trainers to plan for retirement, funding to support the program, professionals who can evaluate horses, trustworthy organizations to retrain and care for the horses, adopters willing to provide loving homes, and an industry willing to remain invested after a horse’s racing career ends. A horse’s final race is not the end of one career. It’s the beginning of a new story.