RETRAINING ISSUE 27_Jerkins feature.qxd 01/02/2013 12:48 Page 2
OFF-TRACK THOROUGHBREDS
OFF-TRACK THOROUGHBREDS: Reversing the decline “The horse is God's gift to mankind.” Arabian Proverb
“Anything free has no value.” Anonymous
Here is a recent transaction that is not uncommon on the racetrack: Michael Matz, in a chance conversation with a fellow trainer at Gulfstream Park, finds a second home for a filly in his stable whose racing career has run its course. “I just thought after the owners spent six months on training, she’s not going to be good enough for what they want. I’m sitting there talking to John Servis, and he said, ‘I have a girl up in Pennsylvania. Let me give her a call. She takes these horses and tries to find where to fit it in.’” The girl took the filly from Matz. WORDS: KEN SNYDER PHOTOS: HORSEPHOTOS.COM
F
OUR decades ago, a sport horse trainer would have bought that same off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB). That’s not the only thing, though, that has changed with the times. Steuart Pittman, president of the Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP) and a sport horse trainer, illustrates with a startling fact: “The statistics from the U.S. Equestrian Foundation show that 40% of registered show horses 40 years ago were Thoroughbreds, and 10% are today.” If Thoroughbreds are free off the racetrack, why aren’t they representing at least 40% of sport horses in competitions? Supply and demand economics has been a factor. So has sport horse buyers looking for sales commissions. Lack of marketing has played a role. A trend in something seemingly removed from breed selection as judging in horse shows has been a function in the decline. Thoroughbred breeding practices are pointed to as a possible culprit in the loss of interest.
ISSUE 27 TRAINERMAGAZINE.com 37