After the Races

A Good Bet

Racehorses, even top performers, retire with three-quarters of their life left to live. What happens to these horses after the races is often a gamble.

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY SHARON CASTRO

If you want to make a good bet (consistently) in horse racing, you don’t gamble. You combine information with instinct. When these same qualities are used to pair-up a trained equine with an enriching second career, it’s almost a sure thing that they will have a good life after the races. “We combine a horse with the right rider so they get along together. A horse can be a best friend but can also be very competitive and be very successful in a different way,” said Anna Hollander. She is a former exercise rider and assistant trainer who started After the Races, a boutique Thoroughbred retirement program near Saratoga Springs.

TRANSITIONING TO THE NEXT CHAPTER

Even before moving to Swedish Hill Farm in 2017 (and starting After the Races there a couple years later) Anna Hollander’s life always included horses. She grew up on a 150-acre horse farm in Sweden, then spent 25 years riding and working with horses in highstakes competitive events with other well-known trainers in Saratoga. In 2002, during her recovery from a crushing accident at Belmont, a friend gave Hollander a grey ex-racehorse. She named the horse Dr. Yelon (after the doctor who saved her life after the accident). Hollander noticed that Dr. Yelon was a naturally elegant horse who had a mind for dressage, so she began training Dr. Yelon to have a second career as a show horse. It was an endeavor that would launch Hollander into her own next chapter – which now includes After the Races, a charitable mission to transition horses from their lives on the raceway onto the pathways of their future.

A WORLD OF RICHES

When Anna Hollander whistles, the horses on Swedish Hill Farm come running. Once they are near, they playfully blow air into her face and rest their heads on her shoulder. “Horses have a language that is silent but is pretty strong when you know them,” said After the Races secretary Sandra Galvin. Like Hollander, and After the Races board members Roger Horgan, Kelly Neaton, and Shirley Jerkens, Galvin is invested in these horses’ long-term well-being. “We really stress not allowing the horses to just go anywhere after being with us. We feel like it is a gift that we are able to take them on and that they are successful once they leave.” The quiet fields of Swedish Hill Farm afford them a new lease on life.

TENDER LOVING CARE

The horses in Hollander’s care are nurtured throughout their stay on this boutique farm. By keeping the number of horses limited to 10 or less, Hollander is able to lavish them with attention. They are fed a top-notch recipe of hay, grass, and grain (dressed with the warming comfort of cooked oats on cold winter days) supplemented with a steady supply of sweet peppermint candies. Gradually, they are acclimated to life after the races. First, they are turned out into a small paddock, then to a larger one. They are given time on their own before being joined by a friend, and eventually, the whole herd. “In everything you do, you have to be patient and keep them calm. I am riding them when they have enough trust. I am very willing to accommodate to what they need,” said Hollander.

AN EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

In the short time since they were founded, the non-profit After the Races has graduated five horses. Because they don’t yet qualify for financial assistance from national Thoroughbred aftercare organizations or NYRA’s Take the Lead program, they rely completely on personal donations and fundraising support. It costs between $500-$600/month to feed each horse in After the Races. This doesn’t include blacksmithing and the veterinary fees that are common additional considerations that must be taken into account. By donating to After the Races, patrons become a member of the club, one comprised of people who have long histories in the racing world, and who are using their experience to better the lives of the racehorses they’ve come to love. The Swedish Hill Farm horse barn is open by appointment to those interested in meeting and interacting with the horses one-on-one. Hollander even operates an Airbnb and private spa on the property for those looking to extend their visit into a full retreat. “People love the serenity here and being able to come and see the horses. Some people have never seen or touched a horse before they came to Saratoga. Plenty of people know horses, but plenty don’t,” said Galvin.

To see their accommodations and amenities, go to swedishhillfarmandspa.com

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

On August 22nd, when you dine at Bailey’s Café, 37 Phila St., Saratoga Springs, jockeys will be bartending, and 20 percent of the proceeds will go towards supporting After the Races. For details and more information, follow them on Facebook, Instagram and visit aftertheracesny.com