I just wanted to share with everyone the news that the Jockey Club has officially started the Thoroughbred Incentive Program to improve the likelihood that TB's find great show homes after life on the track. They are allotting a certain amount of money to sponsor TB only divisions that include prize money among other things. They also have a grant set up for horses that aren't necessarily show horses but do participate in other things such as therapeutic riding. Some of the information about this can be found at this website:  http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65561/tjc-launches-thoroughbred-incentive-program  
They have a link here to the applications so if you are interested in hosting a show with prize money for a TB division, or know of an exceptional OTTB go and apply!!

The RRTP program has also selected it's trainers for their training project. We here at The Thoroughbred Chonicles wish them the best of luck with their OTTB's and are looking forward to reading and hearing about their progress. 

As for me, I am off to set up the stalls for Pogo and Ryker and am anxiously awaiting their arrival later this week!

In my scrambling to get ready to go back to school, I of course add in the trips to every barn that I am associated with back home to give holiday treats to the ponies and say "hi" and "bye" in a short visit. 

Some friends of mine have horses on the track, and fortunately for all that know them, or have horses with them, they are some of the best track people I know. They not only ensure the proper care of their horses while on the track, but also allow for pasture turnout and some let down every so often to give them a break and do their all to find homes for those who can't make it or who have served their time.  They look out for everyone and every horse that crosses their path, simply really great people. 

They also own the horse named "Smoke King" that I have had the pleasure of working with, and probably for good reasons still own him. He's a tad accident prone (as are so many of our lovely Thoroughbreds) which turned many off despite his talents. In my visit, I was told of the long battles of abscesses and then now a puffy ankle. And even though this horse had served his time with them on the track, he is still, comfy, cosy in a clean stall with banks 3' high on the walls and a foot of bedding on the floor, second cutting hay, happy as a clam.  In this barn is also a horse that the owner just wanted to get rid of, horse being let down, and one they are giving another shot at the track, and ONE that I happened to have raised from a baby at my job. 

Granted, these people are far from being Todd Pletcher just as all of us are far away from being the next Boyd Martin or Beezie Madden, they still take care of their horses to the best of their ability and all are happy and healthy. It's refreshing to see people that reach out and care for their race horses not as if they were some machines that you could just throw out but as living beings. I am not saying that these people are not out there, because they are but it's great to see. 

To our readers: if you know of any great TB people, trainers, owners, etc. feel free to share your story on our comments page!! If you add contact info we can add them to our resources as well. Great, heartwarming stories are what we like to hear and share, so be sure to send them our way!

Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!!
:::and only a few more days to Pogo's arrival!:::