December Donations Save Puerto Rico's Aftercare Program

Around $65,000 in donations and a large commitment from the Puerto Rico Racing Commission made in late November and December have saved Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare from closing, after its coffers were nearly depleted due to a record influx of inexpensive racehorses to the island last year.

The organization that finds new homes for retired racehorses from Camarero Race Track typically handles 40 horses annually. In 2021, CTA took in 73 horses because large purses and exceptionally big bonus incentives tied to handle sparked a flood of imported horses. Most of these horses were inexpensive claimers that were already toward the end of their racing careers.

For the first six months of last year, CTA's expenses were around $208,000 but its donations totaled $163,000, according to CTA co-founder Kelley Stobie. By September the organization was running $10,000-$12,000 in the red each month and eating away at its reserves. Stobie said back in September the prospect of having to shut down CTA at the beginning of 2022 was a real possibility.

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"We had a very good December, and so we are still in business," Stobie said.

Two $25,000 donations made up the bulk of the December windfall. One donation came from Camarero Race Track, which made a check presentation during the Dec. 4-5 Clásico Internacional del Caribe, the most important two days of racing for members of the Confederacion Hipica del Caribe. The second donation came in late November during a gala hosted by several homeowners in the Bahia Beach Resort in Rio Grande who have become supporters of the CTA's mission.

CTA also got a $50,000 commitment from the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission through June, which is the end of federal government's fiscal year.

"It works out to $7,000 a month for which we send them invoices and receipts and we get reimbursed," said Stobie. "The $7,000 a month is huge. It will pay all my hay, my feed, the alfalfa, shavings, and some vet supplies."

Stobie said she is hopefully the gaming commission will reauthorize the $50,000 allocation for the next fiscal year, though that amount will be spread across 12 months instead of six. She also continues to have conversions with Puerto Rico's two owners groups about providing a regular commitment.

She actually has had better luck getting support from owners in the U.S. and Gulfstream Park.

"I've got seven horses in quarantine and for two of the horses Gulfstream Park donated because they ran a lot at Gulfstream. Between owners there and the track, they covered the quarantine and airfare costs," Stobie said.

CTA has gotten a bit of break because the influx of imported horses has slowed. Some owners have stopped using cargo ships out of the Port of Jacksonville to bring their horses to Puerto Rico from the U.S. because of growing criticism among tracks owners and horsemen about the inhumane conditions the horses being shipped this way have to endure. Also a couple of cargo planes used for regular shipments were grounded due to repairs and only recently will start operating again, according to Stobie.

"We're still fighting for regular funding because there is more we want to do," Stobie said, noting the CTA still wants to develop a sanctuary similar to Michael Blowen's Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Ky., for Puerto Rico's retired racing stars and it hopes to expand with an aftercare outlet on the island of St. Thomas.

"There's more to do for the thousands of racehorses that need aftercare in the islands and that we're committed to help," she said.