CTHF Looks Forward To New Programs and Partnerships

The cornerstone of every racetrack is composed of countless individuals who care for the horse's well-being. The California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation (CTHF) is there to care for the well-being of those individuals.

Incorporated in 1984, the CTHF is a non-profit organization that provides medical, dental, optometry, and referral services to the backstretch communities (and their families) in California. With clinics on-site at Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos staffed with a doctor, dentists, medical and dental assistants, receptionists, eligibility specialists and administrative professionals, the CTHF is uniquely positioned to serve.

In 2024, the CTHF had 2,767 dental visits, 1,747 medical visits, 152 optometry visits, and referred patients out for 464 specialty services. The CTHF medical team makes regular visits to San Luis Rey Downs in San Diego County and comprehensive health services are provided to the backstretch community in Pleasanton through a relationship with Axis Community Health, a federally qualified health center.

"Our team stays busy with the medical and dental services," said Executive Director, Jordyn Egan, "but we are always looking for ways to improve the overall quality of life on the backstretch. One example of that is our partnerships with Del Mar and Santa Anita Park to provide complimentary meals on a regular basis. The intent is more than providing food, it is about building community, one meal at a time." The CTHF also works closely with the other backstretch service organizations in California (Chaplaincy, Winners Foundation, Edwin J Gregson Foundation) to address the needs of individuals on the backstretch as they arise. "There isn't a lot that we can't figure out if we are working together, it is very important that all of the service organizations are pulling in the same direction on behalf of this community."

There is a lot ahead for the CTHF team in 2025 including the launch of a comprehensive diabetes education program. "One of our board members, Dr. James Dunn, introduced us to the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara which conducts a diabetes education program called Ocho Pasos (8 Steps); once we learned about their program, it was a no-brainer," said Egan. The sessions are held in Spanish and led by Community Health Workers that have experience connecting communities with resources to improve health outcomes around diabetes. Participants will gather at the Santa Anita CTHF clinic for the 8 sessions and receive resources (meals, snacks, support) throughout the program to maximize their opportunities for success. "We don't want this to be a one off, we're excited for what the pilot program may lead to," said Egan.