No Race Horse Left Behind

Amid all the uproar over what needs to be done about Thoroughbred race horse retirement following the March 18 New York Times' allegations that the renowned Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) has neglected segments of its retired Thoroughbred herd housed on satellite farms throughout the country, I haven't heard what I want to hear.

I want to hear ...

• That there are truckloads of hay offloading at the TRF satellite farms.

And, that's just for starters.

A bridge solution?

While we debate and editorialize, the TRF horses need to be taken care of. Kudos to major TRF benefactor the estate of Paul Mellon for independently stepping up and caring for many of the horses. At this moment, the TRF may be out of funds to launch a program where their horses that are at risk will receive the care they deserve. If I were in the TRF's shoes I would open a satellite farm fund where the money goes only to the care of the horses at risk. Feed, services, medications.

If the TRF is unable or unwilling to oversee and/or fund such a program, maybe a peer Thoroughbred charity like the Thoroughbred Charities of America or Blue Horse Charities could partner with them. A neutral third party administering a satellite farm fund might be an attractive alternative to disillusioned donors.

A whole lot of meetings...

In the wake of the New York Times' allegations, Tom Ludt, chairman of the board of the TRF made a statement in response. There are meetings, committees, procedures and steps to be taken. On March 18, Ludt said there would be "a thorough review and any suggested improvements or changes would be announced within 45 days."

With a swift stroke, the TRF acted within one day, when according to the New York Times' Joe Drape, "The veterinarian who had been evaluating hundreds of former racehorses and found that many of them needed urgent care because they were malnourished and neglected, some fatally, was fired Saturday by the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation." Brilliant move, Shakespearean even, the TRF version of kill-the-messenger. This termination resulted in the Mellon estate withdrawing funding of the TRF veterinary herd review.

What I don't want to hear...

Excuses and whining. Yes, the TRF has saved thousands of horses from slaughter. Yes, its programs are respected. Yes, its board is populated by concerned industry heavyweights. So then what happened? By all signs, the TRF is experiencing organizational turmoil, with the current situation an unfortunate result. Dropping the hubris would go a long way to mend fences and move on.

Generic assurances, like "We're handling it", "We're looking into it", etc., do not inspire confidence. Give specifics of what the TRF has remediated, share what are ongoing problems.

Outcome

In addition to the internal assessments and reviews by the TRF, "The New York Attorney General's Charities Bureau will review complaints about fiscal irresponsibility and improper care given to former racehorses that have been leveled against the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation," according to Drape. Click to view the TRF IRS 990 reports for 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002.

Although uncomfortable and unpleasant, the questions and rigors of all this scrutiny can reform the TRF into a stronger organization. In the early '90's the United Way was rocked by scandal, and was able to rehab its credibility and regain public trust. A proactive, transparent course can help the TRF recover. Done right, there's nothing America likes better than a strong comeback.

First things first, let's take care of the TRF horses.

Disclosure: I am a contributing blogger to the New York Times The Rail horse racing blog. I serve on the New York State Task Force for Retired Race Horses with Diana Pikulski, an executive with the TRF.