Social Security – For Thoroughbreds
I’m not going to get into politics of human social security; politics bore me. But, I think, most Americans can agree that the Social Security System is a mess and it has been since before the first check was sent out in 1937.
Yet, this was the description of a proposed plan for the long term care of Thoroughbred race horses; a “Social Security” program for horses. TB SS was initially proposed a number of years ago to The Jockey Club by the Thoroughbred Charities of America though then scoffed at because of strong resistance to owners along with an inability to distribute funds.
The new TB SS proposal, again by the Thoroughbred Charities of America, suggests adding a $50 “fee” when registering foals that would go towards providing care for the life of that horse. Registering a Thoroughbred with The Jockey Club now costs $200, and the average U.S. Thoroughbred makes 6.3 starts in their career. This means that $50 has to stretch a long way after those measly 6 or so races.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to hear that SOMEONE is proposing SOMETHING to help secure the long term care of these overbred, overused, and underserved athletes. But, I don’t see a Social Security system for the horse with a one time $50 pay-in being the answer.
Thoroughbred racing has become too seedy and way too available for the low(er) income owner, trainer, and breeder. This sport needs to be more elite. I for one never like to oust the poor or even the middle class within equestrian sports, but horse racing isn’t an equestrian sport. TB racing is only a “sport” for those looking to make it rich, get a name, and of course breed, own, or train the next Kentucky Derby winner. It is not a sport that uses logic, forethought, or reality in many cases.
Thoroughbred racing isn’t, generally, for the horse lover looking for a chance to fulfill a dream, create a bond, or hone some hidden talent. It’s a gambling industry where the welfare of the horse, if important, is only important for a very short time. Then the horse becomes disposable AND that is especially true when ANYONE can breed a Thoroughbred.
For the possibility of a TB SS program to work, a larger fee must be assessed. A higher fee should, and would, be designed to CURTAIL LOW-END BREEDING. And YES, this would stop some over-breeding that has contributed to the decline of the Thoroughbred breed; please tell me how would that be bad?
Since I was told once limiting the number of Thoroughbreds bred would be a problem because it’s essentially controlling what someone does with their “property”, I should be able to assume that limiting the number of Thoroughbreds The Jockey Club will register would not encroach on anyone’s rights. However, it would limit the amount of money coming into The Jockey Club, and we know they need all the money they can get!
So, let’s come up with a better solution. NOT horse Social Security (though interesting but already shown to be ineffective, detrimental to the governing body, and detrimental to each contributor).
For a “save the TB” program, there needs to be a registration tax. That doesn’t mean the money goes into The Jockey Clubs pocket, they already have enough.
Instead, the tax could should sustain a reputable outside agency clearly looking at the horses’ best interests to hold onto funds, keep track of horses included, and follow these horses throughout their lives.
There isn’t a quick fix for lifetime Thoroughbred care; a protocol needs to be well planned. But, not only should a solution benefit the Thoroughbred’s long term care; the plan should also call for executing better breeding practices…wait for it…to eventually strengthen the American Thoroughbred breed.
Okay, I know. Now I’m just talking crazy! But, eventually, maybe a year from now, The Bloodhorse or The Thoroughbred Times will come out with a story detailing a need for a program just like that. Luckily, it will be breaking news, with in-depth, never before covered information.
Yet, nothing will actually come of it because the Thoroughbred industry doesn’t want anything to come of it. The Thoroughbred industry likes to sound good, but putting their talk into action is a whole different story.
One we are yet to read.
Thoroughbred racing isn’t a sport the way riding is a sport. It’s like many very tiny teams competing against each other. Imagine, a team made up on one horse, one jockey, and one trainer competing against hundreds of other teams. There are no amateur-owner jockeys. There aren’t even many trainer-jockeys or trainer-owners.
This is the NFL in miniscule peices. It is a sport for the owners. Horses are sold and contested against each other the way that Real Madrid can buy David Beckham.
I never thought about the distinction like that before reading this. I had always tried to lump racing in with riding, but it really isn’t. Even taking the gambling out of it, (the purses certainly dwarf what you win for winning a stakes class at all but the highest levels… and I know all that money COMES from gambling, bear with me) the jockey is but a team member, interchangeable and serving many masters.
Horses are raced against each other a bit like dogs are pitted against each other in fights — at the owner’s discretion and for the owner’s gain, with no real physical risk to that owner.
It will be very hard to shrink the Jockey Club. We should all be grateful they continue to prohibit artificial insemination and genetically “tweaked” foals from being registered. When that barrier falls, we’re going to have a very big, strange, new problem on our hands.
I have to disagree that this sport should be limited to the ultra-rich. My husband and I actively participate, do all our own work, operate in a mom-and-pop fashion and truly enjoy all that racing offers. After our horses are done running we reschool them as hunters, use them in my lesson program or they pony the younger horses at the track. We manage on a golden-agers check and aren’t ‘wealthy’ by any means.
Other than this I love your blog, lots of good, practical information that isn’t sugar-coated like so much of this industry is nowadays.
Anne, I think you and your husband are the exception to the rule rather than the rule itself. I also have a close friend who is in the racehorse game–her whole family is–and they are honest people who do right by the horses in their care. They definitely care for their horses as best they can and re home the ones that can’t race and aren’t rich at all. But, unfortunately, there are a lot more racehorse people who don’t fall into that category than there are those who don’t.