Stronach forming new equine retirement program

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Frank Stronach, chairman and CEO of MI Developments Inc., announced Thursday the formation of the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred After-Care Program to help find suitable homes for retired Thoroughbreds.

Stronach said he will finance the new program by matching the one-third of one percent currently taken from purses during the Gulfstream Park meet by the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association for their own sponsored retirement programs.

“This is not a solution to the problem, but we feel it is another step in the right direction,” said Stronach. “While we believe it is the responsibility of every owner to find safe, after-race programs for all Thoroughbreds, we also believe in taking the initiative to develop retirement, rehabilitation, and retraining programs for these equine athletes who give so much to all of us.”

Stronach set a precedent seven years ago by developing the first in-house retirement program, Adena Retirement, which evaluates and retrains horses owned by the Stronach family and Adena Springs before matching them with owners who will provide suitable lifelong adoptive homes.

The Gulfstream After-Care program will be directed by a committee consisting of Michael Rogers, director and vice president of operations at Gulfstream Park; Tim Ritvo, VP of East Coast racing for MI Developments; Stacie Clark of Adena Retirement; Dan Bork, racing secretary at Gulfstream Park, and Nicola Kuzoff of Adena Retirement.