XBTV Aftercare Film Festival launches July 1

The XBTV Aftercare Film Festival will launch July 1 as part of an ongoing industry effort to highlight the importance of aftercare in the Thoroughbred racing ecosystem.

The event, a collaboration between the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and XBTV, will be open exclusively to students taking part in the Kentucky Equine Management Internship, the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, or Godolphin Flying Start.

Students will be tasked with creating unique video content, no more than three minutes long, displaying the importance of Thoroughbred aftercare for the next generation of horsemen and horsewomen. Submissions will be judged by a panel of media professionals and will be available for viewing by the public at the conclusion of the film festival.

The winners will be announced in December as part of the University of Arizona’s RTIP Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming. First place will receive $3,000; second place will receive $1,000; and third place will be awarded $500. Additionally, a Fan Favorite Award winner will receive $500.

“Giving students, who are tomorrow’s leaders of racing, the opportunity to really dive into the topic will certainly increase their knowledge and passion about aftercare,” said Wendy Davis, an associate coordinator of the RTIP. “But just as important, their videos will provide a vehicle for the industry to use for education that can reach far beyond racing’s own circle and create the opportunity to exponentially expand awareness of the care given to our horses.”