Racing Commission approves aftercare grant calendar, hears rescue-group presentations on slaughter pipeline and retraining programs

At its Jan. 16 meeting in St. Paul, the Minnesota Racing Commission voted to approve the Aftercare Committee—s recommendation to start the 2025 aftercare grant process and to proceed with a funding plan that uses money from multiple racing accounts.

The commission approved a funding plan that staff said would draw $135,000 from the Breeders Fund account, apply $25,000 from racing fines and hold $5,000 in reserve for emergencies. Staff will post a request for proposals March 1; letters of intent will be due April 15; full applications will be due May 1; staff site visits will follow and the full commission is scheduled to make final grant awards at the July meeting so funds can be distributed in August.

The vote to accept the Aftercare Committee—s recommendation carried by voice vote (commissioners recorded five in favor). Commissioners who asked questions or commented during the item included Commissioners Deaton and Goodman; staff presenting background included Mr. Gustafson and Dr. Hovda.

Why it matters: commissioners and presenters said accelerating the grant calendar will push money into rescue, rehabilitation and retraining programs faster than in prior years and addresses an ongoing concern that low-value horses can enter the slaughter pipeline if no safety net exists.

Commission staff and the Aftercare Committee reviewed recent years— aftercare spending and revenue. Meeting materials and committee discussion noted the account had once been larger; committee members said the fund peaked earlier and has declined as account receipts fell. Commissioners on the committee recommended using the available funds now rather than waiting for uncertain future income.

Grant-recipient presentations: The commission heard two extended presentations describing how aftercare groups place and rehabilitate retired racehorses and how those programs complement each other.

Nancy Turner, representing This Old Horse (presentation slides in the commission packet), gave a program overview and statistics. Turner said the organization has cared for horses through three operational categories: rehabilitation (medical or nutritional layup), sanctuary and retraining. She told commissioners the group currently lists 75 horses in its census: 19 in rehab, 18 in retraining and the remainder in sanctuary or long-term care. Turner said the group—s average per-horse cost is about $6,000 per year and that roughly 89 percent of the program—s revenues go to direct horse care.

"We're only here to help if people want to choose that path for their horse," Turner said, describing owner-surrender and referral patterns and the group—s work recovering Minnesota-connected horses from kill pens around the country.

Turner described partnerships with the University of Wisconsin—River Falls retraining program, track charities and owners; she said This Old Horse has taken horses from slaughter pens, rehabilitated pregnant mares and placed retrained horses in sport-horse careers. She highlighted high public engagement on social media, citing posts that have reached large audiences, and asked the commission to consider ways tracks could present aftercare success stories to fans.

Andrea (representing Bowman's Second Chance/Boulder Point) described a separate retraining and adoption program that focuses on retraining off-track thoroughbreds for sport-horse careers, camps and therapeutic uses. Andrea said the program both retrains horses and places them with owners while keeping close follow-up and training support for new owners.

Commissioners and presenters discussed federal legislation known as the SAFE Act, which would restrict horse slaughter and exports for slaughter; speakers described it as one approach to reducing the slaughter pipeline but noted the measure has repeatedly stalled in Congress. Commissioner remarks and presenters described alternatives the commission could pursue at the state level, including expanded public messaging and seeking aftercare funding from future sports-betting revenue if a statewide solution emerges.

What was not decided: the commission approved the calendar and funding approach for the RFP process but did not award specific grants at the meeting; staff will present grant selections at a future meeting per the RFP schedule.

Outlook: staff and committee members said they expect the quicker timeline will let grantees begin work earlier in the summer and that the commission will revisit replenishment strategies as account receipts (including ADW revenue) are monitored.

Ending note: presenters emphasized cross-organization cooperation and urged continued commission support for outreach and funding to keep low-value horses from entering the slaughter pipeline.