Racing commission approves $145,000 for 2026 racehorse aftercare grants, assigns 1.5 value to surgically treated horses

The Racing Commission voted to authorize staff to initiate a 2026 request-for-proposals for racehorse aftercare grants totaling $145,000, with $130,000 drawn from the breeders fund administration note and $15,000 from the fines account. A commissioner who reported the aftercare committee’s recommendation said the program targets horses with medical issues so they can be rehabilitated and returned to use rather than sent to sanctuary.

Commissioners said the expected caseload is small — “less than 10” horses — and emphasized that the grant program is intended to help cover surgical and intensive rehabilitation costs. The motion directs staff to evaluate RFP responses and, when determining allocations based on horses taken in by applicants, to assign a value of 1.5 for horses accepted that require surgery or other significant rehabilitation while in an applicant’s care.

Commissioners discussed the commission’s shrinking account balances and urged attention to long-term funding; one commissioner noted it is better to address low balances now than to wait until funds are nearly exhausted. Staff outlined a timeline: RFP materials posted to the commission website, intent-to-bid notifications by mid-May, application deadlines June 1, staff and hearing-team review in June and early July, the aftercare committee’s recommendation in July, and final action at the August full commission meeting so contracts can be executed.

The motion was moved and seconded and passed after commissioners asked clarifying questions about process and reporting expectations for grantees. Commissioners said they expect grantees to report on their work during the grant year.