Off The Track thoroughbred and 6 x Group 1 winner Chautauqua is one of the over 5,000 claimed retired racehorses on Off The Track Community by Casey Bruce
Racing Victoria's (RV) Off The Track Community (OTTC) has celebrated a significant milestone, with more than 5,000 retired racehorses having now been claimed by its network of members.
In recognition of this achievement, a "Wall of Claim" will be on show as part of Off The Track's stand at EQUITANA - Australia's biggest equine exhibition and multi-discipline event - which will run from 14 - 17 November at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
The "Wall of Claim" - a novel play on a "Hall of Fame" - will allow those who have claimed a thoroughbred on the OTTC to find their horse's racing name on the board and in return receive an Off The Track merchandise item from RV in recognition of their support to improve the visibility of thoroughbreds post-racing.
EQUITANA also presents an important opportunity for the Off The Track team to connect with the broader equine community about the OTTC, RV's programs and to educate them on the versatility of the thoroughbred for various equine pursuits.
It will also allow the Off The Track team to encourage those who haven't claimed their thoroughbred on the OTTC to add to the more than 5,170 retired racehorses that have been claimed since the platform launched in 2021, with a view to furthering the visibility of thoroughbreds both in the state and across the country.
Boasting more than 7,800 active members, the OTTC has grown exponentially since its inception and is now a key component of RV’s efforts to prevent retired racehorses from ending up in vulnerable circumstances.
Approximately 85 per cent of the claimed horses are based in Victoria, with the remainder located around the country and two thoroughbreds now residing across the Tasman in New Zealand.
The OTTC platform also provides members the opportunity to join RV's Full Circle Program and become an emergency contact for a retired racehorse should they fall into a vulnerable situation. As of today, more than 2,700 thoroughbreds on the OTTC currently have an emergency contact - in most cases a previous owner or someone connected to the horse during its racing career.
“The Off The Track Community was launched as part of our equine welfare initiatives to improve the visibility of retired racehorses, and it is fantastic that we now have oversight on more than 5,000 thoroughbreds through the platform,” said Melissa Ware, RV’s General Manager – Equine Welfare.
“We thank our existing members for their efforts so far, and would encourage anyone with a retired racehorse to join the Off The Track Community and claim them to ensure we can provide the best possible support.
"It's great that through our partnership with EQUITANA we can recognise those who have claimed a thoroughbred with the "Wall of Claim" as part of the Off The Track stand.
"EQUITANA provides us with a great opportunity to educate and showcase the beauty and versatility of the the thoroughbred as a breed of choice for various equine pursuits to the broader equine community."
Current owners or retrainers are asked to provide photographic proof of their thoroughbreds, as well as registering their details and their horse’s location via the OTTC platform. This enables RV to verify the data and ensures that owners receive the necessary support.
Members of the OTTC can directly engage with RV’s statewide network of Acknowledged Retrainers and access a variety of post-racing programs if they require additional support with their retired racehorse – whether that be retraining, short term assistance, emergency care or end of life support.
The OTTC membership network is only as good as those who come forward and claim their thoroughbreds, as RV doesn't have jurisdiction over retired thoroughbreds once they leave racing and/or a licensed person’s care.
To find out more about the OTTC, visit ottcommunity.com.au