The Thoroughbred Race Horse has been refined over the last 300-odd years through selective breeding and careful pedigree selection to the ultimate athlete that it is today. Bred from three Arabian Stallions and an original handful of mare stock, the Thoroughbred is bred to run and born to race. While racing may be their purpose, their inherent workmanlike nature, generosity and athleticism mean that they are highly suited to other forms of equestrian sport and given the right environments and grounding, go on to excel.

Beyond Racing is an initiative to promote and publicise Thoroughbreds, highlight their successes as highly suitable sport and leisure horses and to promote their appropriate transition from racing to be well looked after, much loved and valued beyond their racing careers.

The ongoing campaign aims to combine all forces in the breeding and racing industry, sport horse industry, the National Thoroughbred Trust and animal welfare units to promote their care and highlight their suitability and successes as riding horses across all disciplines.

Beyond Racing’s Objectives

To highlight and reposition the Thoroughbred as a highly suitable leisure and sport horse, thereby increasing the demand after racing.

To promote the success of horses schooled across all disciplines and to publicise and showcase their after-racing lives and careers. Encourage TB owners to tell their stories on Face Book and website, run profiles in various online and print publications. Parades and meet and greet at shows and race meetings. (JJ the Jet Plane was brought to the TBA Sales yard last year!)

o From Pocket Power, Fork Lightening, Imbongi, Mr Brock, Equal Image, Hunting Tower, Msasa, Moscow Mistress, Perfect Trick, Heartbreak Hill, Dark Rider and JJ, there are so many successes to profile.

o There is a strong potential market for well-schooled TB’s in Polo, Polo-crosse, Eventing and showing especially, with a lesser number for show- Jumping and lower level dressage, with this market having being over-shadowed by the popularised warm blood breeds.

To create a platform to assist Thoroughbred owners with advice, help and sourcing appropriate service providers, as well as help with pedigree and racing information. (Non-racing people love getting this background if they don’t know it.)

For the 2014 Equestrian calendar, Beyond Racing will start to initiate and encourage special Thoroughbred series classes and prizes within classes at shows, to highlight and acknowledge competitive Thoroughbreds and their riders, in their chosen disciplines at all levels.

Together with the Thoroughbred industry we will also initiate annual awards for Thoroughbreds that have stood out or excelled outside of racing. For example, the Thoroughbred of the year award will recognise a Thoroughbred that has excelled in a non-competitive career such as equine assisted therapy, police work or Rhino Patrol and a Thoroughbred ambassador award will acknowledge a horse that has stood out from a publicity perspective whether competitive or not.

To make a range of promotional riding kit and clothing with the Beyond Racing and Proudly Thoroughbred logo on, for use as prizes and for sale to proud Thoroughbred owners, profits of which to go towards funding the initiatives

We need to put structures into place to assist trainers and owners with re-homing horses appropriately. (Many owners = out of sight, out of mind and believe trainer has re-homed appropriately).This is an area that leaves the Horse Racing industry open to massive negative publicity as the perception is that horses are bred, produced and run for profit and then discarded once their usefulness has run out!

o Beyond Racing preferred list to be built with Horse Care Units to refer trainers to a reputable re-homer in their area. Encourage/ “incentivise” trainers to make use of these contacts and in the event that a horse is potentially unsound make the right call.

o Serious consideration to the half-way house or subsidising reputable yards who can take on TB’s for re-schooling and re-homing. (This adds value to the horse)

Many potential TB owners do not have sufficient knowledge or ability to let down and re-school a Thoroughbred off the track, leading to problems with diet, condition, tractability etc. and a further tarnishing of the Thoroughbred’s reputation as hard-keeping, hot, un-athletic and unsuitable as a riding horse.

o New owner to sign for horse with ID, physical address and contacts, not just listed. Retired horses should be listed on the NHRA notifications, as with any change of ownership or death.

o Registration of horses as OTTB to be eligible for the TB awards. (Once we grow base for shows and competitions, perhaps the horses need to be registered with Beyond Racing, to be eligible)

By providing a platform to guide trainers and new Thoroughbred buyers we can potentially reduce the number of wrongly placed and ill-treated horses. While we accept that not every racing owner is a horse-lover it is incumbent on trainers, managers and industry insiders to help to create an understanding and appreciation of the horse, encourage owners to get to know the individuals and to take some interest in their after racing careers. Without our horses there would be no industry!

The calibre, heart and ability of the Thoroughbred has seen many excel beyond their racing careers in show-jumping, three phase eventing, polo, polo-crosse, showing and dressage as well as other leisure sports. Beyond Racing invites all Thoroughbred owners to share the stories of their champs whether racing, competing, hacking or a beloved friend. From showing to eventing and many polo successes sold internationally, the Thoroughbreds continue to make their mark Beyond Racing!

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Imagine the possibilities – Beyond Racing

Imbongi 2004 (Russian Revival x Garden Verse by Foveros). Passed through the Ready to Run sales ring and sold off the farm for R70 000. In training with Mike de Kock, he won both Gauteng and KZN Guineas and the Drill Hall Stakes. Sold on to Sheik Mohammed in Dubai, amassing earnings of over $8Million in his career, including winning the Zabeel Mile. Original owners, Mr. and Mrs. Napier and Mr. Michael Fleischer were determined to return him to SA where he is now stabled at Ascot Equestrian Centre and jumping competitively with teenage rider Travis.

Perfect Trick 2003(Russian Revival x Absolute Magic by Jungle Cove).

Unsold at sales, sent to race in Kimberley by Summerhill Stud. Too small and slow to race successfully. Came off the track in 2007, with some slight back issues making him want to rear at times. With care and patience, schooled for polo and played up to 14 goal provincial level. Recently sold to Zimbabwe for R90 000+ to lower level player and forever home.

Below is the 10 year old Perfect Trick taking his new owner’s gran on a little 90 th Birthday walk in January! Our crazy Thoroughbreds!