For the first time in more than a decade, the Horse Park of New Jersey will be the site for an all-Thoroughbred show — the first Thoroughbred Showdown, Nov. 2-3, at the park in Allentown.
The show is sponsored by Monmouth Park’s aftercare program, Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption & Placement Inc., and Parx’s Turning for Home aftercare for Thoroughbreds.
In 2023, the two organizations transitioned nearly 400 Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) combined. The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association are also sponsoring the show.
Lifelong horsewoman Laurie Condurso-Lane has been active in the field of Thoroughbred aftercare, retraining, adoption and placement for over 25 years. She was the co-founder, president and executive director of ReRun Inc., a nationally recognized Thoroughbred program that pioneered the idea of racehorse adoption in the late 1990s. After retiring from ReRun, she co-founded and directs Second Call.
Lane notes the success of the national Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) helped bring the greatness of the Thoroughbred back into the forefront. Seeing their success gave her the idea for a Thoroughbred show at Horse Park. Since Second Call couldn’t do it alone, the natural partner was Turning for Home. “Both programs have a passion for Thoroughbreds and finding second careers for them is in line with our mission,” Lane said.
Dressage, western, and more
Along with hunter, jumper, dressage and pleasure classes, the show offers cash prizes and Thoroughbred Incentive Program (TIP) awards. It also offers trail, pleasure and model classes, along with a Western division including barrel racing and ranch riding.
Danielle Montgomery, Turning for Home’s executive director for the past 11 years, started out in rodeo watching her father compete. She later became an exercise rider and Thoroughbred trainer before taking on her current role in 2013.
When it comes to Thoroughbreds and barrel racing, Montgomery is enthusiastic. “Their athleticism, speed, and agility — our hot-blooded OTTBs (off-track Thoroughbreds) love this discipline. More and more people in the barrel/ranch community are discovering what we knew all along — OTTBs can do it all,” she said. Montgomery said a Turning for Home horse named Sweetly Talented competed in the National Finals Rodeo Open in barrels, and another, Pansy, competed in the finals of four rodeo events in Wyoming.
“Our goal is to offer more opportunities for Thoroughbreds to showcase their talents and encourage people to consider Thoroughbreds as their next mount no matter what type of riding they are passionate about,” she said.
Montgomery also said that advances in nutrition and access to education on transitioning racehorses have dispelled many of the myths about Thoroughbreds she grew up with in the Quarter Horse world, and she is proud to see many new homes opening up to OTTBs in Western disciplines along with the various traditional careers for ex-racehorses.
“We have successfully rehabbed many injuries that horses were overlooked for in the past and proven how amazing these horses can be if given the chance.
“These all-Thoroughbred shows prove that we have valuable horses just waiting for the right people and we hope to encourage more people to give them a chance,” Montgomery said.
Celebrity equitation classes are also on the agenda. The classes are open to those in the racing community, including owners, trainers, jockeys, exercise riders and industry personnel, to celebrate the success of their horses after racing. “We will have surprise celebrities, such as fan favorites who have committed to coming out for the day,” Lane said.
Adoption opportunities
For those seeking their next Thoroughbred partner, the show offers adoption opportunities. Lane said the reason they chose to hold the show in November is because it’s a pivotal time of year in the sport-horse world.
“Some (riders) may have moved up and are ready for a new mount for the upcoming show season,” she said. “We will have horses available fresh off-the-track as well as some with show miles ready to partner with their next rider. It will enable trainers to sell their showing projects and obtain new projects for the next year; hopefully, our newly retired horses will find good trainers to go home with.”
Some nearby vet clinics will be on hand to help, as well as representatives from the Pony Club and the racing industry to help people learn how to obtain ex-racehorses and find local trainers to get the help they need.
For more information about the show or adopting a Thoroughbred, go to turningforhome.organd sctap.com.
Original Source Credited to lancasterfarming.com
Cover Photo Credit to Danielle Montgomery
