I like when major players in this sport step forward with ideas when addressing problems. Ideas are more often helpful than hurtful, whether you agree with them across the board or not. At the very least they show someone cares enough about the game to engage with the issues instead of pretending they don’t exist.
More importantly, ideas start dialogue.
Thoroughbred racing has no shortage of problems. What it has sometimes lacked is open conversation about how to fix them. So when someone heavily invested in the sport’s future takes the time to put forward their thoughts, it’s worth listening to.
Tom Ryan, Managing Partner of SF Bloodstock and Racing Manager for SF Racing, recently did just that, sharing his views on the current aftercare conversation and where the industry should go from here. Ryan is not speaking from the cheap seats. He is deeply invested in the sport financially and emotionally, and like many others who care about racing, he sees both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead.
Below are Ryan’s ideas, framed in a clearer format, followed by his own words.
Is Racing Too Quick to Reach for New Fees?
Ryan believes the industry often defaults to raising fees whenever aftercare becomes a point of pressure.
Question:
Whenever aftercare becomes a major topic in racing, the industry often responds by raising fees or levying new contributions. Is that the right approach?
Ryan:
“Our reflex, whenever we feel heat on aftercare, is to reach for the bluntest tool in the drawer: raise a fee, levy a ‘contribution,’ and call it leadership. Hiking registration fees and adding another farm-level tax may sound decisive, but it isn’t the industry investing in aftercare; it’s the industry sending farmers and breeders the bill.”
Are You Against Spending More On Aftercare?
Ryan is careful to make clear that he is not arguing against supporting aftercare financially.
Question:
Are you opposed to spending more money on aftercare?
Ryan:
“No. Thoroughbred aftercare absolutely needs support. What I’m against is pretending that one more fee for breeders is the answer. We still don’t have a coherent, sustainable, long-range plan for the horse’s full life cycle. Right now we have band-aids, not blueprints.”
Does The U.S. Already Lead The World In Aftercare?
Ryan argues that the American system has already built an impressive framework.
Question:
How does the United States compare globally when it comes to aftercare?
Ryan:
“It does lead the world, and that’s exactly why this moment matters. We have national accreditation, grant-making infrastructure, adoption pipelines, OTTB sport initiatives, and a culture that now treats second careers as normal instead of treating retired racehorses as disposable. That’s something to be proud of, but leadership means being deliberate and strategic about the future.”
What Would A Serious Long-Term Plan Look Like?
Ryan believes aftercare must become more than a patchwork of solutions.
Question:
If the industry were to approach aftercare strategically, what would that plan look like?
Ryan:
“In my view it starts with a real revolution in aftercare models, not just maintaining the status quo. It means creative partnerships and land use to scale second careers. It means bringing the same imagination to people that we bring to horses. And it means amplification and grassroots pipelines, not just taxes.”
Why Focus On Second Careers?
Ryan believes the key to sustainable aftercare is creating demand for Thoroughbreds beyond the racetrack.
Question:
You’ve emphasized second careers for Thoroughbreds. Why is that important?
Ryan:
“We need programs that rehome horses at scale into meaningful second careers. Think of models where Thoroughbreds are in demand — ridden, shown, cared for, and loved. Our accreditation standards and funding should focus on responsible transition and second careers for Thoroughbred racehorses. Charity starts at home.”
Can Partnerships And Land Use Help Solve The Problem?
Ryan also sees opportunity in broader collaboration.
Question:
How could partnerships expand aftercare capacity?
Ryan:
“There’s a huge opportunity to collaborate with major landholders — universities, large farms, and institutions. Imagine using those networks to retrain horses, educate students, support research, and create a national pipeline for second-career Thoroughbreds. Done right, it creates jobs and secures brighter futures for horses after the track.”
Why Invest In Youth Programs?
Ryan believes growing the next generation of horsepeople is critical.
Question:
How do youth programs factor into aftercare?
Ryan:
“One simple idea is funding the first few riding lessons for any child who wants to get involved. That early bond between horse and human creates lifetime demand for Thoroughbreds. Programs like Thoroughbred Renaissance and Amplify Horse Racing help open doors and bring new people into the sport.”
What About Industry Reserves?
Ryan also touches on an issue that has quietly become a focal point in the broader industry conversation.
Question:
Many people notice that some industry organizations maintain large reserves. How should those resources be used?
Ryan:
“People look at sizable reserves at some legacy organizations and wonder why those funds aren’t being deployed more boldly. I understand those organizations have obligations and need buffers. The real issue is trust. Transparency around long-term plans for those resources would help.”
My Take
There is a lot to like in Ryan’s perspective.
His emphasis on second careers, youth engagement, and partnerships that expand opportunity for Thoroughbreds beyond racing are constructive ideas. The sport absolutely benefits when people with resources and influence put forward thoughtful proposals instead of staying silent.
Where his argument may be weaker is in the assertion that the United States leads the world in aftercare. While our network of programs is impressive, Hong Kong’s centralized model — where the governing body itself manages retraining and rehoming — is arguably more structured and accountable.
That doesn’t diminish the work being done here, but it’s worth acknowledging. For me, however, the bigger issue right now is something else entirely.
At this stage of the game there is simply too much money generated by the sport sitting in reserves across various industry organizations for us to be debating how to start funding solutions. Jon Stettin
Whatever direction the industry ultimately chooses — more accreditations, expanded retraining programs, centralized systems, youth pipelines, or some combination of all these — we should not be starting short even a nickel.
The bell has already rung. And the industry has been standing in the stall for far too long.
The Time For Half Measures and Talk is Over:
