What do Santa Anita Park and a local Southern California hunter/jumper horse show association have in common? The answer: both organizations love Thoroughbreds and want them to succeed in their second careers after racing. The partners are taking a grassroots approach to promote the versatility, athleticism, talent, and willingness of Thoroughbreds to compete in any equine discipline. Most know off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) from their success in the hunter/jumper show arena, but they also make excellent trail, gymkhana, barrel racing, sorting, and family pleasure horses. Yes, Thoroughbreds “can do it all.”
Santa Anita Park, like most major racetracks throughout the country, has long supported Thoroughbred aftercare programs. In conjunction with owners, trainers, and jockeys, a percentage of race purses is dedicated to Thoroughbred aftercare. Through CARMA, a California 501c3 umbrella organization, grants are awarded to certified aftercare and re-homing facilities. These facilities take retired or non-race horses, allow them to decompress from the intensity of the track, and begin the re-training process for a variety of second careers. These horses are made available to the public at affordable prices.
To further support their commitment to second careers for OTTBs, Santa Anita Park converted part of their infield to host the November 2024 Split Rock Jumping Tour, which was highlighted by the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup LA, a qualifying event for the FEI Jumping World Cup Finals. To encourage more participation by OTTBs, Santa Anita Park and other event sponsors are offering a Thoroughbred high point award for each week of the competition. According to Jodiea Vella-Gregory, VP of Industry Relations, “with the goal of showcasing the diversity of the Thoroughbred talent, this award is open to all participants—no matter the division—competing during the Santa Anita CS13* & CS15*-W.” Winners will receive a monetary prize of $2,000, a high-point ribbon, and a race day package.
The Inland Empire Hunter Jumper Association (IEHJA) provides the grassroots and word-of-mouth support for OTTBs. IEHJA is a southern California hunter/ jumper show sanctioning organization that provides management rules and regulations and oversight to its affiliated shows. Many IEHJA members own Thoroughbreds and compete successfully at county and A circuit horse shows. Often, this same horse competes in the other equine disciplines, is ridden on trail, or quietly hangs out at the barn being groomed and pampered by its loving owner. IEHJA has recognized the prominence of Thoroughbreds at its sanctioned shows by creating a Hi-point award program that is determined by the results at the year-end show.
The IEHJA Board of Directors, recognizing the importance of Thoroughbreds to its members’ show success and the growing need to provide OTTBs with second careers, approached Santa Anita Park with a novel request: “Let’s promote OTTBs directly at a grassroots level using IEHJA’s horse shows and media platforms as the advertising medium.” Santa Anita Park readily agreed, and the two entities formed a partnership to implement this approach.
As many advertising companies know, the more direct contact with your targeted audience, the better your results. In this case, the targeted audience is defined as those new to horses and competition, riders looking to move up and need a better horse, riders wanting to participate in more than one equine discipline, and owners looking for a horse that can do it all. Thoroughbreds are underrepresented at elite competition levels. The only way to change this is by increasing their demand as competition horses (in all disciplines) and watching them soar.
IEHJA uses many methods of promotion: sponsorships, magazine articles, online media, its website, and old school banners, adverts in show premiums, information booths, dedicated classes for Thoroughbreds (both TIP and their own Hi-point Thoroughbred series) and an annual awards banquet held trackside at Santa Anita Park. IEHJA cultivates trainers in their Thoroughbred outreach programs and believes that access to good training needs to be available at all levels. Lastly, it is word of mouth, association to trainers and trainers to clients, and it is the success of our members at all levels of competition that will help increase the demand for retired or unraced Thoroughbreds. Join us!
To showcase our love of OTTBs, IEHJA presents some of its members and OTTBs. Look at what these owners and horses have accomplished and how well-suited retired and non-raced Thoroughbreds can be in any discipline in any second career. A Thoroughbred can change your life!
Jordan DeSantis and Master Diamond, Show name Diamante
2018 Gelding with 6 career starts, third place his highest placing, trained by Duncan McIntosh at the 1.0 meter level
Masha Tofoya and Lily’s Boy, show name Distinguished Gentleman
2018 Gelding, trained by Gretchen Clark and Jessica Clark, has recently started his show jumping career competing over fences and in medal classes, earning second place in the 2024 IEHJA Year End Show Hunter Derby
Kaitlyn Williams and Uptown Street, show name Wreacking Havoc
2019 Gelding, trained by Nicole Lear-Helms, successful racing career cut short by leg injury, competes in show jumping, gymkhana and other western speed events, trail rides, sorting, has won IEHJA Hi-point TB three times, in 2024 won cooler and award sponsored by Santa Anita Park.
Cami Claar and High Valley Guy, show name High Valley Guy
17-year-old Gelding, trained by Cami Claar and is used as a lesson and trail horse, competes in the .70 and 80 jumpers as well as cross-rails. Kind enough for beginner riders but has enough talent and athleticism to successfully compete in the jumper divisions
Kim Gerrard and Check Mark, show name Check Me Out
2002 Gelding, trained by Gretchen Clark and Jessica Clark, is now retired from the show ring but started his second career on the A circuit, Jessica showed him in the 2’6” hunters while Kim competed in the flat classes. Madalyn Alva shown competing at the USHJA Championship Show in Las Vegas
Patti Schooley and Jacob’s Mark, show name Beckett
2003 Gelding, son of leading California stud Benchmark, trained by Jasmine Wheatley, competed 2’3”-2’9” hunters and .80 jumpers for multiple riders, is semi-retired, just waiting for his next rider and competition. Shown is Caitlyn Lee competing at the IEHJA year-end show.
