LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) announced today that grants totaling over $1 million were awarded this year. 86 organizations were approved for a grant including 56 aftercare organizations, 21 backstretch and farm worker programs, five equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs, and one research organization. Grant recipients can be found on www.tca.org. Over the last 34 years, TCA has awarded more than $27 million in grants.
TCA grants were bolstered this year by a generous bequest from late California Thoroughbred owner Nancy Messineo. Messineo was devoted to the well-being of animals, specifically horses. She was a strong supporter of Thoroughbred aftercare efforts and routinely worked to rehome her former racers. In addition to TCA, Messineo’s estate bequeathed funds to the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), the Wild Horse Sanctuary, the Red Bucket Sanctuary, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With a record number of grant applications received this year, TCA’s Board of Directors established clear funding priorities for grantmaking. Working with the TCA Grants Committee, the board determined that funding emphasis would be placed on approved organizations working to serve the backstretch and farm employee communities as well as non-traditional aftercare organizations. TCA defined non-traditional aftercare organizations as organizations that are either working to provide on track placement services to retiring Thoroughbreds or organizations that are working to incentivize equine enthusiasts to choose a Thoroughbred as their next mount.
“Each year TCA’s Grants Committee works hard to ensure that we are an outstanding steward of the donations that we receive,” said Erin Halliwell executive director of TCA. “This year is no different, as the committee carefully reviewed over 100 applications. Our grants are only possible thanks to our generous donors, and we are thrilled to be able to support so many impactful, effective, and change-making organizations in our industry because of this support.”
Grant applications for the 2025 grant cycle will be available in mid-January.
TCA’s mission is to fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. TCA distributes grants to several categories of Thoroughbred-related nonprofits including rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming and retirement organizations; backstretch and farm employee programs; equine-assisted therapy programs; and research organizations. Since its inception in 1990, TCA has granted over $27 million to more than 200 charities. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).
