The Jockey Club has renewed the retirement checkoff program that enables owners and breeders to support Thoroughbred aftercare programs at the time they register their foals in 2011, and will once again donate $100,000 to each of the program’s two beneficiaries, it was announced today by James L. Gagliano, the president of The Jockey Club.

The Jockey Club donations and the checkoff proceeds benefit the retirement, retraining and adoption efforts of Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF).

With its donations in 2011, The Jockey Club, through its four commercial subsidiaries, will have contributed $300,000 to both TCA and TRF since the inception of the retirement checkoff program in 2009. The commercial subsidiaries are The Jockey Club Information Systems Inc., The Jockey Club Technology Services Inc., InCompass Solutions Inc. and The Jockey Club Racing Services Inc.

“Many Thoroughbreds can be retired to a supportive home or transitioned into a productive post-racing career, and we encourage all owners and breeders to consider making a contribution through our retirement checkoff program when they register their foals this year,” Gagliano said.

“We are grateful not only to The Jockey Club for instituting this program and for its support of the Thoroughbred Charities of America, but also to all the breeders who are doing their part in providing care for former racehorses,” said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA. “Today, it is more important than ever that we as an industry recognize our responsibility to care for horses when their racing and breeding careers have ended.”

“Our correctional-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation facilities are the mainstay of the TRF program, and the contributions from owners, breeders and The Jockey Club are vital in maintaining it,” said Diana Pikulski, executive director of the TRF.

TCA raises funds and distributes grants to a variety of non-profit organizations designed to improve conditions for horses and people in the Thoroughbred industry. Funds from The Jockey Club checkoff program are directed specifically to TCA’s Thoroughbred retraining and adoption initiatives. Additional information about TCA is available at tca.org.

Founded in 1983, the TRF is dedicated to providing humane retirement options for Thoroughbreds at the end of their racing careers, and it operates vocational training in equine care for inmates at nine correctional facilities around the country. Funds from The Jockey Club checkoff program are designated specifically for the TRF’s vocational training at correctional facilities. Additional information about TRF is available at trfinc.org.

The retirement checkoff program is administered by The Jockey Club. Thoroughbred breeders have the option of selecting one of four graduated amounts ($25, $50, $75, or $100) to be designated for these Thoroughbred aftercare programs or they can fill in the amount of their choice on the Application for Foal Registration form.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms, among others. Additional information about The Jockey Club is available at jockeyclub.com.