Horse Q: Where to find thoroughbreds about to retire from racing?

Question

I've been thinking about possibly getting an OTTB. I have had one before, worked out well but took a LOT of time--since I'm not having much luck with my horse search, I figured I'd open up to other options. How do you go about acquiring an off-the-track TB? I know that there are numerous organizations, but I prefer to go to the track/trainer myself. How would I go about that? Do I contact the race track?

Answer 1

One possible source for the kind of horse you are looking for is a horses-in-training sale or a "mixed sale" that sells racing horses as well as breeding stock. Most areas that have Thoroughbred racing have mixed sales or horses-in-training sales. It's an auction format with a minimum bid specified; the horses are brought to the sales grounds where you have a chance to examine them before purchase.

A couple of caveats about purchase of horses off the track: in most cases, the horse is going to have some kind of soundness problem, which the trainer may or may not represent honestly. You don't say how much money you intend to spend or how much expertise you have in evaluating horses. Unless you are really, really experienced you need to budget for some sort of pre-purchase examination of the horse to determine suitability for the purpose you intend to use the horse. Some injuries that can knock a horse out of the races aren't a problem for a pleasure/show rider if the horse is given time to recuperate, but some injuries and problems are degenerative and will only worsen with time.

Also, many horses (by some estimates, the majority of horses racing) are/have been on steroids. This can cause some problems in terms of evaluating the horse, and is something you may want to consult with a vet about. A horse that goes through a recognized auction sale will probably have a list of medications that it's been on available, but a horse bought privately might be a different story.

You might ask someone in the Racing Secretary's office at whatever racetrack you're near about auction sales. They should be able to refer you to the sales company, which will have upcoming sales listed on their website. Catalogues are available in .pdf format or are free in hard copy, and you can request a hard copy be mailed to you.

Best time to try to buy a horse off the track is at the close of a race meet at the track, especially this time of year. This is the time when owners/trainers are pruning their stables down and are looking to unload horses that haven't been successful. Anything that's 4 years old and still a maiden is almost bound to have a pricetag on it.

Good luck.

Answer 2

www.canterusa.org
They list both horses owned by Canter and trainer listings.
They will have several areas you can choose to view the one closest to you. They will have lists of trainer listed horses with some info and smoe photos and the contact info of who to make an appointment to see the horse. Some are at the tracks and some are on farms. You can call the trainer or contact person and set up an appointment and see the horse.
It is the best web site for finding what you are looking for it has far more listings and horses than most others.
Good luck in your search.

Answer 3

Usually if you go to the track and head to the barns or paddocks and mention your looking trainers will start offering or making suggestions of who to talk to. You can also hit some training or breeding barns. Ask the vet to keep an ear out too they get a lot of people buying and selling mentioning it to them. Even if you get a trainer's number and have that person keep an ear out for you at the track, kind of an inside connection. Good luck

Answer 4

If you will keep track of all the horses I bet on, you will find a collection that at least OUGHT to retire.

Answer 5

Here are a few:
http://www.rerun.org/
http://www.unitedpegasus.com/
http://www.trfinc.org/

Answer 6

go to a website or rodeo there are always some there