miRunners places a strong emphasis on the rehoming of our retired thoroughbreds. Saganaki was forced to retire earlier this year due to damage to one of his tendons.
It has been a long road to find the appropriate retirement plan for this thoroughbred, however, we are thrilled to announce he has begun his work with Team Thoroughbred NSW where he will be looked after during his retirement.
Saganaki enjoying his new home
About Team Thoroughbred NSW
Team Thoroughbred NSW supersedes the NSW Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Trust, which has been providing retraining for racehorses to help them find quality new homes and careers in retirement since 2011.
It has been established to bring together all of Racing NSW’s thoroughbred equine welfare programs under one easily recognisable brand. Its primary functions include:
- Retraining and rehoming retired racehorses and thoroughbreds that didn’t make the track
- Supporting new owners on their thoroughbred journey
- Promoting the thoroughbred breed and its desirable characteristics
- Celebrating the successes of retired racehorses in their new careers
- Forming long-term partnerships with charities and community groups
- Educating the public about thoroughbred horseracing and sharing correct information and statistics about the industry’s focus on animal welfare as a priority
- Creating a community of thoroughbred enthusiasts
Team Thoroughbred NSW is funded by the Equine Welfare Fund which was established by Racing NSW in 2016. 1% of all prize money distributed across the state is directed into the fund which in 2018 alone amounted to more than $2.2million.
Team Thoroughbred NSW operates from Racing NSW-owned properties including 2500 acres Capertee, 137 acres at Castlereagh (Princes Farm which was previously owned by Bart Cummings) and 80 acres at Oxley Island. Through partnerships Team Thoroughbred NSW also has horses on 150 acres at Picton and 200 acres at Muswellbrook.
Team Thoroughbred NSW has several community partnership programs which are currently in the pilot stage. They’re designed to give people an introduction to horses. They include:
- RSL LifeCare – veterans and retired emergency service personnel are learning to retrain retired racehorses as part of their treatment for PTSD.
- BackTrack/Ballyoch Horses – deeply troubled teenagers are learning to retrain retired racehorses as part of their therapy and to give them horsemanship skills to help improve their employability. Backtrack, Ballyoch and Team Thoroughbred NSW are working together to create the first indigenous polo team using retired Racing NSW horses.
- Pony Club NSW – members are learning to retrain thoroughbreds for an international showjumping competition in October 2019.
Saganaki will be part of either the first or second programs mentioned above. Unfortunately, he will not be ready to be part of the third program in time for October 2019.
We wish Saganaki all the best in his retirement, and thank Team Thoroughbreds NSW for finding him his new home!
Want to get involved in thoroughbred ownership?
We have 6 horses currently available for purchase:
- Not A Single Doubt x Countess Dehere trained by Troy Corstens
- Hinchinbrook x Koonoomoo trained by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- Hinchinbrook x Gaze (NZ) trained by David Hayes
- Exceed and Excel x Fate Rules trained by Toby Edmonds
- Snitzel x Typing trained by Chris Munce
- Written Tycoon x Sponsored trained by Robert Heathcote
Experience the thrill of thoroughbred ownership with miRunners today!
