Racing Victoria Acknowledged Retrainer Lou Abey is among the grant recipients.
© Racing Photos
Racing Victoria’s Retrainer Grants set to further boost OTT capacity
By Equestrian Life
Nine Racing Victoria (RV) Acknowledged Retrainers will soon be better equipped to support more retired racehorses, thanks to round two of the Retrainer Capacity Expansion Grant Program that recently saw $250k in funding allocated.
The Grant Program gives retrainers the opportunity to apply to for up to $50,000 to be used exclusively to increase the number of OTT horses they can retrain and responsibly rehome within a specified time frame, while enhancing the quality of their retraining.
At the core of RV’s post-racing initiatives is a statewide network of 50 Acknowledged Retrainers who play a critical role in transitioning retired racehorses to new homes following their time on the track. The Grant Program, developed as part of the industry’s equine welfare fund, was launched late-2020 and delivered its initial round of $200k in funding early last year across seven retrainers.
Racing Victoria Acknowledged Retrainers Sam Cesnik and Chris Height of Spring Creek Equine will be putting their grant towards an outdoor all-weather arena.
© Racing Photos
The second round funding pool not only increased to $250k, but also saw an increased number of retrainers – nine in total – receiving benefits. The money will assist with a range of projects, including the construction of new arenas, fencing and also the hiring of additional staff – helping to ensure the recipients are able to increase their capacity to take on and retrain OTTs.
As with all of RV’s post-racing initiatives, the Retrainer Capacity Expansion Grant Program has one end goal: to deliver better welfare outcomes for former Thoroughbred racehorses based in Victoria. There’s no doubt the nine dedicated retrainers who have been fortunate enough to receive funding in round two of this Grant will be putting it to good use!
To find out more about Racing Victoria’s OTT Community, click here.
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