Placement Program

The CARMA Placement Program facilitates the transition of Thoroughbreds from the racetrack to approved aftercare non-profit organizations better suited to place the horses into second careers or permanent sanctuaries.  As a service to Thoroughbred owners who need help retiring a race horse, CARMA’s Placement Program is a safe way to transition the horse into the next phase of its life. Based at Santa Anita Park, CARMA serves owners throughout the State, working closely with the horse’s connections to ensure proper retirement steps are taken. Using a network of layup facilities specializing in rehabilitation, Thoroughbreds are provided the time they need to recuperate and adjust to life off the track.

Frequent communication with the staff entrusted with the daily care, safety and health of the horses, is a priority. Following an initial evaluation, veterinary reports, history and photos are sent to more than 20 aftercare charities who will continue to rehabilitate, retrain and ultimately find the horse a second career as a riding horse, companion, or offer them permanent sanctuary.

Eligibility

There are three major requirements for a horse to join the program:

Purse Contribution

Owners of the horse must participate in the 0.03% (3/10 ths of 1%) purse contribution program adopted by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

Recent Racing Activity

The horse must have raced or have a recorded work at a CHRB recognized track or training center in the last six months (Santa Anita Park, Los Alamitos, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Golden Gate Fields, San Luis Rey Downs or CARF).

Sex and Gelding Requirement

The horse must be a gelding, filly or mare. Intact males must be gelded prior to acceptance.

How to Retire Your Racehorse

An overview of the workshops you offer and how they will benefit the visitor.

1. Call us at (626) 574-6622

2. Complete the CARMA Horse Questionnaire

Fill out Application

3. Sign the CARMA Transfer and Surrender Form

Download Form

4.  Provide a $500 donation to CARMA

Make Donation

FAQ

There are three major requirements for a horse to be able to join our program.

  1. Owners of the horse must participate in the purse contribution program adopted by the California Horse Racing Board.
  2. The horse must have raced at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Racing, Golden Gate Fields or California Authority of Racing Fairs in the last six months.
  3. The horse must be a gelding, filly or mare.

Colts or stallions will not be accepted under any circumstances. Make arrangements with a veterinarian to castrate your male horse before contacting us. You should ask your veterinarian about a retirement rate gelding service.

Yes, the minimum $500 is required and goes directly towards the first months care of your former horse. There are no exceptions and larger donations are graciously welcomed. Donations are tax deductible and may be sent to: CARMA, 285 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia Ca, 91007 or done online. (Tax ID #80-0146395).

If you are not currently allocating the 0.03% earnings deduction to help support retired racehorses, you can opt-in by contacting the Paymaster of Purses at Santa Anita Park at (626) 574-6360 or by email at Dan.Landers@santaanita.com or Sandy.Linares@santaanita.com If you compete in Northern California, contact Golden Gate Fields at (510) 559-7340 or Lori.Bailey@goldengatefields.com.  You can also fill out the “CHRB CARMA Contribution” and make a handwritten note stating you would like to change your status by “opt-in”.

On average, there is a two to three week wait list due to the volume of horses in the care of the Placement Program.

For owners that want to “keep in touch” with how their former horses are doing, we can provide updates. Once the horses graduate from our program and are placed with an aftercare partners, owners will need to contact the organization for updates and possible visitation.

Thoroughbreds who have raced at a participating California race track in their lifetime but have not had a start within the last six months may be eligible on a case-by-case basis and as space permits. Please contact CARMA for further information.

Unraced Thoroughbreds currently in training at Santa Anita Park, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Racing, Golden Gate Fields, California Authority of Racing Fairs, or San Luis Rey Downs may be eligible on a case-by-case basis and as space permits.  The horse must have recently recorded works. The connections must have currently active racehorses and minimum $1,000 donation is required should the horse be admitted to the program.

No, we do not. We encourage owners of those types of horses to reference our resources page and to contact one of our aftercare partners.