Welcome to the

Illinois Equine Humane Center

ILEHC meets with Illinois Thoroughbred industry to discuss critical equine welfare issue

On April 6, 2009, ILEHC President Gail Vacca met with the Board of Directors of the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association in order to discuss the critical need for a comprehensive "aftercare" program to be put in place to aide in the humane and proper transitioning of retiring racehorses into new homes and vocations.

Vacca drafted and presented a comprehensive aftercare program specifically geared to address the needs of horses racing at both Arlington Park and Hawthorne Race Course. The program is designed to safeguard these amazing equine athletes and to ensure that Illinois racehorses receive proper transitioning once their racing careers have ended.

Feedback from the ITHA board for the most part was positive. The board voted to take the aftercare program proposal under advisement and noted that a vote whether to move forward with the program would soon be forthcoming.

The ILEHC remains committed to doing all that we can to protect Illinois race horses from being sold to slaughter or becoming victims of abuse and neglect. We will continue to promote and monitor the progress of this much needed program.

To read the full Thoroughbred Aftercare Program Proposal, please click here.

Update - November 2009

We are sorry to report that it has been over 6 months since the ILEHC first presented its comprehensive aftercare program proposal to the ITHA Board of Directors, and to date no action has been taken by the ITHA to implement any sort of protection for horses retiring from Illinois racetracks. Horse owners call upon us every day asking us to help transition their horses, but without the financial assistance the aftercare program would provide, we regretfully are unable to help many of these owners and horses. If you are an owner or trainer and would like to see a program implemented that will provide safe and humane retirement options for your horses, please contact the ITHA to express your thoughts:

ITHA Executive Director Greg Szymski - email - greg@itharacing.com
ITHA President Frank Kirby - email - frank@itharacing.com
or call 847-577-6464.