2026 NEW YORK THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE DAY – JULY 24, 2026
There are many second-career opportunities for retired racehorses. Some head to the breeding shed to produce the next generation of potential stars, some become show horses, some help humans through equine-assisted therapy programs – and some provide support to their fellow Thoroughbreds, accompanying them in training and to the starting gate in the essential role of racetrack pony. This year, the sixth annual New York Thoroughbred Aftercare Day at Saratoga Race Course will honor the former racehorses who now serve as ponies.
More than a dozen racetrack ponies will parade before the first race, sporting saddle towels that show off their racing names, and one will be named as this year’s winner of the Down Broadway Award for the Retired Racehorse of the Year.
DID YOU KNOW: The members of the Thoroughbred industry in New York, including the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, as well as owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys, contribute more than $1.8 million to support Thoroughbred retirement every year?
The 2026 Racetrack Pony Parade at Saratoga
