Longrun celebrates long-running service.
John Lathangue with his adopted thoroughbred ‘Devil Valentine’. Lathangue, who lives north of Belleville, gave the racehorse a second life through the Longrun Thoroughbred Retirement Society.
Courtesy photo
An organization is celebrating 10 years of helping thoroughbred horses follow a new track after they've left the race track.
Longrun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, based in north Etobicoke, strives to give racehorses no longer able to compete a "dignified retirement" by finding new homes for the equines as pleasure horses or companion animals.
John Lathangue, a retired OPP inspector, is one of many who has taken in retired racers through the organization.
"I'm not sure what would happen to all the thoroughbreds (if not for the society)," said Lathangue, who resides on a 60-acre farm north of Belleville.
He explained in some countries, horses can end up as meals. "My idea is, we don't eat our friends," he said.
Lathangue's wife, Lynn, came across Longrun's website about four years ago while searching for a new horse to add to their other equine companions. "Lynn was taken with the idea of giving a horse a second start," he recalled.
On the site, potential adopters browse ex-racehorses looking for a new home.
Lynn found 'Rare Friends' -- a former Canadian racing champion that amassed about $800,000 in winnings over his career.
'Devil Valentine' was another addition to their family, a horse that boasts $500,000 in winnings, said Lathangue.
The couple are also taking care of another horse that "injured himself in training and never raced a race", he said.
While racehorses are high-energy on the track, they are "totally different" in retirement, said the ex-inspector. "They're very docile, very kind."
But that change in personality doesn't happen overnight, he said. "They're born and bred to run ... you could go for a ride (on them) but you'd go for a very fast ride," he said.
Vikki Pappas, chair of Longrun, said while some thoroughbred owners keep their horses for breeding, others are signed over and go on to be show or riding horses.
Once initial contact is made with Longrun, an individual looking to take in a retired racehorse is checked out, she said.
"We would go out and inspect the premises in which the horse is going to be kept," she explained. A "guardian" will then conduct intermittent visits to the site over two years before the horse is signed off permanently, added Pappas.
A "companion" thoroughbred is only $1 through the society, she said, while a rideable horse is $750.
But the initial costs are only a fraction of what to expect to pay, warned Lathangue.
There's horse food, bedding, vitamin supplements, vaccinations, foot care and de-worming, not to mention the cost of boarding a horse if needed, he said.
"When you add up all the costs, horses aren't cheap," he said.
But the expenses are worth it, he added. "They've got a lot to offer in a new career ... they're great horses, good companions."
Pappas said Longrun, which achieved charitable status in 2000, has helped secure a reliable source of funding.
"We're the first jurisdiction in North America to actually have mandated a retirement society such as ours," she said. "We receive 0.25 of one per cent of thoroughbred purse money in Ontario, which is really terrific."
To help celebrate Longrun's 10th anniversary, the group is hosting a barbecue and hoe down on Sept. 20 starting 5:30 p.m. at Woodbine Racetrack with a special appearance from Shaniah, a live tribute artist. The event also features line dancing, cash bar, 50/50 draw and more, with proceeds benefitting the society.
To order tickets, call 416-675-3993 ext. 3440.
For information on Longrun or to browse horses up for adoption, visit www.longrunretirement.com