MORE THAN 20,000 Thoroughbred foals were born in Australia last spring - 6737 of them in NSW - and the reality is that not all of them will be racetrack stars.
Some, like champion mare Black Caviar, will reach stratospheric heights - the mare who has won 17 straight has earnings of $4.38 million to date, the sort of result most owners only dream about.
About a third of the annual foal crop will not even become registered racehorses, and up to half won't race, for one reason or another, in a highly competitive industry where prizemoney is focused on two and three year old races.
Others will be successful racehorses, but will need and deserve decent homes at the end of their careers.
A new initiative backed by Racing NSW aims to address the issue of finding the right homes for these Thoroughbreds.
The NSW Racehorse Rehabilitation Trust, based at a disused quarantine facility at Canterbury racecourse in Sydney, is giving many horses a second chance.
Working closely with St. Heliers prison at Muswellbrook, where horses are sent initially to "let down" and begin basic groundwork, the program has already resulted in many horses finding a second lease of life as recreational or competitive performers.
Scott Brodie, who is at the helm of the program, was in the NSW Mounted Police Force for many years, where he educated and trained horses and riders, and his continued close link with "the mounties" means graduates of his "school" that are suitable will become police horses.
"About two years ago the Australian Jockey Club asked me to set up mounted security for race day, and that led to them asking me to retrain thoroughbreds and find homes for them," he said.
"Then Racing NSW got behind it and we ran a pilot program at Randwick for 12 months, before expanding with involvement from the prison."
Racing NSW has helped build appropriate facilities on land at St Heliers and Mr Brodie visits regularly to train those working with horses - a program that has resulted in several former inmates finding equine industry careers upon their release.
"They do all the initial phase one work, and we finish them off at Canterbury. I can have up to 50 horses in the program at any time including horses spelling at St. Heliers," he said.
Mr Brodie has also competed at advanced level in Eventing and dressage.
"I'm lucky to have been instructed by some great classical dressage instructors as well as receiving a lot of tuition in natural horsemanship from people such as Pat Parelli," Mr Brodie said.
The not-for-profit centre is holding an open day on February 11.
"We want to increase awareness of what we're doing and also, a lot of people are re-training Thoroughbreds and often experience problems we can help with.
"It's potentially dangerous for people who don't have the expertise to do that, but we have a very systematic program," he said.
"Thoroughbeds have got a little bit of a bad reputation but if you re-educate them properly they are as good as, if not better than, other horses, especially in pursuits like Eventing.
"We also want to encourage people to take horses from us."
Demonstrations at Equitana last November proved a big hit, as has the centre's Facebook page.
"Facebook is awesome, we can advertise and market effectively to various segments of the equestrian world.
"The other thing we are trying to do is form a good relationship with the Sydney International Three Day Event committee, with a view to getting the Eventing world working together with Racing NSW."
The open day will be held at the NSW Mounted Police Headquarters, 7 Baptist Street, Redfern, from 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday February 11.
Mr Brodie said the use of the all-weather facility meant the day would proceed regardless of the weather.
"The day will start with a full rundown of our training system, followed by a lunch break and tour of the facility, and then an afternoon of solving typical problems with the retraining of ex-racehorses," he said.
"For those who enjoyed our clinics at Equitana, this will be a more in-depth presentation with the opportunity for interaction."
The open day is free but tax deductible donations to the trust are welcome.
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