March/April 2024 Issue

Page 58 March/April 2024 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN It Takes a Village: Tomater Gator’s Soft Landing to OTTB Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organization. “Bev would often laugh at me; I think she thought I was a bit crazy.” Horses like Tomater Gator, who find themselves on public watch lists, deserve recognition. Tomater Gator could have easily slipped through the cracks of the system. However, thanks to another passionate OTTB advo- cate, an anonymous supporter determined to contribute to his retirement, Tomater Gator’s story took a different turn. “Gater had been listed as a horse to watch for the past two years,” his secret admirer noted. “So, I decided to reach out to Rick Schosberg, a Thorough- bred Aftercare Alliance board member from NYTHA, to assist me in locating Gator’s connec- tions.” Even with Rick’s assistance, reaching the trainer proved chal- lenging. But eventually, the mes- sage was conveyed: “We would like to help Gator retire.” Fast forward to the week of August 30th, when Tomater Gator was gearing up for his final race at Penn. During this critical time, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance received an unexpected text message from an anonymous admirer of Tomater Gator. “Hey, no pressure, but I’ve been following a particular horse for a while now, and the owner/trainer has expressed willingness to sell. Do you happen to have any contacts I could discuss rehoming with?” the message read. The Thoroughbred After- care Alliance office had no prior knowledge of Tomater Gator’s dedicated following or the on- going donations to MidAtlantic Thoroughbred Rescue (MAHR) in his name. Yet by an incredible stroke of coincidence, Thorough- bred Aftercare Alliance suggested that the anonymous friend contact Bev Strauss. When Bev received the call, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “This horse has been on Fran’s radar for three years!” she exclaimed. Without delay, Bev reached out to Fran to share the exciting news. Tomater Gator had found a generous benefactor, and Bev was making immediate arrange- ments for his pickup. She also reached out to Beth Walker and Joe Topper, trusted associates from MAHR’s rehab facility at Breezy Hill Stables, who readily agreed to collect Tomater Gator the following day. The inner circle of Tomater Gator’s newfound friends was overjoyed by their successful effort in securing him a well-de- served retirement. It became evident that Tomater Gator’s circle of support was more ex- tensive than anyone had initially realized. After successfully picking up Tomater Gator, Bev Strauss took to social media to share the news: “Exciting news! Tomater Gator has officially retired, and it truly took a village. The outpour- ing of support and enthusiasm from all of you has been incred- ible. As his racing days came to an end, it’s heartening to see this veteran horse find a safe and happy place.” Bev’s post sparked a wave of positive reactions, with dozens of comments, several shares, and nearly 500 acknowl- edgments, underscoring the widespread appreciation for the efforts made on Tomater Gator’s behalf. One Facebook connection highlighted, “He finished in the top three in 41.18%. Gotta love these war horses!” Other comments included expressions like, “It takes a vil- lage,” and another person noted, “Many fans have been following Tomater Gator, and we were all so excited last night to hear the news of his retirement. Even better news that it was MidAtlan- tic that swiftly stepped in to make this happen. Thank you, Fran Burns and MAHR.” Numerous individuals sent texts of support, such as, “Props to all of his connections; he looks great.” The placement of Toma- ter Gator in his well-deserved retirement was a serendipi- tous event, where all the stars aligned for this remarkable Thoroughbred. When Thoroughbred After- care Alliance asked the anony- mous sponsor why she decided to step in, her response encap- sulated a sentiment shared by many: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the horses who pour their hearts into day-to-day racing could count on their connec- tions to do the right thing when the time comes? After Tomater Gator’s impressive 85 starts and seven years on the racetrack, he had fulfilled his duty as a racehorse. For Tomater Gator, everything fell into place—it was meant to be.” Schosberg emphasized, “With these horses, 70-75% of their lives come after their racing careers are over. It’s our indus- try’s responsibility to look after them.” As of the publishing of this story, Tomater Gator is still resid- ing at Breezy Hill, where he will enjoy some well-deserved rest before transitioning to MAHR’s main facility in Chesapeake City, MD. Strauss noted, “We’ve already received numerous inquiries about adopting him, but we’re a little ways off from that stage. We’ll gently reintroduce him to being ridden and see what he prefers.” Though it’s only just begin- ning, Tomater Gator’s story is a shining example of the racing industry coming together with fans and aftercare organizations to ensure its equine athletes are loved and cared for at the conclusion of their racing careers. With the sport’s social license to operate being threatened, the in- dustry cannot afford to overlook the goodwill generated by such stories. Please submit your events to steph@eastcoastequestrian.net. Please provide event name, location, city, state and contact information for inclusion at no cost in East Coast Equestrian's calendar. Attention Event Organizers! (Continued from page 54)