There were 1,845 New York race horses retired in 2007 by 1,108 race horse owners, according to Steve Ropel, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York field office.  In response to the Task Force request of breed percentages, of the 1,845 horses retired, 60 percent were thoroughbreds and 40 percent were standardbreds.  Over 70 percent of the reported retired horses were between the ages of 3 and 6.  Twenty percent of standbreds and 4 percent of thoroughbreds retired were over the age of 10.  Of the horses retired in 2007 by gender, geldings were of 46 percent.  Standardbred geldings accounted for 50 percent of the standardbred horses retired, while thoroughbred geldings accounted for 43 percent of the thoroughbred horses retired.

The New York State Task Force on Retired Race Horses is co-chaired by New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and New York State Racing and Wagering Board Chairman John Sabini.

The Retired Race Horse Survey can be found on the NASS New York web site:  http://www.nass.usda.gov/ny/. For more information, contact the office by email at nass-ny@nass.usda.gov or by telephone at 1-800-821-1276.

#

12-12-08