Off the Track WA | 2023 In Review!
As we move into 2024, we would be remiss not to look back at some of the highlights of 2023! This year has marked the ninth year of Off the Track WA, an initiative of Racing WA committed to the welfare of racehorses during and after their racing careers.
In 2023, OTTWA in partnership with Equestrian WA, hosted 16 clinics across the state. Approximately 425 retired racehorses were registered for these clinics, with each one given the opportunity to develop and progress through their retraining process alongside their peers and qualified professionals. We are thrilled to have been able to assist these horses in their development as riding mounts away from the racetrack.
OTTWA Event Sponsorship continued upward in 2023, with 177 events sponsored throughout the season. Through these sponsorships, we awarded almost 200 Best Performed Off the Track awards, along with approximately 210 Champion, Reserve Champion and Supreme Off the Track awards. We look forward to continuing on with these sponsorships in 2024, with the aim to exceed our past records.
We also proudly sponsored 12 Interstate Competitors who travelled across the Nullarbor to compete upon retired racehorses in their chosen disciplines. We are proud to have been able to support these riders in showcasing their off the track horses across the country. The following horses were sponsored by Off the Track WA in 2023: Out of Line, Two Chances, Clear Distinction, Dust Me Off, Lyrical Discourse, Homme, Reduction, Skater Boy, Dime A Dozen and Lascia Star. Each and every horse performed pleasingly, representing the quality of off the track horses and riders based in Western Australia.
The OTTWA Retraining Program also hit a milestone this year, with the one hundredth horse rehomed in May. Since achieving this, the OTTWA Retraining Program has continued to work with Official Retrainers to rehome horses following their retirement from racing. We look forward to reaching many more milestones in the near future.
We have continued our sponsorship partnerships with Pony Club WA, Claremont Therapeutic Riding Centre and the Standardbred Pleasure and Performance Horse Association. Through these clubs, we have been able to assist in the development of young riders onboard retired racehorses, as well as assisting in the promotion of the Standardbred breed. We are pleased to be continuing on with these partnerships in 2024.
All in all, we have had a fantastic 2023 year. The OTTWA Team would like to thank each rider, committee member, follower and supporter who has reached out throughout the year to express their appreciation towards what we do. As we enter into our tenth year, we look forward to exploring what more we can do to promote the use of retired racehorses in performance and pleasure homes.
