CANTER Facts and Information

Michigan has a new Thoroughbred racetrack near Detroit, Pinnacle Race Course, owned by Jerry Campbell and Henry Mast. Michigan Thoroughbred racehorse owners and trainers along with CANTER are working to make Pinnacle Race Course a high quality, above board, Thoroughbred racetrack that provides the best in Thoroughbred horse racing. It’s our common goal to make Michigan Thoroughbred racing comparable to Kentucky, New York, California and other high quality racing venues. CANTER will be there to help these athletes make their transition from racing to their new careers.

As a result of the closing of Great Lakes Downs in 2007, CANTER Michigan took in 169 thoroughbreds. This is roughly double our normal yearly intake of 90. Many of these horses needed surgery to help them make their transition. CANTER pays for surgeries at MSU which results in CANTER being the largest client at Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital with over $100,000 worth of surgeries every year on thoroughbreds.

CANTER pays for vets, farriers, transport, feed and grain, boarding, rehabilitation, retraining, website, marketing and even euthanasia when necessary. CANTER makes NO money on these thoroughbreds. Why does CANTER continue if it makes no money? CANTER believes every thoroughbred racehorse should have a chance at a new life after it crosses the finish line for the last time.

CANTER is an all-volunteer 501©(3) organization with affiliates throughout the country in Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New England, Mid Atlantic and a new affiliate in northern California. CANTER organizations countrywide have helped to transition over 5,000 thoroughbreds since it started in 1997. CANTER has transitioned sons and daughters of Derby winners, Preakness and Belmont winners many of whom were purchased in excess of $100,000. Many of these athletes have earned over half a million dollars.

CANTER Michigan works with a $250,000 a year budget devoted to Thoroughbreds. No salaries are paid. Active board members who devote hours each day to help these thoroughbreds include: a Business Owner, an Attorney, the Chief of Staff at MSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, an Equine Veterinarian, Equine Trainers, a Television Broadcaster, a Computer Specialist, an Educator, Equine Farm Owners and a Professional Sports Administrator.

CANTER is the only equine rescue/organization in the country that accepts any Thoroughbred off the racetrack, regardless of their injury or condition. CANTER does NOT have a “closed door” policy because there is no room for an Off-Track Thoroughbred. CANTER makes room!!

CANTER depends upon your donations, grants and funds received from rehabilitated thoroughbred adoptions. CANTER Michigan’s $250,000 yearly budget goes entirely to help the thoroughbreds. There is an MSU fund called the Equine Rehabilitation Fund that accepts donations to help pay for the surgeries at MSU. Huge benefits to the CANTER/MSU collaboration are the educational opportunities provided to MSU Equine Vet students and residents. The Equine Vet student program at MSU is one of the best in the country because of CANTER thoroughbreds and the cooperation of the thoroughbred racing industry.

BACKGROUND:

CANTER volunteers and thoroughbred owners and trainers have been working together for over 11 years, after the closing of the Detroit Race Course, DRC, in 1997. When Great Lakes Downs opened in Muskegon, CANTER volunteers continued to help thoroughbred owners and trainers remove their non-competitive or injured thoroughbreds, by bringing them into the CANTER program. After the closing of Great Lakes Downs, CANTER will continue in its mission to assist thoroughbreds from the new Pinnacle Race Course.

CANTER is a free service to Thoroughbred owners and trainers. However, CANTER expends more than $250,000 a year to transition these magnificent athletes into non-race homes. In addition CANTER provides a free website service to owners and trainers who want to list their horses(s) for sale.

Each thoroughbred is transported to a boarding facility where it is evaluated for any medical needs and personality traits. If a medical issue is present, x-rays are taken and sent to MSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation, surgical options, and potential prognosis. A good prognosis is possible for most thoroughbreds when they are taken out of racing by their owners as soon as a serious racetrack injury develops. After surgery, CANTER volunteers continue the thoroughbred’s rehabilitation, retraining and constant evaluation, until a veterinarian determines the horse is ready for adoption.

Horse racing has been in Michigan for over 75 years and is important to Michigan’s economy. CANTER plays a big part in transitioning these magnificent athletes to their new homes and careers.