Resources
Horse HealthClick here for lots of great information about horse health, injuries/soundness, and care.
Track Information
Suffolk Downs, East Boston, MA
Live Racing at Suffolk Downs runs from May through November
CANTER New England is currently serving Suffolk
Downs Racetrack in East Boston, MA. You can find directions to the track on the Suffolk web site, as well as information about the racing schedule.CANTER volunteers are available to escort prospective buyers at the track on Saturday mornings during the racing season, between 8 AM and 11 AM--as we are volunteers, we are not at the track at other times. (However, you are welcome to call the trainer of any horse you are interested in, using the contact information in the web listings, if you would like to make an appointment to come to Suffolk on another day.)
If you want to come to the track to shop for horses on a Saturday morning, please e-mail us to make an appointment. Even if you make an appointment with CANTER, you should STILL call the trainer/owner listed for the horse(s) you're interested in to ensure that a particular horse is still available. (While we try to stay current on all the listings, trainers do not always notify us immediately when they sell a horse, and the horse that you are interested in may sell before we update the web page.)
Remember, you are NOT required to go with a CANTER volunteer to see horses for sale at Suffolk. If you would prefer to contact the trainer selling the horse, trainers are generally available most days of the week (typically in the mornings) to show horses, but you will need to call in advance to make an appointment. You will not be able to access the track backside without a trainer signing you in at the security gate.
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Trainers, contact us if you have a horse to list. (Please Note: we can ONLY list horses coming directly from the racing industry - meaning horses that are racing now, or horses that are currently being used as racing broodmares or stallions. We cannot list horses that may have raced at one time but have since moved on to other careers.)
Shippers and Transportation Resources
AANDR
Equine Transportation is a fantastic shipping company with the flexibility
and experience for any transport need - from quarantine/veterinary situations,
to show trips, to straightforward "point A to point B" pickups and
dropoffs. We highly, highly recommend them. (New
England and coast-to-coast transport available)978-618-2068 or e-mail aandr.info@earthlink.net
Mike Sherr is based in upstate NY and has years of experience under his belt trucking to and
from Suffolk! He comes to us with glowing referrals and has a special understanding of
OTTBs. 518-956-2587
Eddie Kellett is a NY-based shipper
who travels both regionally and long-distance, and has earned numerous kudos
from CANTER buyers!
516-381-9020
Jaime Boudreau is based at Suffolk Downs, and is prompt, pleasant and reliable. (New England, Mid-Atlantic, all of East Coast!)
978-815-0489
**If you are looking to ship a horse
from Suffolk Downs to a point between MA and Florida on the East Coast, Lorraine
Horse Transport frequently has loads leaving the track, and you
might be able to get a spot at a great rate: call 800-423-5935.**
Fahey Horse Transport was referred to us by a trainer who has used them to ship horses:
617-519-7280
Other shippers' contact information can be found at:
http://www.horsehauling.com/
http://www.easyhorseship.com/default.asp
http://www.equinesite.com/cgi/dirsearch.cgi?Category=Trailers+And+Transport
Retraining Resources
If
you are interested in finding a trainer to work with your new ex-racer, you may want to check out:
United States Dressage Federation - this
is the page where you can located certified trainers
United
States Eventing Association - check here for information on local eventing
professionals
Equinesite Directory of Area Trainers - lists a variety of training professionals in New England and NY
Purchasing Your Ex-Racer's Win Photo
If you horse has won a race in the past few years at Suffolk Downs, you may be able to purchase a copy of the horse's win photo(s) by contacting Suffolk track photographer Chip Bott.
(Not sure if you horse ever won a race? Look up his/her race record at www.brisnet.com or www.equineline.com.)
Chip will need
the date and race number of any race your horse won, as well as the horse's name, in order to find a win photo.
Other Equine Rescues
CANTER New England is only able to assist in
the placement of Thoroughbreds coming directly
from the New England racing industry, as our
financial and foster home resources permit.
While we cannot take on non-TBs, or former
racehorses that have since been transitioned into
other careers, we are always happy to help suggest
other rescues and placement options for owners of
horses in need; please contact
us if you are in this situation, or otherwise
know of a horse needing help.
Contact information for horse rescues
in New England and New York (as well as in other parts of the country) can
be found at:
http://www.equinerescue.info/links.html
http://www.petfinder.org
http://worldanimalnet.org/new.asp
Online Communities for OTTB Lovers
Chronicle of the Horse Bulletin Board
ExRacers Bulletin Board
S.A.F.E. Horses
Find an OTTB
Directory of Local Farms & Equine Services
Veterinarians
and Pre-Purchase Exams
For
a complete list of the veterinarians practicing at
Suffolk Downs, please call the Suffolk Downs main
number - 617-567-3900 - and ask to be connected to
the vets' office.
If you find a horse you would like to have vetted, be sure to ask the horse's trainer which track vet typically does his or her vet work. You will want to use a different track vet, to avoid a conflict of interest. You can then call the Suffolk Downs main number, ask to be connected to the vets' office, and speak with a track vet who can do the exam.
When you are speaking with a track vet to set up a pre-purchase, please be prepared to give the following information:
The horse's name
The trainer's name
The barn and stall number the horse is stabled in at the track (if you are buying long-distance, you can obtain this information from the trainer)
What discipline you intend to use the horse for, and how in-depth an exam you are requesting (this can range from a simple visual exam and flexion test, to full X-rays)
Your billing address/payment information
Some important things to note about pre-purchase exams on horses stabled
at the track:
Not all vets practicing
at the track are comfortable doing pre-purchase exams for CANTER buyers;
please respect this.
Vets cannot typically do "same day" exams - they have their days booked,
as do all vets in private practice, particularly on racing days. Please try to leave lead time to
make an appointment: this will generally mean 2-3 days.
If you are coming
in from a distance, or are buying the horse sight-unseen and having
it shipped, please try to speak to a track vet well before you plan to ship the horse, so that you have sufficient time to arrange
a pre-purchase vet exam, vaccinations, health certificate and so forth.
If you cannot
get a track vet to do the exam for you, you may wish to visit www.equinesite.com and look at the listings under "Veterinarians"; you may have
some luck getting an off-track vet to do the exam for you.
Please be courteous:
do not call the veterinarians outside of business hours to try and arrange
vetting.