National Caretaker Appreciation Day

Caretakers are the foundation of the horse racing industry. The horses are totally dependent on those who care for them around the clock, 365 days a year, and a caretaker is the first and often the l...

Standardbred Canada would like to congratulate 17-year-old Keith MacDonell from Port Hood, Nova Scotia, the winner of the 'Show Us Your Favourite Horse' contest!

“A great reward for me as a caretaker is to see my horse win and see the effort that he gave to win that race but the greatest reward is seeing the improvements in a horse, week after week.”

“My advice to new grooms is to pay attention to the horses, get to know them and respect them, they work hard for us. Be humble, there are always things to learn.”

“You need to listen to your horse and pay attention to their needs, that’s what makes a good horseperson."

"If you can learn something new each day you're doing well. Just be a sponge, take everything in, absorb it all, and if you can learn something new from all the different people you work for you've pr...

"To have the chance to work around good trainers, drivers and horses is one of the most rewarding aspects of working as a caretaker."

"I compare caretakers to front-line health workers. There is nobody more important than the person giving the direct care."

"When the horses do well and when the owners come in, seeing them excited or happy is really a good feeling, because you know you're doing a good job and it's paying off."