In 2018, the National Caretaker Appreciation Day (NCAD) initiative was launched by Standardbred Canada, and for the past five years, it has been extremely well received and has continued in cooperation with racetracks, associations, industry partners and sponsors across the country. It’s a time when the industry recognizes and honours the ‘unsung’ heroes of harness racing.

Standardbred Canada is pleased to announce that National Caretaker Appreciation Day events will be back at tracks in full force starting Aug. 29 and continuing through Sept. 14.

Racetrack partners and event dates will be announced in the coming weeks.

In past years, owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and other facets of the industry have supported this event. It’s important to recognize and show our appreciation for the caretakers who put the horses first, keeping them safe and healthy while training and racing. 

In addition to racetrack events, trainers, training centres, breeding farms, owners and drivers are all encouraged to take part and say “thank you” to our caretakers, whether they are paddocking at the racetrack or working at the farm or training centre.

Here are a few ideas for ways you can say thank you to the caretaker of your horse(s):

• Refreshments – drop off coffee and doughnuts or muffins to the stable.
• Host a stable BBQ or contribute to a delivered catered lunch.
• Give them a day off with pay or a bonus.
• Give them a thank you card along with a gift card.
• Purchase a win photo for them of one of the horses they care for the next time it wins.

Anyone interested in supporting this program, through sponsorship or donations, can reach out to their local participating racetrack or Jade Regina at Standardbred Canada.

The Faces of Racing series will also continue this year. This series has featured the stories of 39 caretakers from across the country since its inception in 2018. If you have a suggestion for a caretaker to be featured in the series, please email Jade.

If you are posting photos or content for NCAD on social media, remember to use the event hashtags #NCAD2023 and #TheHorseComesFirst.