New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, the United States' oldest and largest racehorse adoption organization, announced on Monday, Feb. 23 that founder Dot Morgan will step down from her role as Executive Director. Longtime leader Anna Ford will transition into the Executive Director role, ensuring continuity of mission and vision as the organization enters its next chapter.
What began 34 years ago as Morgan’s personal mission to ensuring racehorses had a future beyond the track has grown into a national aftercare model. Today, New Vocations operates nine facilities across multiple states and serves more than 600 horses annually, providing rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming services to retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. The organization has become a leader in aftercare, setting standards for quality care, transparency and successful second careers.
The organization’s mission has remained unchanged since its founding: “To stand in the gap for noncompetitive, often injured racehorses providing a peaceful environment and skilled hands to assist in their development as pleasure mounts. To place these horses in experienced loving homes that will continue their education so each has a skill and a future.”
“Building New Vocations has been the honour of my life,” said Morgan. “What started as a promise to a few horses became a promise to an industry — that these animals deserve dignity, care and opportunity after racing. I am incredibly proud of the team, the supporters and the thousands of horses whose lives have been changed. As we move forward, I have full confidence in Anna’s leadership and her deep commitment to our mission.”
The organization’s Board of Directors unanimously appointed Ford to lead New Vocations into its next era. Ford has spent 25 years with the organization and has been instrumental in its growth from a small grassroots effort into a national leader in racehorse aftercare. Her leadership has helped expand capacity, professionalize operations and strengthen partnerships across the racing and sport horse communities.
Morgan will remain actively involved with New Vocations, focusing on the Standardbred division under Program Director Winnie Nemeth and continuing fundraising efforts to support the organization’s long-term sustainability.
“The running joke is that in 2001 I said I would help for one year — and I’m still here more than two decades later,” said Ford. “This work matters. New Vocations exists because racehorses deserve proper aftercare once they leave the track. I am honoured to build on my mother’s legacy and to lead this organization at a time when aftercare has never been more critical. Providing proper aftercare for both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds is essential to the future of the racing industry and its social license to operate. Our commitment is not just to maintain our impact, but to grow it — so we can serve more horses, more responsibly and more sustainably.”
This leadership transition ensures continuity while positioning New Vocations to grow. The organization is focused on expanding capacity, strengthening programs and working with partners across aftercare to reach more horses leaving the track with the care, training and placement they need.
(New Vocations; photo of Anna Ford, the new Executive Director of New Vocations)