The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) announced March 14 that four-time Olympian Boyd Martin will be the keynote speaker during its upcoming conference, which is scheduled to take place April 24-26 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Martin, who will deliver the keynote address via video, began riding at a young age in his native country of Australia. He made his debut at the CCI5*-L with a win at the 2003 Australian International Three-Day Event riding the Thoroughbred gelding True Blue Toozac.
In 2007, Martin moved to the United States to further his career as an eventing professional, serving as the assistant trainer to Olympian Phillip Dutton for two years before starting his own business. He began riding for the U.S. in 2009. He is a four-time Olympian, having represented the U.S. in London 2012, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024. Martin’s mount in Rio was Blackfoot Mystery, an off-the-track Thoroughbred, and he has partnered with other such notable Thoroughbreds as Neville Bardos and Ying Yang Yo.
“I’m honored to be the virtual keynote speaker for this year’s International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses conference,” said Martin. “Thoroughbreds have played a huge role in my career, and I’ve seen firsthand the incredible second careers they can have with the right care and training. Aftercare is essential to ensuring these amazing athletes have a bright future beyond the track, and I’m excited to be part of the conversation with IFAR.”
The IFAR 2025 gathering will focus on aftercare organizations. The three-day event will be comprised of a traditional conference at Spy Coast Farm’s Equine Education Center as well a multitude of on-site visits, which will take place at accredited aftercare facilities in the area, and a social gathering during the cross-country portion of the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS Equestrian, one of the world’s premier equestrian 5* events.
It is expected that Martin will be competing on multiple horses at the event, and he is teaming up with SmartPak for a cross-country course walk that Friday after dressage. IFAR attendees will have the chance to join Martin at the Head of the Lake, the event’s most iconic water obstacle, as he previews key cross-country combinations, shares his strategy, and offers expert insight ahead of Saturday’s action.
“We are thrilled that Boyd Martin is going to be our keynote speaker for this year’s conference,” said IFAR Chair Dr. Eliot Forbes. “He has shown what Thoroughbreds in second careers can do at the highest levels and understands what versatile athletes they are. He is a highly respected advocate for Thoroughbreds, and we look forward to the personal stories he will be able to share. Our attendees will also get to see Boyd on the cross-country course, which will be a treat for us all.”
Topics that will be covered during the conference portion of IFAR 2025 include business practices in aftercare; engaging equestrian communities; challenges in aftercare: on-track to second careers; post-racing veterinary assessments; fundraising and awareness through events; and equine therapy.
To see the planned schedule of events or to register, please click HERE. Tickets cost $100 each, plus fees and taxes, and cover outlined transportation and meals along with access to the various venues. A cancellation policy is available. Additionally, registered IFAR attendees have the opportunity to book rooms with an IFAR group rate at two official hotels in the area. Space is limited.
The JRA, which has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement to support the activities of IFAR, is the presenting sponsor of the 2025 IFAR Conference. The Jockey Club (US) and the NTA have signed on to be lunch sponsors, while Godolphin is the transportation sponsor. Remaining sponsorship opportunities include tailgate sponsor, welcome bag sponsor, dinner sponsor, session sponsors, and supporting sponsors. Full details can be found HERE.
IFAR has previously conducted forums in conjunction with the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Sapporo, Japan in August 2024; the 39th ARC in Melbourne, Australia in February 2023; the 38th ARC in Cape Town, South Africa, in February 2020; the European & Mediterranean Horseracing Federation’s General Assembly in Oslo, Norway, in May 2019; the 37th ARC in Seoul, South Korea, in May 2018; and the Pan American Conference in Washington, D.C., in May 2017. Virtual conferences were held in 2021 and 2022.
IFAR is an independent forum that recognizes geographical and industry differences among racing countries and is designed to enhance Thoroughbred aftercare worldwide. IFAR will raise awareness of the importance of welfare for Thoroughbreds, improve education on lifetime care, and help increase demand for former racehorses in other equestrian sports. For more information on IFAR, visit https://www.internationalracehorseaftercare.com.