The International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) announced today that registration is now open for its 2025 conference, which is scheduled to take place April 24-26 in Lexington, Kentucky. Tickets are limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged.
The 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.
On the first day, leading experts in aftercare will speak during the conference at Spy Coast. Attendees will then head to New Vocations for its Open Barn & BBQ event. On the second day, three additional aftercare organizations will host IFAR guests: Old Friends, the Secretariat Center, and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). The final day features 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. Although the numbers change year to year, Thoroughbreds routinely feature in the competition.
To register and see the planned schedule of events, please click HERE. Tickets cost US$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.
“The enthusiasm and response of the Central Kentucky aftercare community is reflected in the high-quality agenda for IFAR 2025,” said IFAR Chair Dr Eliot Forbes. “This gathering will showcase the important and varied work of aftercare organizations, while also helping us all to share best practices on to an international audience. We also are excited to provide an opportunity for international visitors to explore firsthand Kentucky’s world-class facilities dedicated to aftercare. Please register early as space will be limited.”
All of the featured aftercare facilities are accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), which accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Since 2012, it has granted more than $31.9 million to accredited aftercare organizations, and 16,500 Thoroughbreds have been retrained, rehomed, or retired by accredited organizations.
For those arriving early, Godolphin is sponsoring optional tours of Keeneland, including both morning works and a race day experience, as well as a stallion tour at its Jonabell Farm. Additionally, Spy Coast Farm will be offering tours of its facility for US$10. Please see the registration link for further details.
The IFAR conference will be receiving assistance from the Japan Racing Association (JRA), which has entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement to support the activities of the organization.
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.
International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses