Resources

Horse Health

Click here for lots of great information about horse health, injuries/soundness, and care.

Track Information

Suffolk Downs, East Boston, MA
Live Racing at Suffolk Downs runs from May through November

CANTER New England is currently serving Suffolk Downs Racetrack in East Boston, MA. You can find directions to the track on the Suffolk web site, as well as information about the racing schedule.


CANTER volunteers are available to escort prospective buyers at the track on Saturday mornings during the racing season, between 8 AM and 11 AM--as we are volunteers, we are not at the track at other times. (However, you are welcome to call the trainer of any horse you are interested in, using the contact information in the web listings, if you would like to make an appointment to come to Suffolk on another day.)

If you want to come to the track to shop for horses on a Saturday morning, please e-mail us to make an appointment. Even if you make an appointment with CANTER, you should STILL call the trainer/owner listed for the horse(s) you're interested in to ensure that a particular horse is still available. (While we try to stay current on all the listings, trainers do not always notify us immediately when they sell a horse, and the horse that you are interested in may sell before we update the web page.)

Remember, you are NOT required to go with a CANTER volunteer to see horses for sale at Suffolk. If you would prefer to contact the trainer selling the horse, trainers are generally available most days of the week (typically in the mornings) to show horses, but you will need to call in advance to make an appointment. You will not be able to access the track backside without a trainer signing you in at the security gate.


Trainers, click here if you have a horse to list. (Please Note: we can ONLY list horses coming directly from the racing industry - meaning horses that are racing now, or horses that are currently being used as racing broodmares or stallions. We cannot list horses that may have raced at one time.)

Transportation

AANDR Equine Transportation is a fantastic shipping company with the flexibility and experience for any transport need - from quarantine/veterinary situations, to show trips, to straightforward "point A to point B" pickups and dropoffs. We highly, highly recommend them. (New England and coast-to-coast transport available)978-618-2068 or e-mail aandr.info@earthlink.net

Mike Sherr is based in upstate NY and has years of experience under his belt trucking to and from Suffolk! He comes to us with glowing referrals and has a special understanding of OTTBs. 518-956-2587

Eddie Kellett is a NY-based shipper who travels both regionally and long-distance, and has earned numerous kudos from CANTER buyers!
516-381-9020

Jaime Boudreau is based at Suffolk Downs, and is prompt, pleasant and reliable. (New England, Mid-Atlantic, all of East Coast!)
978-815-0489

**If you are looking to ship a horse from Suffolk Downs to a point between MA and Florida on the East Coast, Lorraine Horse Transport frequently has loads leaving the track, and you might be able to get a spot at a great rate: call 800-423-5935.**

Fahey Horse Transport was referred to us by a trainer who has used them to ship horses: 617-519-7280

Other shippers' contact information can be found at:

http://www.horsehauling.com/

http://www.easyhorseship.com/default.asp

http://www.equinesite.com/cgi/dirsearch.cgi?Category=Trailers+And+Transport

Training

If you are interested in finding a trainer to work with your new ex-racer, you may want to check out:

United States Dressage Federation - this is the page where you can located certified trainers

United States Eventing Association - check here for information on local eventing professionals

Equinesite Directory of Area Trainers - lists a variety of training professionals in New England and NY

Purchasing Your Ex-Racer's Win Photo



If you horse has won a race in the past few years at Suffolk Downs, you may be able to purchase a copy of the horse's win photo(s) by contacting Suffolk track photographer Chip Bott at 617-568-3268.

(Not sure if you horse ever won a race? Look up his/her race record at www.brisnet.com or www.equineline.com.)

Chip will need the date and race number of any race your horse won, as well as the horse's name, in order to find a win photo.

Other Equine Rescues

Contact information for horse rescues in New England and New York (as well as in other parts of the country) can be found at:

http://www.equinerescue.info/links.html

http://netpets.org/horses/horsresc/horsgrp.html

http://www.petfinder.org


Online Communities for OTTB Lovers

Chronicle of the Horse Bulletin Board

ExRacers Bulletin Board

S.A.F.E. Horses

Find an OTTB

Directory of Local Farms & Equine Services



Veterinarians

For a complete list of the veterinarians practicing at Suffolk Downs, please call the Suffolk Downs main number - 617-567-3900 - and ask to be connected to the vets' office.

If you find a horse you would like to have vetted, be sure to ask the horse's trainer which track vet typically does his or her vet work. You will want to use a different track vet, to avoid a conflict of interest. You can then call the Suffolk Downs main number, ask to be connected to the vets' office, and speak with a track vet who can do the exam.

When you are speaking with a track vet to set up a pre-purchase, please be prepared to give the following information:

The horse's name

The trainer's name

The barn and stall number the horse is stabled in at the track (if you are buying long-distance, you can obtain this information from the trainer)

What discipline you intend to use the horse for, and how in-depth an exam you are requesting (this can range from a simple visual exam and flexion test, to full X-rays)

Your billing address/payment information

Some important things to note about pre-purchase exams on horses stabled at the track:

Not all vets practicing at the track are comfortable doing pre-purchase exams for CANTER buyers; please respect this.

Vets cannot typically do "same day" exams - they have their days booked, as do all vets in private practice, particularly on racing days. Please try to leave lead time to make an appointment: this will generally mean 2-3 days.

If you are coming in from a distance, or are buying the horse sight-unseen and having it shipped, please try to speak to a track vet well before you plan to ship the horse, so that you have sufficient time to arrange a pre-purchase vet exam, vaccinations, health certificate and so forth.

If you cannot get a track vet to do the exam for you, you may wish to visit www.equinesite.com and look at the listings under "Veterinarians"; you may have some luck getting an off-track vet to do the exam for you.

Please be courteous: do not call the veterinarians outside of business hours to try and arrange vetting.