Beyond The Wire, MHAF Receive Grants

Beyond The Wire and the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation (MHAF) are proud to announce they have once again been selected as recipients of 2025 grants from Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA), whose mission is to fund and facilitate support for Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them.

This year, TCA awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to 98 organizations, including 63 aftercare programs, 24 backstretch and farm worker support programs, seven equine-assisted therapy organizations, three Thoroughbred incentive programs, and one research initiative. Over the last 35 years, TCA has distributed more than $28 million in grants nationwide.

With a record number of applications received in 2025, the TCA Grants Committee emphasized support for organizations serving backstretch and farm employees as well as non-traditional aftercare programs.

“The TCA serves a very important purpose in our industry, and our two organizations benefit greatly from these grants,” said Linda Gaudet, MTHA Vice President and board member of both Beyond The Wire and MHAF. “Beyond The Wire has re-homed more than 800 Maryland-based horses through Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited facilities since its inception, and MHAF has provided critical financial assistance to members of our backstretch community and the Maryland racing industry at large. We greatly appreciate the TCA recognizing our organizations.”

Founded in 2017, Beyond The Wire has become an essential part of Maryland racing’s aftercare efforts. The program retires about 150 horses each year, securing safe placements through accredited facilities. Program administrator Jessica Hammond noted the vital role of TCA’s continued support:

“We are very grateful again this year to be a recipient of such a generous TCA grant. These funds help us cover stipends and shipping costs for numerous horses, which is especially important given changes in the Maryland racing landscape.”

The Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, provides financial assistance in extraordinary circumstances to eligible employees working at Maryland racetracks and Thoroughbred farms. MHAF complements the full array of benevolence programs offered by the MTHA, ensuring that Maryland’s backstretch and farm workers have a reliable safety net.

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