Parx Racing Horse Caregivers Receiving Appreciation Day In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —It's a typical morning at the backside of the Parx Racetrack.

A groom arrives at the stables at 5 a.m. and feeds the horses. Two hours later, the horses’ stalls have been cleaned out, fresh bedding added, and horse legs wrapped and tacked with riding gear. Next, exercise riders take the horses out on the track for training and workout sessions.

More than 200 grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders work behind the scenes — just a few hundred yards from the casino —to feed and care for more than 1,300 racehorses throughout the year. Now they will receive their due as The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association holds its first Pennsylvania Horse Racing Caregivers Appreciation Day on Wednesday at Parx Racing in Bensalem Township.

“Caregivers such as grooms, exercise riders, and hot walkers are the backbone of the state’s racing and breeding industry and their contributions too often go unnoticed,” said Jeff Matty, PTHA's executive director. “Horses don’t understand what a holiday or a weekend is —they still need to eat, be provided fresh water, get their exercise, and be groomed."

Parx, which is slated for 151 race days in 2023, is one of the few racetracks in the country that offers year-round racing and stables horses on the backside of the track.

The workers are there rain or shine or whether temperatures are freezing or sweltering. Many of these caregivers live in dorms located on the backside of the racetrack.

Once the morning sessions end, the grooms then remove the tack and wash down the horses. From there, hot walkers will hand-walk horses around the barn to let them “cool out” after their training.

Next comes a detailed and thorough grooming process that improves the health of the horse’s skin and coat and reduces the risk of other health issues.

The process includes curry (the rubbing of the horse to remove excess dirt and stimulate the release of natural oils), brushing, combing and trimming of manes, applying salves and poultice, and detailed cleaning of the feet and legs.

Caregivers also ensure that horses have a constant supply of fresh water and feed them lunch and dinner. They also let trainers know if they have any concerns about the horse like a cut or rash, or if they are not eating or drinking properly.

"These men and women are out here every day making sure the horses are properly cared for and nurtured. We appreciate all they do and this is our small way of acknowledging their significant contributions to horse racing and, by extension, the state’s overall agricultural industry,” Matty said.

During the event Wednesday, caregivers will be served food and receive a winter hat and hooded sweatshirt, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (PHRA) and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (PTHA).