JUSTIN Vermaak’s enterprising Green Street Bloodstock has established “After GSB” an initiative that ensures that the GSB runners are monitored and cared for when they retire from racing.

Vermaak commented: “There are far too many former racehorses found abandoned and in dire physical condition when they have retired, because owners neglect to look after them or find them a suitable home.

“At Green Street Bloodstock, our runners are our heroes on and off the track, no matter how they perform. Whether they serve us with distinction or whether they don’t make the grade, they deserve the same respect and aftercare.

“We will be rehoming our horses coming off the track to ensure a happy retirement or perhaps a second career. We hear lip service paid to this important part of the racing industry and we’d like to set an example of actually doing something to ensure that our retired runners get the dignity they deserve when they no longer compete on the track,” Vermaak said.
The first two GSB runners retired from racing recently were Miss Nightingale, who was also GSB’s first winner back on 22 February 2015, and Promising Prospect.

“Miss Nightingale will always hold a special place in our hearts. She won two races and placed four times to earn R145,000. She is show jumping in Johannesburg, looking beautiful,” Vermaak noted.

“Promising Prospect ran one place for us in five starts, but she lacked the ability to win a race and all other factors aside, we don’t want owners to pay training fees when there is not a fair chance of recovering their investments. We found a home for Promising Prospect, she is doing dressage with a prominent owner in Port Elizabeth and thoroughly enjoying herself.”