Parx Racing Recognizes Horse Groomers, Caretakers

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — Parx Racing will honor those behind the scenes at Caretakers Appreciation Day on Wednesday.

About 250 groomers and exercise riders — those who feed and care for racehorses year-round — will be recognized as part of the fourth annual Pennsylvania Horse Racing Caretakers Appreciation Day on Wednesday.

The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Parx Racing in Bensalem.

Caretakers will be treated to lunch and provided with a hooded sweatshirt and winter hat courtesy of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association (PHRA) and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (PTHA).

The appreciation day was created to recognize horse caretakers for their commitment to caring for equine athletes.

Their workday typically begins at 5 a.m., rain or shine, providing care to as many as 1,050 horses daily at Parx. This involves offloading them from trailers, providing meals, training and jogging, grooming, and stall upkeep as well as facilitating logistics for the racehorses on the track’s 150+ race days, as well as other days for training.