California Retirement Management Account

What California Retirement Management Account does

CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2008 and headquartered at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The organization's core mission is funding the rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred horses. It operates two primary programmatic vehicles: the Placement Program, a direct-service offering launched in December 2012 that has placed more than 500 retired racehorses into adoptive homes, therapeutic programs, and second careers, and the Howard 'Howie' Zucker Grant Program, which disbursed $515,000 to 22 aftercare charity partners in 2025 and has awarded more than $6.8 million cumulatively since inception. CARMA also runs the Messineo Makeover Scholarship (established 2025 via a legacy gift from Nancy Messineo), supporting West Coast competitors at the Retired Racehorse Project's Thoroughbred Makeover.

The organization is funded through a structurally embedded 0.03% purse contribution from racing owners, matched by The Stronach Group (Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields), supplemented by individual donations, corporate matching, and flagship fundraising events. The annual CARMAthon, broadcast nationally on FanDuel TV from Del Mar racetrack, raised over $200,000 in 2025. Additional revenue channels include the Derby Day 5K partnership at Santa Anita Park, eBay charity auctions of exclusive racetrack experiences, and a children's book authored by board member Jay Privman. CARMA serves a tripartite constituency: Thoroughbred racehorse owners seeking retirement pathways, accredited aftercare nonprofit organizations receiving grants, and the equestrian donor and adopter community supporting aftercare outcomes. Cumulative programmatic reach exceeds 4,500 horses helped through the grant process. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and no proprietary technology platform, distributing services through direct racetrack coordination, vetted aftercare partnerships, and online donation infrastructure.

Name

California Retirement Management Account

Legal name

California Retirement Management Account

Website

https://carma4horses.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CARMA is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds Thoroughbred racehorse rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement through grants to 20+ aftercare charities and a direct Placement Program, serving horse owners, aftercare partners, and donors across the U.S. racing industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Aftercare Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Racetracks (711212)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Racing Associations, Governance & Integrity Services (MPAEADAL)

Keywords

• Thoroughbred aftercare
• Racehorse retirement
• Equine rehabilitation
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Horse placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcadia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: CARMA receives tax-deductible donations from individuals who support Thoroughbred aftercare. Donations can be made online through the website or by mail. The organization also supports recurring monthly giving options for donors.
2. Annual Fundraising Events: CARMAthon is the flagship annual fundraiser, broadcast live on FanDuel TV from Del Mar racetrack. The event raised over $200,000 in 2025. Additional events include Derby Day 5K partnerships and eBay charity auctions.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Funding from racing industry partners including The Stronach Group (Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields) which provides matching funds. Additional support from FanDuel TV, Del Mar, and other racing industry stakeholders.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CARMA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds and coordinates the rehabilitation, retraining, and retirement of California-raced Thoroughbred racehorses. It directly transitions retiring horses from racetracks into adoptive homes and second careers through its Placement Program and awards grants to approved aftercare charities. It also runs annual fundraising events such as CARMAthon and the Derby Day 5K to support these programs.

Product overview

CARMA (California Retirement Management Account) is a unified nonprofit portfolio of Thoroughbred aftercare programs, not a technology product. The organization operates several interconnected programs: the Placement Program serves as the core direct-service offering that transitions retired racehorses into adoptive homes; the Howard "Howie" Zucker Grant Program provides annual funding to approved aftercare charity partners; and the Messineo Makeover Scholarship supports competitive opportunities for program graduates. Supporting offerings include the annual CARMAthon fundraiser, Derby Day 5K event, the children's book "What Horses Do After Racing," and the Aftercare Charity Directory. Together these programs have placed more than 500 horses and awarded over $6.8 million in grants since 2008.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Placement Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 500+ Thoroughbreds successfully placed through Placement Program since inception
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FanDuel TV / TVGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 August 2025FanDuel TV serves as the broadcast partner for CARMAthon, CARMA's flagship annual fundraiser. The partnership provides national television coverage of the event and helps raise awareness for Thoroughbred aftercare. FanDuel TV transforms CARMA content into exclusive video features demonstrating aftercare impact.
• Thoroughbred Aftercare AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025TAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations. CARMA aftercare partners are encouraged to obtain TAA accreditation. CARMA co-sponsored the Thoroughbred High Point Award at Santa Anita with TAA in 2025.
• Grayson-Jockey Club Research FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of the biennial Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit where CARMA participates as a panelist. The summit brings together industry leaders to advance discussions on equine safety, welfare, and aftercare.
• Retired Racehorse Project (RRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRRP hosts the annual Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Kentucky. CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship supports CARMA Placement Program graduates competing at the event. Six CARMA-sponsored riders participated in the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover.
• Michael Nyuis FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show reimagined as MNF Charity Horse Show & Christmas Market: Featuring the Thoroughbred Classic. Joint event supports both organizations and provides educational opportunities for teenage equestrians.
• Split Rock Jumping TourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARMA co-sponsored the inaugural Thoroughbred High Point Award at Santa Anita CSI3* and CSI5*-W events in partnership with 1/ST and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Award recognizes top-performing Thoroughbreds in show jumping second careers.
• Thoroughbred Owners of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner in CARMA's creation. CARMA was established through collaboration with TOC and presented to the California Horse Racing Board. TOC continues to be a key industry stakeholder in the aftercare ecosystem.
• Santa Anita ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHome to CARMA headquarters and venue for Derby Day 5K and other events. Partnership provides visibility within the racing community and event infrastructure for fundraising activities.
• Del Mar RacetrackcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVenue for CARMAthon events and host of exclusive auction experiences. Partnership provides broadcast-quality venue and racing industry visibility for fundraising.
• Healing ArenasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNevada-based aftercare partner that retrains retired racehorses for equine-assisted therapy programs serving veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors. Receives CARMA grant funding and provides placement outcomes.
• KC Horse TransportationminorOthersTransportation partner that provides vanning services for Messineo Makeover Scholarship recipients attending the Thoroughbred Makeover. Also supports CARMA's Placement Program by assisting with transport for retired racehorses.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thoroughbred Charities of America: National nonprofit supporting Thoroughbred retirement, retraining, and rehoming through grants and the TCA Adopted Horse Program. Comparable mission, fundraising model (events, donations), and grantmaking role.
• ReRun Thoroughbred Adoption: Northeast-based Thoroughbred adoption nonprofit providing rehab, retraining, and rehoming. Comparable aftercare operator with similar placement workflows to CARMA's Placement Program.
• Retired Racehorse Project: Operates the Thoroughbred Makeover and other second-career programs for off-track Thoroughbreds. Directly comparable nonprofit partner that drives adoption demand, with which CARMA's Messineo Makeover Scholarship integrates.
• United Pegasus Foundation: California-based Thoroughbred sanctuary caring for ~120 retired racehorses. Functions as both a CARMA grant recipient and a directly comparable nonprofit operating equine retirement facilities.
• Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance: National 501(c)(3) that accredits, inspects, and grants funds to approved Thoroughbred aftercare organizations. Directly comparable as the umbrella accreditation body for CARMA's charity partners and a co-sponsor of CARMA programming.
• New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program: Largest racehorse adoption nonprofit in the U.S., rehabbing and rehoming retired Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. Comparable grant-receiving aftercare operator serving a similar mission.
• Square Peg Foundation: California-based therapeutic riding nonprofit using retired Thoroughbreds for autism programs. A current CARMA grant recipient operating an aftercare-to-therapy pipeline with directly comparable mission alignment.
• CANTER (Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses): National nonprofit network providing transition and adoption services for retired Thoroughbreds. CARMA's California chapter is a direct aftercare partner; comparable model of placement and rehoming services.
• Second Stride: Kentucky-based aftercare nonprofit that retrains and rehomes retired Thoroughbreds. Operates a similar rehabilitation/placement model and is a typical TAA-accredited charity partner comparable to CARMA's network.
• Old Friends, Inc. Kentucky-based Thoroughbred retirement sanctuary and CARMA grant recipient. Operates a similar nonprofit model focused on rehoming and lifetime care of retired racehorses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CARMAcares
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/California-Retirement-Management-Account-CARMA/67661204567
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-retirement-management-account
• Instagraminstagram.com/carma4horses

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Retirement Management Account