The Illinois Thoroughbred Horseman's Association, Arlington Park, and Hawthorne Race Course have agreed to cooperate in a program to provide for the care of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.

The program, which will be operated under the auspices of the Illinois THA and administered by a designated committee of Illinois THA board members, began at the start of the Arlington meet April 29.

"The long-term well-being of every Thoroughbred racehorse is of paramount importance to everyone involved in the sport of Thoroughbred racing," Illinois THA president Mike Campbell said in a statement. "This program goes a long way to help ensure that every horse that regularly races in Chicago has the opportunity to live out its post-racing years under the best possible circumstances."

The program will be funded by the Illinois THA and both Thoroughbred tracks. The horsemen's group has designated that 0.3% of purses earned at Arlington and Hawthorne be directed to the fund