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Category: News

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2013 ECLIPSE AWARD FINALISTS ARE ANNOUNCED

Led by Horse of the Year candidates Mucho Macho Man, Will Take Charge and Wise Dan, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters today announced the finalists for the 2013 Eclipse Awards, recognizing excellence in Thoroughbred racing. Winners in 17 horse and human categories will be announced at the 43rd annual Eclipse Awards dinner and ceremony, presented by Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group on Saturday evening, January 18 at the Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Click here to read more about the finalists.

2015 APPLICATION FOR TAA ACCREDITATION NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced today that equine aftercare organizations can apply for accreditation from now through April 15, 2015. Once they have been accredited, such organizations are eligible to receive funding grants from the TAA to go toward the care and rehabilitation of Thoroughbreds in their care. According to the TAA Code of Standards, accreditation status is determined after a complete review of five areas: operations, education, horse health care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. At minimum, organizations applying for accreditation must fulfill the following six requirements: o Organization must have a current status as a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization with Internal Revenue Service or be a registered charity in Canada. o Organization must have been operational for a minimum of three years. o Organization must house a minimum of 50% and/or a minimum of 5 thoroughbreds. o Organization must have an official euthanasia policy consistent with the AAEP http://aaep.mediamarketers.com/euthanasia-guidelines-i-334.html . o Principals of the organization have never been convicted of killing, abandoning, mistreating, neglecting, abusing or otherwise committing an act of cruelty to a horse. o Currently there are no legal proceedings pending against the organization, or a principal of the organization and related to the organization. Upon submission of the application for accreditation, aftercare organizations may also be subject to a site inspection. ‘A great deal of the TAA’s initial success can be attributed to the very high and thorough code of standards,’ said Jimmy Bell, president of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. ‘These transparent requirements and attention to detail provide great comfort and confidence to so many TAA supporters.’ The TAA was formed in 2012 to serve as the accreditation and fundraising body for Thoroughbred aftercare. Currently, there are 42 aftercare organizations accredited with the TAA, and those organizations were eligible for $2,400,000 in grants awarded by the TAA in 2014. ‘Organizations that are accredited by the TAA meet standards designed to enhance the well-being of Thoroughbreds upon the conclusion of their racing or breeding careers,’ said Kristin Leshney, legal associate and Thoroughbred Incentive Program coordinator for The Jockey Club and chair of the Accreditation Committee for the TAA. ‘The rigorous review of the application and the thorough inspection process ensure that all accredited organizations are providing a uniform and appropriate level of care for Thoroughbreds.’ Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals and other industry groups.

THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE TO RECEIVE SPECIAL ECLIPSE AWARD

NEW YORK CITY (Monday, January 6, 2014) ‘ The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced today that the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will be presented with the Special Eclipse Award during the 43rd annual Eclipse Awards ceremony Jan. 18 at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing. A 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA serves as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following their racing careers and a fundraising body to support the approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. ‘This is a tremendous honor for the TAA, and great recognition of the substantial achievements this organization has made,” said Jack Wolf, TAA Board President and Co-Managing Partner of Starlight Racing. ‘In under two years we have successfully assembled a top-notch team and signed on supporters from across the industry, enabling us to accredit 23 Thoroughbred aftercare facilities and award $1 million in grants to support the great work they are doing to care for our retired racehorses. While there is much work ahead of us, this award is an opportunity to celebrate our successes and thank our donors, supporters, and the TAA team for their hard work and dedication to fulfilling the TAA’s mission.” The seven-figures-worth of financial grants awarded last year were the first since TAA was formed in February 2012. Individual grant awards were based on a comprehensive review by the TAA Grants Committee and Board, and the grants will be used for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds. ‘The TAA has made extraordinary progress in ensuring safe and stable adoption, retraining and retirement opportunities,’ said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA, which administers the Eclipse Awards. ‘The industry has demonstrated a newfound willingness to proactively address our most critical issues and the TAA is a prime example of this cooperative spirit. Every racehorse deserves proper care for the entirety of its natural life and all of us who derive our livelihoods from them share the responsibility of providing as much.’ The Special Award will be given for the 23rd time since it was inaugurated in 1971 to honor Robert J. Kleberg, manager of the famed King Ranch. Subsequent recipients have included racing luminaries such as Bill Shoemaker, C.V. Whitney, Edward J. DeBartolo, Richard Duchossois, Russell Baze, Laffit Pincay Jr., Dale Baird, Team Zenyatta and, most recently, Rapid Redux. The TAA will be the second aftercare-related recipient, following Monique Koehler, founder of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, in 2009. The Eclipse Awards, presented by the Daily Racing Form, Breeders’ Cup and The Stronach Group, are bestowed upon horses and individuals whose outstanding achievements in North America have earned them the title of Champion in their respective categories. Those awards are voted by NTRA, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB). Awards also are given to recognize members of the media for outstanding coverage of Thoroughbred racing. A complete list of past Eclipse Award winners, including the Special Award recipients, can be accessed online at http://ntra.com/en/eclipse-awards/history.

THOROUGHBRED AFTERCARE ALLIANCE ACCREDITS 20 AFTERCARE ORGANIZATIONS

Lexington, Ky. ‘ December 3, 2013 – The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced today that it has accredited 20 additional Thoroughbred aftercare facilities. These facilities join the TAA’s first three accredited facilities, Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care, New Vocations, and Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, for a total of 23 TAA accredited facilities. These organizations are now eligible to receive financial grants from the TAA for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds. These facilities represent a cross-section of rescue, retirement, retraining and adoption programs located across the United States as well as two in Canada. Following a detailed application process and careful onsite examinations by TAA inspectors and independent veterinarians, each of these facilities was judged to have met or exceeded the TAA Code of Standards in the areas of operations, education, horse care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Stated James Hastie, TAA Executive Director: ‘We’re thrilled to grant accreditation to these worthy organizations in recognition of the great work they’re doing. Each of these facilities has undergone a rigorous review process to ensure that they are providing a uniform level of care for our retired Thoroughbreds, and we are pleased to invite them to apply for funding.’ Following is a listing of the newly accredited facilities: Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue – Pawling, N.Y. Angel Acres Horse Haven – Glenville, Pa. CANTER, California – Los Gatos, Calif. CANTER, Ohio – Mentor, Ohio Equine Encore ‘ Tucson, Ariz. Glen Ellen Vocational Academy – Glen Ellen, Calif. Humanity for Horses – Mt. Shasta, Calif. Kentucky Equine Humane Center ‘ Lexington, Ky. Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement Society ‘ Toronto, Ontario (Canada) Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue – Chesapeake City, Md. Mitchell Farm Equine Retirement’ Salem, Conn. Neigh Savers Foundation – Walnut Creek, Calif. New Stride Thoroughbred Adoption Society ‘ Surrey, British Columbia (Canada) Old Friends ‘ Georgetown, Ky. ReRun – Virginia Beach, Va. The Exceller Fund ‘ Lexington, Ky. Thoroughbred Placement Resources – Upper Marlboro, Md. Tijuana River Valley Animal Rescue – San Diego, Calif. TROTT USA – Laguna Hills, Calif. United Pegasus Foundation ‘ Tehacapi, Calif. To view the requirements for TAA accreditation and the complete TAA Code of Standards for aftercare facilities, please visit the Accreditation page on the TAA website. The 2014 Code of Standards and the Application for Accreditation will be available in February 2014. Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call 859-224-2756.

TAA APPLICATIONS FOR ACCREDITATION DUE JUNE 1

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) would like to remind eligible aftercare facilities that applications for accreditation must be submitted by June 1 to be eligible for consideration for grants in 2013 and 2014. To be considered for accreditation, organizations must complete a detailed application process and careful onsite examinations by TAA inspectors and independent veterinarians. Facilities eligible to apply for TAA accreditation include those conforming to the following four broad standards: Possess 501 (c)(3) tax exempt status Have been operational for at least three years Care for a resident population of at least five horses, with at least half the horses being Thoroughbreds Follow a euthanasia policy consistent with that of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) The complete TAA Code of Standards for aftercare facilities and the accreditation application are available at http://www.thoroughbredaftercare.org/. The TAA announced on May 1 that it had accredited its first three Thoroughbred aftercare facilities: Florida Thoroughbred Retirement and Adoptive Care in Palm City, Fla.; New Vocations in Marysville, Ohio and Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue in Norco, Calif. The three facilities are now eligible to receive financial support from the TAA for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds. Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is designed to serve as both the accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities.’ Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call 859-224-2756.

TAA HIRES JAMES HASTIE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lexington, Ky. – November 8, 2013 – The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced today that it has hired James Hastie as the organization’s Executive Director, effective November 18, 2013. Mike Ziegler, who has served as the TAA’s Executive Director since March 2012, will remain with the organization through a transition period before returning full-time to his role as Executive Director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. Hastie joins the TAA from Cazenovia, N.Y. and brings to the role 15 years of executive management, fundraising and communications experience. Most recently he served as Major Gifts Officer for the American Red Cross in Syracuse, N.Y., where his responsibilities included identification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship and communications with major donors. He also held roles as Interim Chief Development Officer and Public Affairs Specialist at the American Red Cross. His prior experience includes leadership roles at State University of New York, Zurich Rowing World Cup, IMG/TWI, the U.S. Equestrian Team, and Walt Disney World, Inc. Hastie holds a Master of Science in Communications Management from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Marketing from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y. He will be based in the TAA’s Lexington, Ky. offices. . Hastie also brings a long history of involvement with equestrian sports. He served as Director of Communications for the U.S. Equestrian Team from 1997-2000, and as Executive Director of the Morrisville College Foundation (MCF) he spearheaded fundraising efforts to build the Morrisville State College Equine Rehabilitation Center. He was also involved in organizing the 2012 American Express Ride for The Red Cross, a trail ride in Wellington, FL featuring Olympic riders and benefitting the American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. . ‘We’re pleased to welcome James to the TAA. His leadership and fundraising experience, combined with his passion and appreciation for horses, make him uniquely qualified to lead the organization in its mission to establish an industry-wide solution for Thoroughbred aftercare,’ stated Jack Wolf, TAA board president and Thoroughbred owner. ‘We would also like to thank Mike Ziegler for his dedication and leadership of the TAA. He has been integral in our initial accreditation and fundraising, and in establishing industry-wide support for our efforts.’ . Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call 859-224-2756.

TAA TO ANNOUNCE FIRST ROUND OF GRANTS DECEMBER 11 AT GLOBAL SYMPOSIUM ON RACING AND GAMING

Lexington, Ky. ‘ December 9, 2013 – The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) will announce its first round of financial grants to its accredited facilities on Wednesday, December 11 at the 2013 Global Symposium on Racing & Gaming, presented by the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program, at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, Ariz. The announcement will take place at 9:45 a.m. MST, in conjunction with a scheduled session in the Grand conference room. The TAA announced on December 3 that it had accredited 20 additional Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, bringing the total number of TAA accredited facilities eligible to receive financial grants from the TAA to 23 (click here for full release). Following a detailed application process and careful onsite examinations by TAA inspectors and independent veterinarians, each of these facilities was judged to have met or exceeded the TAA Code of Standards in the areas of operations, education, horse care management, facility standards and services, and adoption policies and protocols. Financial grants from the TAA will be used for the ongoing care of retired Thoroughbreds. To view the requirements for TAA accreditation and the complete TAA Code of Standards for aftercare facilities, please visit the Accredidation page on the TAA website. For more information on the 40th Annual Global Symposium on Racing & Gaming, please click here. Based in Lexington, Ky., the TAA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization designed to serve as both an accrediting body for aftercare facilities that care for Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, and a fundraising body to support these approved facilities. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup, Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is comprised of and supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, jockeys, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To support the TAA, please visit thoroughbredaftercare.org or call 859-224-2756.