Simon Bray

The month-long effort to raise funds for the TAA’s 81 accredited organizations and thousands of off-track Thoroughbreds, the TAA Holiday Giving Campaign, ended on Dec. 31st, resulting in $180,000 raised for accredited aftercare. “It was encouraging to see such enthusiasm for our holiday fundraiser,” said TAA President, Jeffrey Bloom. “Thank you to every person who donated to the TAA’s Holiday Giving Campaign. It takes a great deal of funds to care for our industry’s retired athletes, and large influxes of donations such as these are vital to the TAA’s ability to support its accredited organizations.” The campaign featured 14 one-day only match donation days with match amounts ranging from $500 to $10,000. The 2022 match sponsors were as follows: Bob & Jill Baffert, Simon Bray, Donna Brothers, Aidan Butler & Cannonstone, Kurtis Coady & Megan Devine, Jack Damico & East Coast Partners, Denali Stud, Hidden Brook Farm, Sol Kumin, Dr. Pug & Susie Hart, Mike Rogers, Rick Schosberg, Siena Farm, and West Point Thoroughbreds. Not only was the Holiday Giving Campaign deemed a success in terms of donations, it was an exciting opportunity for the TAA to expand its network of industry supporters. More than 70% of the donations collected during the Holiday Giving Campaign came from first-time donors. “We are so thrilled with the outcome of the Holiday Giving Campaign,” said TAA Funding and Events Manager, Emily Dresen. “Thank you to the 14 match sponsors, hundreds of donors, and our media partners for making this campaign a success. It’s all about the horses and what better time to support our beloved athletes than the season of giving.” Designed to serve as both the accrediting body for Thoroughbred aftercare facilities and a fundraising and grant allocation body to support these approved facilities, funds raised from the Holiday Giving Campaign will help care for the more than 4,000 retired racehorses currently residing in TAA-accredited organizations across North America. To learn more about the TAA’s impact, click here. Photo: Jen Halliwell

As part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA)’s month-long Holiday Giving Campaign, Simon Bray has pledged to match all donations up to $500 made to the TAA on Dec. 28, 2022. Bray’s devotion to Thoroughbred racing led him to successfully pursue the winner’s circle as a racehorse trainer for nearly two decades before pivoting to become an on-air analyst for TVG, now FanDuel Racing, in 2004. As one of racing’s public figures, Bray uses his platform to help support and educate racing fans on the importance of aftercare and has served on the TAA Board of Directors since 2019. Now, Bray invites racing fans and stakeholders to join him in donating to the TAA’s Holiday Giving Campaign on Dec. 28. “The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is the only organization to accredit and distribute funds to over 81 aftercare programs across the U.S.,” said Bray. “The TAA accreditation is the gold standard for making sure retired racehorses have the care and life after the racetrack they so deserve. I am happy to help in a very small way to make sure that this important work continues. Please join me in donating.” “Simon is a longtime supporter of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and he continues to support our mission both on and off the air,” said TAA Funding and Events Manager, Emily Dresen. “Together we can spread awareness and double donations with Simon’s generous match.” TAA’s Holiday Giving Campaign commenced November 29th and is scheduled to conclude New Year’s Eve. Those wishing to support the TAA, its 81 accredited organizations, and thousands of retired Thoroughbreds can donate through the TAA’s website or text DONATE to 56651. During the Holiday Giving Campaign, TAA is also offering donors the benefit of sending digital holiday cards to colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Throughout the end of the year, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will continue to host special one-day only donation matches with some of horse racing’s biggest names. For more chances to double your donation, watch the TAA’s social media, website, and industry advertisements for the next Holiday Giving match day announcement. To learn more and donate to the TAA’s Holiday Giving campaign, CLICK HERE.

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) Board of Directors voted at its meeting Dec. 14 to add six new directors in 2023. For a second consecutive year, Jeffrey Bloom, managing partner of Bloom Racing Stable, will serve as president of the TAA. “It has been incredibly humbling and rewarding to serve as President of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance over the past year, and I am honored to uphold my role in 2023,” said Bloom. “I would like to extend a warm welcome to the six new directors joining our cause. As Directors for the TAA, it is our duty to act as liaisons for aftercare within the racing industry and to facilitate the TAA’s mission to accredit, inspect, and award grants to our 80+ accredited aftercare organizations.” TAA directors may serve up to five consecutive years and after five years are required to rotate off the board for a minimum of two years before being eligible for renomination. However, directors are still eligible to serve on TAA committees. James G. Bell, former president and racing manager of Godolphin, served as TAA president in 2014, 2021, and remained on the TAA’s board and executive committee for 2022 as immediate past president. After devoting five years of their time, expertise, and resources, Bell, Walt Robertson, Susie Hart, and Nicole Walker will rotate off the TAA Board of Directors come January 2023. “It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance board all these years,” said Bell. “As the old saying goes: ‘We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go.’ Awareness and Aftercare are now in the same sentence, and the focus now must shift to obligation and sustainability. We are grateful to all those that have embraced this very important component to our industry.” Bloom is joined on the executive committee by TAA Vice Presidents Craig Bandoroff, owner of Denali Stud and Madeline Auerbach, founding board member of the TAA, founder of the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA), and a Thoroughbred owner and breeder; TAA Treasurer Melissa Hicks, director of tax services at Dean Dorton; TAA Secretary Walter Robertson, attorney at Stites & Harbison; Aidan Butler, chief executive officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming; Terry Finley, founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds. The directors beginning service in 2023 are: Price Bell, general manager of Mill Ridge Farm; Dr. Bonnie Comerford, DVM, veterinarian at Tiegland, Franklin, & Brokken; Joe De Francis, HISA director and managing partner of Gainesville Associates, LLC; Georganne Hale—returning for a second term–vice president of racing development of Maryland Jockey Club; Ric Waldman, president of Ric Waldman Thoroughbred Consulting, Inc, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association member; Mark Simendinger, former development manager and general manager of Kentucky Speedway, former member of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, and former president of Turfway Park. They join current TAA Directors: Bloom, Madeline Auerbach, Craig Bandoroff, Laura Barillaro, Dr. Jeffrey Berk, Simon Bray, Donna Brothers, Boyd Browning, Aidan Butler, Tom Cannell, Jack Damico, Terry Finley, Melissa Hicks, John Keitt, Chip McGaughey, Josh Rubenstein, Richard Schosberg, Tom Ventura.