Tom Cannell

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance closed its second annual Off to the Races online auction Friday, Feb. 3rd and the Lexitonian Stallion Season online auction on Feb. 6th. Due to the generosity of their donors, the TAA raised over $56,000 from the 17 offered VIP experience packages and No Guarantee Season to Lexitonian. From Jan. 26th to Feb. 3rd the public had the opportunity to bid on VIP experience packages on 17 major race days in 2023 and 2024. Each VIP experience package offered a unique itinerary of horse racing-related bucket list activities and tickets to the specified race day(s). On Feb. 6th from 6pm – 9pm EST, breeders were welcomed to bid on a 2023 No Guarantee season with breed back to Lexitonian donated by trainer Jack Sisterson and his dedicated team at JWS Racing. Bred and campaigned by Calumet Farm, Lexitonian stands at Lane’s End for a 2023 fee of $7,500. “We love this horse, he was impressive as a race horse and he is a physically stunning animal,” said Celia Bennings of Morning Line Equestrian and winner of the 2023 season. “Lexitonian compliments our mare well and we are excited to see that he is a freshman sire by Speightstown. It will be exciting to see what his offspring does on the racetrack.” In total, 26 sponsors contributed to the 17 VIP experiences packages offered in the TAA Off to the Races auction and Lexitonian Stallion Season auctions: 1/ST, America’s Best Racing, Anne’s Washington Inn, Arkansas Thoroughbred Retirement and Rehabilitation Foundation, Breeders’ Cup Ltd., Tom Cannell, Canterbury Park, Christine A. Moore Millinery, Christine Lee’s Restaurant, Churchill Downs Inc., David Dunkley Fine Millinery, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Fran Taylor and Tom Cheek, Frank & Dino’s Restaurant, Hotel at Arundel Preserve, Keeneland Association, LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, Monmouth Park, Mt. Washington Tavern, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, National Thoroughbred Racing Association, New York Racing Association, Old Friends, Jack Sisterson, Second Stride, Tampa Bay Downs, Win Place Home, Woodbine Entertainment. “Thank you to everyone who participated in our Off to the Races and Lexitonian Stallion Season auctions,” said TAA president Jeffrey Bloom. “We are thrilled with the outcome of these events, and so proud of all the partnerships we have formed along the way with the racetracks, sponsors, and individuals who make all of this possible. We are all here for the horses and so excited by the impact these fundraisers will make on accredited aftercare.” Businesses or individuals wishing to become involved or sponsor items for TAA auctions and events can contact TAA Funding and Events Manager Emily Dresen at Edresen@thoroughbredaftercare.org.   About the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Based in Lexington, KY, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Along with continued funding from its original partners Breeders’ Cup, The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals, and other industry members. Since inception in 2012, the TAA has granted more than $28.1 million to accredited aftercare organizations. Currently 81 aftercare organizations comprised of approximately 180 facilities across North America have been granted accreditation. To learn more about the TAA, visit ThoroughbredAftercare.org.   CONTACT Stacie Clark 859-230-5881 sclark@thoroughbredaftercare.org Emily Dresen 859-224-2851 edresen@thoroughbredaftercare.org  

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.