December, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Michelle Borisenok, Najja Thompson Named To New York Race Track Chaplaincy Board Of Directors

Michelle Cuozzo Borisenok, a longtime Thoroughbred owner, entrepreneur and philanthropist in the Capital region, and Najja Thompson, the executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., have been named to the Board of Directors of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

The announcement was made by Ramón Dominguez, the president of the NY Chaplaincy.

“Michelle and Najja both have a deep appreciation for the mission of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy and they are widely admired throughout the Thoroughbred industry,” Dominguez said. “We are honored to have them as board members and we look forward to working with them.”

Borisenok is well known for her steadfast support of women's leadership and she operates Brown Road Racing, a boutique Thoroughbred racing organization that provides a unique platform for female enthusiasts. Through the emphasis on the Thoroughbred, education and philanthropy, Brown Road Racing aims to empower women, foster a sense of camaraderie, and give back to the community.

The stable won the 2021 Cicada Stakes with Just Read It. Since 2016, Borisenok has also co-owned the Thoroughbred breeding farm Old Tavern Farm with her husband Walt Borisenok. She also serves on several boards in the Albany area.

Thompson joined NYTB in 2020, after nearly a decade at the New York Racing Association where he held roles in marketing, communications, and human resources. Thompson is the president of the Turf Publicists of America and serves on the boards of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T) and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

A graduate of Florida State University, Thompson developed his passion for Thoroughbred racing after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, a small breeder in Florida. Growing up attending racetracks in both Florida and New York, he followed his passion to work in the industry. In his role as executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, he works to enhance the status of New York-breds and promote the economic impact that breeders and racing contribute to New York.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy (www.rtcany.org) ministers to the needs of the backstretch community at the NYRA racetracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) as well as surrounding farms through a wide variety of programs. They include enrichment programs for children, teen mentoring, women's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities, and non-denominational religious services.

The post Michelle Borisenok, Najja Thompson Named To New York Race Track Chaplaincy Board Of Directors appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

FX And New York Times To Team Up On Documentary Series That Will Focus On Racing’s Problems

FX, a division of Disney Entertainment, has announced that its series “The New York Times Presents” will feature a documentary called “Broken Horses” that will examine “the systematic issues, questionable practices and urgent calls for change that have shaken horse racing to its core.” The series will air sometime in 2024 and will be shown on FX and Hulu.

FX has posted a short video on-line featuring Arthur Hancock, who says: “We've got to get rid of the bad actors in the sport and we've got to get rid of all these drugs.” That is followed up by a recording of two individuals discussing how a horse “galloped” after given a substance that one of the individuals admitted was a doping agent.

Over the last several years, The New York Times's coverage of horse racing has been extremely negative and focused on breakdowns and doping, so the sport should be prepared for the FX documentary to pick up on the same themes and to cast a harsh light on the sport.

According to press release issued by FX, New York Times reporters Joe Drape, Melissa Hoppert, Rachel Abrams and Liz Day investigated the period surrounding this year's Triple Crown races when an unusually high number of horses broke down.

The press release continues: “With confidential documents and recordings and exclusive interviews, “Broken Horses” provides a vivid tour of the business and political forces that control the Sport of Kings and resist measures to implement changes that could decrease horse deaths. It is a story of reckless breeding and doping, of compromised veterinarians and trainers, and of fans who are drawn to the sport's beauty and pageantry but increasingly wonder how long one of America's oldest sports can continue to have its social license renewed.”

Executive Producers are Esther Dere, Jason Stallman, Liz Day, Sam Dolnick, Stephanie Preiss, Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver. Dere also serves as the Showrunner of “The New York Times Presents.” Rachel Abrams is Senior Producer.

The post FX And New York Times To Team Up On Documentary Series That Will Focus On Racing’s Problems appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

NTRA Renews Sales, Marketing Partnership With John Deere

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced Friday that John Deere, the world's largest manufacturer of agricultural equipment, has renewed its sales and marketing partnership with the NTRA for an additional three years. Consistent with its long-standing NTRA deal, John Deere will continue in its role as the Exclusive Equipment Supplier to the NTRA and also maintain its participation in the NTRA Advantage group purchasing program.

“John Deere tractors and horse racing go hand in hand,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with this great American company for another three years.”

As part of the agreement, NTRA members will continue to be able to purchase or lease John Deere agricultural tractors, equipment, and implements with preferred member discounts, warranty programs, and competitive financing packages.

“The Thoroughbred industry remains a vital and important market for our products and services,” said Auston Till, Manager Partner Sales, John Deere Ag & Turf. “We greatly value our relationship with the NTRA and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the NTRA and its members.”

“We're delighted to extend our deal with John Deere,” said Fritz Widaman, Senior Vice President of NTRA Advantage. “Thanks to this agreement, NTRA members who have always relied on John Deere's outstanding equipment will continue to enjoy special pricing from a world-class company that also supports our industry through substantial marketing and sponsorship spending.”

NTRA members that can realize savings through NTRA Advantage include racetracks, owners, breeders, and trainers. Equine organizations utilizing the Advantage program extend well beyond the realm of Thoroughbred racing. Participating organizations include the American Quarter Horse Association, the U.S. Equestrian Federation, the U.S. Trotting Association, Harness Tracks of America, the American Paint Horse Association, and the U.S. Polo Association.

Additionally, those who make purchases through NTRA's Advantage program can utilize the tax incentive program called Bonus Depreciation. Bonus Depreciation is a tax incentive designed to stimulate business investment that allows the taxpaying company to accelerate the depreciation of qualifying assets such as equipment like John Deere tractors. Through the end of 2023, businesses are able to deduct 80% of the cost of qualifying property for business purposes from taxable income. This deduction amount will phase down to 60% in 2024, which is why NTRA is encouraging racetracks, farms, and other industry businesses to consult their tax advisors on how to best utilize this incentive prior to the end of the year.

In 2022, the NTRA Advantage program topped the $1 billion sales mark with savings to the horse industry approximately $180 million since the inception of the NTRA's group purchasing arm in 2002. NTRA Official Suppliers include such nationally known vendors as John Deere, Big Ass Fans, Sherwin-Williams, ODP Business Solutions and Farmers Insurance.

The NTRA, based in Lexington, Ky. and Washington, D.C., is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing.

The post NTRA Renews Sales, Marketing Partnership With John Deere appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: 10 Bold Predictions For 2024

There are still two weeks remaining in 2023, but we are already looking ahead to the future.

In this final episode of the Friday Show for 2023, bloodstock editor Joe Nevills and publisher Ray Paulick examine 10 bold predictions for the new year, covering such subjects as a potential Japanese victory in the Kentucky Derby, efforts to free Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, a solution to the Churchill Downs turf course problem, an additional race for the Breeders' Cup world championships, a final resolution to the Medina Spirit drug disqualification from the 2021 Derby, a Rich Strike update, an exciting and stimulating new sponsorship for Quarter Horse racing, and some news about Mike Repole's National Thoroughbred Alliance, not to mention a tidbit about possible entry into racing by an international superstar from the entertainment world.

Of course, these are only predictions coaxed out of a special hat with the help of a magic wand Nevills found in an old muckpile at Great Lakes Downs in Michigan on a recent trip there. We don't know that these predictions are going to come true, so Paulick has enlisted a Magic 8-Ball to determine how 2024 will unfold.

We appreciate the longstanding support of the Friday Show by Woodbine, whose Thoroughbred race meet ends on Sunday with mandatory payouts across the board.

Watch this week's episode of The Friday Show below:

The post The Friday Show Presented By Woodbine: 10 Bold Predictions For 2024 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post