The following statement was distributed by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association on behalf of its new president and CEO, Tom Rooney.
Horse racing has been in my family since long before I was born, and I've grown up with a passion for the sport. When I retired from Congress a few years ago, many people asked me what I would do next. I often responded that I wasn't too sure, I was going to coach my kids in football, and that my dream would be to own a horse that would run in the Kentucky Derby.
Fast forward to last year, when my predecessor Alex Waldrop announced he was retiring from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. When I heard about this opportunity, I thought to myself how much I love horse racing, and how deeply I want to be a part of it for the rest of my life. Now, as the new president and CEO of this great organization, I am excited for the future of the industry and feel deeply honored to help play a small part in shaping what that future looks like.
It's not lost on me that the industry and racing as a whole have changed significantly in my lifetime, and will continue to evolve for future generations. While these changes may be inevitable, it is critical that we have a unified voice to advocate for what's best for the industry overall. I was hired for one reason and one reason only: to go to Washington, D.C. and be that unified voice on behalf of the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry.
As a former Member of Congress, I understand how Washington works. As a horse owner and fan myself, I understand many of the leading issues we face. But as your representative in Washington, I know that I don't have all the answers. I need to spend time with you, listening and understanding, to get a sense of what's most important and how I can most successfully advocate on your behalf. My goal is to build consensus in the industry and tell the positive story of the sport in Washington.
We're always going to face opposition, and there will be some people we can never convince that we're doing what's right by the animals we so deeply care about. We need to constantly strive to do the best that we can do for the industry. We need to hold people accountable for wrongdoing. We need to praise the good news and successes we have. And we need to work to maintain horse racing for generations to come.
I'm eager and excited to work with you and serve as the leader of NTRA. Together, we can continue to do great things.
Tom Rooney served the people of Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019, focusing primarily on economic, agricultural, national security, and military issues. Prior to serving in Congress, Rooney served with the U.S. Army as a lawyer in the JAG Corps. During his tenure, he was Special Assistant U.S Attorney at Fort Hood, Texas, prosecuting all civilian crimes on post in the 1st Cavalry Division. After completing active duty with the rank of captain, Rooney taught constitutional and criminal law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.
He received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and became a member of the Florida Bar in 1999. He also has an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida. Rooney played football for Syracuse University and Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned a B.A. in English Literature.
Rooney resides in Palm Beach County, Florida, with his wife, Tara, and three sons, Tommy, Sean, and Seamus.
