backstretch workers | Horse Racing Free Tips

KY Colonels Offer Grant to BGFC For Backstretch Kids

Blue Grass Farms Charities, Inc., (BGFC) received a $7,247 grant from the Honorable Order Kentucky Colonels (HOKC) to purchase 1,000 backpacks for farm and track workers' children–Kindergarten through Middle School–for the 2021 school year. In total, the HOKC will award $2.1 million in grants supporting 275 non-profits, impacting close to 3.7 million Kentuckians.

“When HOKC Trustees met with grant applicants this year, we were reminded how hard the pandemic has made life harder for many folks, from first responders in community service charities to the clients themselves,” said HOKC Commanding General Hal Sullivan. “Thanks to Kentucky Colonels from around the world who donate to the Good Works Program, HOKC can lend a helping hand to so many local charities that provide essential services that lessen the impact. Because a Colonel cares, we make giving to others a Proud Kentucky Tradition.”

For more information, visit www.kycolonels.org

The post KY Colonels Offer Grant to BGFC For Backstretch Kids appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Introduction Of Returning Worker Exemption Act Could Help Solve Racing’s Labor Shortage

This week's Senate introduction of the H-2B Returning Worker Exemption Act of 2021 could help solve the labor shortage constantly facing racing's backstretch, according to a report in the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The bill is written to allow H-2B workers from any of the previous 3 years to qualify as returning workers, which are generally exempted from the annual cap on H-2B visas. It is also designed to help streamline the application process.

“This is something we've always advocated for,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). “And this has been the first time, at least since I've been in my current role, there's been a strong champion for that.”

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

The post Introduction Of Returning Worker Exemption Act Could Help Solve Racing’s Labor Shortage appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award Nominations Now Open

Nominations for the 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA) open today, Monday, June 7th, and will close on Monday, August 2nd. TIEA was held in America for the first time in 2016.

Godolphin, the global racing stable founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is the principal sponsor of the awards in association with The Jockey Club, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protection Association (NHBPA), the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and the Breeders' Cup. Godolphin also sponsors the equivalent Stud and Stable Staff Awards in Ireland, Australia, Great Britain and France.

As with many events throughout 2020, the TIEA Ceremony took place virtually. It was even more important during this difficult year to recognize and reward some of the hardworking individuals who kept our industry afloat throughout the pandemic. As the country lifts COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 renewal of TIEA will fortunately be once again an in-person event in October, graciously hosted by Keeneland.

This year's award categories will reflect a few changes. First, there will now be one overall “Leadership Award”, combining the previously separated leadership awards in both breeding and racing. Second, a new category, the “Support Services Award”, has been added to reward an individual who works in any non-administrative, support service role in the Thoroughbred industry. Eligible candidates for this award include, but are not limited to, sales positions; auctioneers; gardeners; veterinary practices; farriers; starting gate crew; horse transport; grounds staff at sales companies, farms or racetracks; valets; horse dentists; physiotherapists; etc.

Lastly, TIEA is pleased to announce the addition of award category sponsors for 2021. Churchill Downs, Hallway Feeds, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, I Am Horse Racing, along with Keeneland, will each be sponsoring an award this year and are excited to join this important industry initiative.

A total of seven categories, including the new Support Services division, will be presented this year and will carry total prize money of $122,000. The Award Ceremony will be held on Friday, October 15th, in the sales pavilion at Keeneland. Once again, Jill Byrne has generously agreed to be the master of ceremonies.

For more information and to nominate online, please go to www.tiea.org.

The post Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award Nominations Now Open appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

22K Additional H-2B Visas Available for Second Half of Fiscal Year

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of Labor issued a joint temporary final rule published Tuesday in the Federal Register that offers 22,000 additional H-2B visas to employers for the second half of the federal fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, 2021. The visas, used by employers such as racehorse trainers seeking seasonal guest workers, are capped at 66,000 annually, with an even split of 33,000 available for each half of the federal government's fiscal year. Six thousand of these supplemental visas will be reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

“The 22,000 H-2B visas offered through this rule issued by the DHS and DOL will be helpful to employers who rely on the H-2B visa program, including trainers, but many more of these visas are ultimately required to satisfy the need,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “For that reason, the NTRA, through its involvement in the H-2B Workforce Coalition, supports additional relief from the burdensome annual H-2B visa cap through a permanent returning worker exemption.”

The H-2B visa guest worker program is a nonimmigrant visa program which trainers rely heavily on to fill various backside positions. Demand for H-2B visas often exceeds their availability and the cap level is quickly reached, leaving employers in need. Employers can find eligibility and filing details here.

The post 22K Additional H-2B Visas Available for Second Half of Fiscal Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post