Jeff Bloom | Horse Racing Free Tips

Samantha Smith Named TAA Director of Marketing and Communications

Samantha Smith has been named the new director of marketing and communications for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, effective Monday. A graduate of the University of Kentucky's animal science program, Smith has marketing and communications experience with a variety of equine associations, including TOBA, The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, and the Horse Racing Women's Summit.

Smith will be responsible for leading and overseeing all marketing initiatives at the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She will work closely with the executive team, the communications committee, and TAA's accredited organizations to develop and implement marketing strategies that align with the company's overall goals and objectives.

“We are excited to have Samantha Smith join the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance as our Marketing and Communications Director,” said TAA President Jeff Bloom. “As the TAA has grown over the years our demand for professional communications and marketing has expanded. Her wealth of experience in addition to her passion for aftercare will be a great asset to our team.”

Smith added, “In my professional career I have a keen interest in the sport of Thoroughbred racing, particularly in any area where I can support efforts to promote and grow the sport, educate others, or improve safety, welfare, and aftercare initiatives. In my personal life, with my own former racehorse, I especially have a passion for Thoroughbred aftercare. I look forward to joining the team at TAA and promoting all the Thoroughbred has to offer after racing.”

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TAA Holding Second Annual Online Auction of VIP Racing Experiences

The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) announced the launch of the second annual Off to the Races, an online auction campaign which offers the public an opportunity to bid on 17 VIP experience packages on major race days in 2023 and 2024. Each experience package offers a unique itinerary of horse racing-related bucket list activities and tickets to the specified race day(s).

“With the help of the racing industry, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance supports 81 accredited charities and thousands of off-track Thoroughbreds,” TAA President Jeffrey Bloom said. “Outside of the TAA's automatic funding sources within the industry, the Off to the Races auction is a unique and exciting opportunity to support Thoroughbred aftercare while being treated like a VIP on some of the biggest days in horse racing.”

Bidding opens Thursday, Jan. 26, 10:00 a.m. EST and closes Friday, Feb. 3, at 10:00 p.m. EST. For more information or to bid, visit the TAA's auction website.

Featured Packages:
-23 VIP Last Chance/First Chance NHC Qualifier
-2023 VIP Tampa Bay Derby
-2023 VIP Florida Derby
-2023 VIP Arkansas Derby
-2023 VIP Santa Anita Derby
-2023 VIP Blue Grass Stakes
-2023 VIP Kentucky Oaks & Kentucky Derby
-2023 VIP Preakness 148
-2023 VIP Belmont Stakes
-2023 VIP Haskell Stakes
-2023 VIP Whitney Stakes
-2023 VIP King's Plate
-2023 VIP Pacific Classic
-2023 VIP Maryland Million Day
-2023 VIP Breeders' Cup Championships
-2023 VIP Canterbury Park Experience
-2024 VIP Pegasus World Cup

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TAA Holiday Giving Campaign Raises $180K

Edited Press Release

Following a month-long effort to raise funds for the TAA's 81 accredited organizations, the TAA Holiday Giving Campaign concluded Dec. 31 with $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.

“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.”

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TAA Board of Directors Elects Six New Members

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.

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.

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.

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 operating officer of 1/ST Racing and president of 1/ST Content; Terry Finley, founder and chief executive officer of West Point Thoroughbreds

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