Nominations for the 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA) opened June 7 and will close Monday, Aug. 2.
Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin is the principal sponsor of the awards in association with The Jockey Club, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA), the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and Breeders' Cup. Godolphin sponsors the Stud and Stable Staff Awards in England, Ireland, France and Australia.
While the 2020 TIE Awards ceremony took place virtually, a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year's ceremonies are planned as an in-person event in October hosted by Keeneland. Jill Byrne will serve as the master of ceremonies.
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.
Churchill Downs, Hallway Feeds, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, I Am Horse Racing, along with Keeneland, will each be sponsoring an award this year.
This year's TIE Awards will offer total prize money of $122,000. The awards will be held in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion Friday, Oct. 15. For more information and to nominate online, please visit www.tiea.org.
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