Hieronymus Announces Retirement From Keeneland

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland’s Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland’s Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I’m grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I’m excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Joining the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services after 19 years at Hammond Communications, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

  • Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America.
  • Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award.
  • 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement.
  • Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners.
  • Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today.
  • Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

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Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-Winning Director Of Broadcast Services G.D. Hieronymus Retires

G.D. Hieronymus, who has served as Keeneland's Eclipse Award-winning Director of Broadcast Services since 2000, has announced his retirement effective Feb. 1, 2021. Hieronymus will continue to work during Keeneland's Spring and Fall race meets and on special projects for the track and its industry and philanthropic partners.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this institution for the past 20 years,” Hieronymus said. “Keeneland's Broadcast Services is synonymous with excellence. We have raised the bar for our industry and I am proud of this legacy. I'm grateful to my amazing crew and the countless relationships I have made throughout my career and I'm excited to continue my work with the Keeneland team while also expanding my work in the industry.”

“On behalf of the entire Keeneland family, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to G.D. for his leadership, passion and commitment to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “While G.D. has always celebrated the rich history of our sport, he continues to pave the way for innovations that strengthen racing. We wish G.D. all the best in his retirement and look forward to his continued collaborations with Keeneland.”

Hieronymus began his career in the Thoroughbred industry in Lexington in 1981 at Hammond Communications, where he served for 19 years and was instrumental in the company's growth and success. After leaving his position as Vice President of Production at Hammond, Hieronymus joined the Keeneland team in July 2000 as the Director of Broadcast Services.

During his time at Keeneland, Hieronymus celebrated many groundbreaking achievements and award-winning productions, including:

o Development of the first high definition control room at a Thoroughbred race track in North America;

o Seven-time recipient of the International Simulcast Award;

o 2004 Eclipse Award recipient for Local Television Achievement;

o Directing award-winning commercials and features for Keeneland, Thoroughbred farms and other industry partners;

o Serving as director of photography for the Kentucky Derby Museum film “The Greatest Race,” which continues to be featured today; and

o Winner of the 2012 Charles W. Engelhard Award from the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for outstanding service and coverage in media for the Thoroughbred industry.

“While G.D. has and always will be a member of the Keeneland family, his talents have benefited the entire Thoroughbred industry,” Keeneland President-Elect Shannon Arvin said. “Keeneland is committed to continuing our support of these events and programs that mean so much to our sport.”

True to Keeneland's mission, Hieronymus has devoted his time and talents to benefit the Central Kentucky community and the broader Thoroughbred industry. He is currently a Trustee of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Under his leadership, Keeneland Broadcast Services annually provides direction and production support for such events as the NTRA Eclipse Awards, KTA-KTOB Kentucky Derby Trainers Dinner, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit at Keeneland, Thoroughbred Club of America's Honored Guest Dinner, the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame induction ceremony many more.

Hieronymus' community engagement includes work with the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association, where he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2013, as well as previous involvement with the Transylvania University Parent Council, LexArts, SummerFest at Woodland Park and the Kentucky Film Commission.

In addition to his continued collaboration with Keeneland, G.D. looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Laura, and daughters, Kelly and Lindsay.

The post Keeneland’s Eclipse Award-Winning Director Of Broadcast Services G.D. Hieronymus Retires appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Justify Halter The Centerpiece Of Kentucky Horse Council’s Online Fundraising Auction

The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) has launched an online auction to raise needed funds for the 501c3 nonprofit. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many charities to reevaluate their fundraising strategies this year and the KHC is no different, having cancelled both its Prosecco for Ponies event and its Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinners.

Hosted on eBay, the auction is now open and will close on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

All funds raised from the online auction will go directly toward funding key welfare initiatives to keep Kentucky horses safe; supporting horse owners in need of temporary financial reprieve of horse-care costs; and awarding scholarships to Kentucky students with an equine-industry focus.


Auction items include:
Professional drone video of a Central Kentucky farm
Horseshoe plaque from War Front, son of Danzig and a super sire who stands at  Claiborne Farm
Equine feed, supplements, treats and more
Halter from Triple Crown Winner Justify, who stands at Coolmore America
Box seats at the 2021 Keeneland Spring or Fall race meet
Authentic oak wine barrel from Equus Run Vineyards in Midway, Ky.
Tickets for four to a Horse Country Experience
Tour and wine tasting for 10 at Equus Run Vineyards in Midway, Ky.
Prints of Thoroughbred racehorses Wise Dan, Afleet Alex, Barbaro and more
Books, artwork, notecards and more
Equestrian-themes gift baskets for horses and humans

Auction items can be viewed and bid on at www.ebay.com/usr/ky_horse_council

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Kentucky Horse Council, a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. For more information, visit kentuckyhorse.org

The post Justify Halter The Centerpiece Of Kentucky Horse Council’s Online Fundraising Auction appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Keeneland January Sale To Include Paul Pompa Jr. Dispersal

Keeneland will offer 39 horses in the complete dispersal of the late Paul P. Pompa Jr. – including Turned Aside, winner of Saturday's Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, and additional 2020 Grade 3 winners Country Grammer and Regal Glory – during the 2021 January Horses of All Ages Sale, to be held Jan. 11-14.

Lane's End will serve as agent for the consignment, which consists of broodmares, foals of 2020, horses of racing age and broodmare or stallion prospects.

The January Sale catalog is scheduled to be online at Keeneland.com on Dec. 8.

“Mr. Pompa's industry involvement was admirable on every level,” Lane's End sales director Allaire Ryan said. “He was dedicated to and ever enthusiastic about his investments as a breeder, owner and fan. He created strong relationships around a lifelong passion and never wavered from his philosophy to do right by his stock and enjoy the sport. The success of his breeding and racing operations is a direct result of his daily involvement with trainers, farm staff, agents and caretakers alike. We have valued the opportunity to care for his horses at Lane's End and will be proud to stand behind his offerings at the January Sale.”

Eight mares in the Pompa dispersal are in foal to Connect, a Grade 1-winning son of Curlin who raced for Pompa and stands at Lane's End.

Among the horses cataloged in the dispersal are these broodmares and foals of 2020:

  • Mary's Follies, a Grade 2 winner by More Than Ready who is the dam of multiple graded stakes winners Night Prowler and Regal Glory as well as 2020 Japanese multiple Group 3 winner Cafe Pharoah.
  • A colt by Connect-Mary's Follies foaled in 2020.
  • Sustained, a Grade 3-placed daughter of War Front who is the dam of Turned Aside and is in foal to Connect.

These fillies of racing age:

  • Off Topic, a Grade 1-placed 4-year-old filly by Street Sense.
  • Regal Glory, a Grade 2-winning 4-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom who has earned $773,884. Winner of the Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf in her most recent race, Regal Glory also won the G2 Lake Placid and G3 Lake George at Saratoga along with the Penn Oaks and Stewart Manor Stakes.

These colts of racing age:

  • Country Grammer, a 3-year-old son of Tonalist who won this year's G3 Peter Pan.
  • Spirit Maker, a 2-year-old colt by Empire Maker who won his career debut Saturday at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths.
  • Turned Aside, a 3-year-old colt by American Pharoah who won the G3 Quick Call at Saratoga in July and most recently captured the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship by 1 1/4 lengths. He has four wins in nine starts with earnings of $241,967.

“We have great respect for Paul – as a horseman, businessman and person – and were so saddened by his passing. Keeneland is honored to be given the responsibility of presenting the Pompa dispersal,” Keeneland president-elect and interim head of sales Shannon Arvin said. “Our relationship with Paul includes his purchase of future Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown at the 2007 Keeneland April Sale, and we have been thrilled to have several horses from his stable win stakes races here at Keeneland.”

At the 2007 April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Pompa paid $190,000 for Big Brown through Hidden Brook, agent, from the consignment of Eddie Woods, agent. Raced by Pompa in partnership, Big Brown captured his first five races, including the 2008 G1 Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The son of Boundary closed the season with victories in the G1 Haskell Invitational and Monmouth Stakes en route to earning the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

At Keeneland, Pompa campaigned Night Prowler to win the 2015 G3 Transylvania. In partnership with Stephen Yarbrough and Anthony Grey, he raced Franny Freud to win the 2010 G2 Beaumont.

The post Keeneland January Sale To Include Paul Pompa Jr. Dispersal appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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