KTA-KTOB Reveals Newly-Elected Officers, Board Of Directors

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) elected officers and members of the board of directors.

The officers of KTA/KTOB serve two-year terms and are voted on by members of the KTA/KTOB board of directors. Members of the KTA/KTOB board of directors serve three-year terms and are elected by the full membership of the organization.

Elected KTA/KTOB officers for 2021:

President, KTA/KTOB: Joseph Seitz—Director of Sales, Brookdale Farm
Vice-President, KTA: Walker Hancock—President, Claiborne Farm.
Vice-President, KTOB: Natanya Nieman, D.V.M.—Resident Veterinarian, WinStar Farm
Secretary, KTA/KTOB: Christopher L. Baker—COO, Three Chimneys
Treasurer, KTA/KTOB: Dermot Ryan—Manager, Ashford Stud

Newly elected KTA/KTOB board of directors for 2021:
Bill Daugherty—Owner, BlackRidge Stables
Kim Smith— Founder/Executive Director, Second Stride, Inc.

Christopher L. Baker, James Baker, Patrick Costello, Walker Hancock and Dermot Ryan were re-elected to the Board of Directors.

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Litt: Why I’m Leaving The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association

It's no secret: the horse industry is struggling. But like any good optimist, I'm always open to new ideas. I recently read Simon Sinek's book, “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action.” The oversimplified concept of the book is how understanding your 'why' can contribute to your success.

This is my 'why' I chose a career in horse racing: I love horses. From the unbelievable softness of a newborn foal to the rippling musculature of a stallion, they are majestic.

As an agent, breeder and owner, I enjoy being a custodian of the breed. A breed of horse that's over 300 years old, a breed that is noble, intelligent, honest and highly competitive. I often remind myself that it's a privilege, not a right, to be a part of Thoroughbred horse racing industry. I've been fortunate over the last 20 years to work with amazingly talented horses, including some champions. I love the notion that 50 years from now some of the horses I've been involved with may continue to have an impact on the breed.

Jason Litt is a partner in Solis/Litt Bloodstock

I love competition. In 1999, I visited Keeneland for the first time for the September Yearling Sale with my father, Howard Litt. My father loved the sport. He loved the Damon Runyon style characters that exist in every racetrack ecosystem, he loved the mental gymnastics required in handicapping and athleticism of the horses. He sparked my competitive spirit when he made the statement as we were watching horses go through the ring, 'Wouldn't it be cool if out of all of these horses you could pick a good one?”

Simply put, horse racing is hard. The lows of the game can deflate the most optimistic of individuals. We've all experienced hot nails, quarter cracks, spiked temps, colics, skin disease and failed fence jumpers, yet we are all bound by our persistence, determination, and staying power. There is nothing more gratifying and fulfilling than winning a race and sharing that sense of accomplishment with a group of owners, friends and colleagues. Watching the replay on a continuous loop and recapping every nuance of the race with anyone that will listen isn't bad, either.

I hope you have an understanding of my 'why.' When I joined the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association three years ago, I was open-minded and excited about making a difference. Unfortunately, the gap between my 'why' and that of the KTA is too large to bridge and therefore I am stepping down as a Director and making my resignation letter public. It's never too late to learn from our mistakes, hold people accountable for their actions or lack there of and to embrace bold ideas.

Dear President & the KTA Board of Directors,

It is with disappointment and frustration that I write this note. During the three years I have been on the Board, I have been repeatedly reassured that management's time was focused on our state lobbying efforts and that Chauncey Morris was forging strong relationships in the legislature. 

Unfortunately, the recent events regarding HHR show how unprepared our organization has been to address an issue that has been working through the courts for over seven years. There is no disputing how important the revenue from HHR has become to the health of our industry. It is the KTA's role that all members in the assembly understand and appreciate the importance of our industry to both Kentucky's economy and image. The fact that there has never been a successfully organized KTA effort to educate legislators or develop a plan to support the election of legislators that will have a favorable perception of our industry is shocking. Chauncey and his team's lack of action and foresight in this area is truly a dereliction of responsibility and in my opinion, should lead to his immediate dismissal. 

Therefore, please consider this note as my resignation from the Board. I can no longer in good faith be associated with an organization that has been caught so unprepared to take a stand to protect the Kentucky Thoroughbred and all the jobs associated with this industry.

Sincerely, 

Jason Litt

Jason Litt is co-founder of Solis/Litt Bloodstock and has previously worked for Three Chimneys Farm, where he was involved with stallion syndication, portfolio management, and client recruitment in addition to duties as a bloodstock agent.

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New Partnership Between Schools, Kentucky Thoroughbred Businesses Seeks To Mold Future Industry Leaders

Middle and high school students in Central Kentucky will soon have more opportunities than ever to become a part of the state's Thoroughbred industry. A three-year partnership announced Tuesday between Fayette County Public Schools and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders will send $322,000 from 22 area farms and equine businesses to develop a more robust equine studies program at the county's schools.

The core of the new program will be three years of courses (in the classroom and hands-on) in addition to an internship or apprenticeship a student could complete at one of the area's Thoroughbred farms. The program will offer older students the ability to customize their studies to focus on equine business, horsemanship/training, or horticulture through the lens of a horse farm. It will also include club activities to attract younger students to horses before they are old enough to have classes available to them. Those activities will coincide with existing chapters of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS).

The school system's Locust Trace AgriScience Center already offered some equine studies for the high school students from six area schools, in addition to other agricultural, environmental science, and food science courses. Now, those opportunities will be expanded. Thanks to the industry grant, the Fayette County Public Schools will go from one full-time teacher covering equine studies to two, as well as funding for middle and elementary school outreach programs, transportation, and additional operational resources. School officials project a total enrollment of 2,480 into the new equine programs across all grade levels, with 160 to 175 new students attending new equine classes at Locust Trace.

High schoolers will have the opportunity to take dual credit or dual enrollment courses via Bluegrass Community and Technical College, which also offers equine studies programs through the North American Racing Academy.

“Once you get inside the door of the horse industry it's really eye-opening how many avenues there are, but most of them fall back onto those basic horsemanship skills,” said Braxton Lynch, chair of the KTA/KTOB. “I think just that first step of exposure will open up so many doors for them, and really it's up to them where they want to go.”

School officials anticipate the educational programs at Locust Trace could eventually expand to include adult education in the evenings for those who want to build skills to work in the horse industry.

As diversity has become a recent focus in the equestrian and racing industries, Fayette County Public Schools superintendent Manny Caulk said he is working with the Legacy Equine Academy and others to ensure students of all backgrounds recognize that these programs are available to them.

“As our national grapples with the issues of racial and social justice, our moral imperative as a district is to provide access and opportunities for students who otherwise wouldn't have those advantages,” said Caulk. “People of all races have a rich history in the Thoroughbred industry and we want this generation of students to not only see themselves in that history but also to take ownership for writing their own future. That story will be continued as they find themselves and find their life's passion in the equine industry.”

For the industry stakeholders in the project, the investment in the school programs is something of a long-term investment. All involved are hopeful students will complete the program with basic horsemanship skills they can apply to a job in any portion of the business from a breeding farm to a training barn to a bloodstock agency.

“Locust Trace has been here quite a while; our industry has been here for two centuries,” said Chauncey Morris, executive director of the KTA/KTOB. “It's really incumbent on us to maximize how it's going to provide services not only to our industry but to the community as a whole. We look at this very much as a down payment on the community. We know that the instructors and additional operational funds that are being added to this, it's going to take those three years to really see how that's going to mesh in our industry, but we're looking forward to that.”

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