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Sixth Annual Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Held At Keeneland

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, now in its sixth year in the United States, concluded Friday afternoon during an awards ceremony at Keeneland Racecourse's entertainment center in Lexington, Ky. Winners were announced in a total of seven categories, including the newly added award for Support Services. Caton Bredar served as the master of ceremonies with Steve Asmussen as the guest of honor.

Katie LaMonica, Charities Manager at Godolphin USA commented, “We feel so fortunate to be able to once again bring all of the finalists back to an in-person event. While last year's virtual ceremony still provided a platform from which we could recognize these outstanding people, it just means so much more to bring them to together and let them have their moment in the spotlight among family, friends and colleagues.”

Lee Hall, Vice President of Hallway Feeds, sponsor of this year's Dedication to Breeding Award, said, “It's an honor for Hallway Feeds to be part of such an important and meaningful event. We interact with so many workers from area farms, racetracks and other organizations that we see firsthand what they do day in and day out. To see these tremendous, hard-working individuals get a well-deserved pat on the back is very, very special.”

The full list of winners and runners-up is as follows:

Newcomer Award, sponsored by NYRA
Winner: Olivia Desch, Stallion Season Sales, WinStar Farm
(Runners-up: Emily Csenar Horse Healthcare Assistant, Taylor Made Farm; Joshua McLemore, Assistant Starter, Keeneland Racecourse)

Support Services Award, sponsored by I Am Horse Racing
Winner: Brenda Wilhelm, Operator, Charles Town Race Track Kitchen
(Runners-up: David Kyle, Plant Manager, Fasig-Tipton; Katherine Todd Smith, Horse Identifier, Self Employed)

Katherine McKee Administration Award sponsored by Keeneland
Winner: Kelsey Marshall, Vice President of Partner Relations, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
(Runners-up: Lori Johnson, Associate Registrar, The Jockey Club; Sue Kenny, Office Manager, Herringswell Stables)

Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Hallway Feeds
Winner: Calvin Smith, Assistant Broodmare Manager, Runnymede Farm, Pennsylvania
(Runners-up: Luis Coronado, Broodmare Manager, Machmer Hall Sales; Wayne Howard, Stallion Manager, Spendthrift Farm)

Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by the NTRA
Winner: Lorita Lindemann, Assistant Trainer, Joe Sharp Racing Stable and Brad H. Cox Racing Stable
(Runners-up: Benjamin “Benny” Betts, Training Manager, retired Ocala Jockey Club; Tessa Bisha, Assistant Trainer, Brad H. Cox Racing Stable)

Leadership Award, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Winner: Robert Turner, Yearling Farm Manager, Stonestreet Farm
(Runners-up: Billy Sellers, Stallion Manager, Lane's End Farm; Joseph Littrell, Farm Manager, Stone Farm)

Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award, sponsored by Churchill Downs
Winner: Nicholas Caras, Program Director, New York Race Track Chaplaincy
Runner-up: Diana Pinones, Director of Racetrack Operations, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

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Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Finalists Named; Ceremony Set For Oct. 15

The finalists for the 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced, including three finalists in six of the seven categories, as well as the winner and runner-up of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award. This year's Community Award winner is Nick Caras of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy, with Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Diana Pinones as runner-up.

After a successful virtual Awards Ceremony in 2020, TIEA is excited to welcome the finalists in each of the six categories, along with Nick Caras and Diana Pinones, to an in-person Awards Ceremony held at Keeneland on Friday, Oct. 15, in Lexington, Ky. The weekend includes travel and accommodation for out-of-town finalists, a tour of a local horse farm, dinner for finalists and their connections, and the Awards Ceremony luncheon followed by an afternoon of racing at Keeneland.

The shortlist judging panel, the first of the two judging panels, met on Tuesday, Aug. 17, to determine the finalists in each category as well as the Community Award winner and runner-up. The second and final stage of judging will be conducted as in person interviews with each finalist on Oct. 14.

“From my experience last year on the final judging panel, I knew coming in how tough this was going to be,” said Panel Chair Dr. David Richardson. “Determining 20 finalists from almost two hundred nominations was no easy task, but what a rewarding experience it was to learn about these nominees who have dedicated their livelihoods to the sport we all love. While difficult decisions were made in order to narrow down what is a most impressive field, I think all will see from the list of finalists that we are blessed with an incredible workforce in our industry.

“These awards are incredibly important to our industry and sport. Now more than ever as we navigate a workforce shortage across the country, these awards are an opportunity to recognize and reward the industry's most steadfast individuals. This judging panel took that to heart in determining this year's finalists.

“Thank you to all of the nominators for taking the time to recognize the hardworking people in their lives. I'd also like to thank the National HBPA, TOBA, The Jockey Club, Breeders' Cup, and Godolphin, without whose underwriting and support these awards would not be possible to implement. Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to our media partners – BloodHorse, TDN, Daily Racing Form, TVG, Paulick Report and Fox Sports – for helping to spread the reach of the awards.”

The shortlist panel was composed of Chair, Dr. David Richardson, UofL Chief of Surgery, Louisville Ky.; Jane Buchanan, Bloodstock Agent & Racing Manager, Lexington Ky.; Mindy Coleman, Counsel, Jockey's Guild, Lexington, Ky; and Tom Law, Managing Editor, ST Publishing, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Their meeting was hosted by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

This year seven industry organizations came on board as title sponsors of individual award categories with the goal to help spread the reach and impact of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards.

This year also saw the addition of the Support Services Award category to recognize those in the industry who may not work hands on with horses. With the addition of this category, TIEA has the opportunity to recognize and reward more outstanding talent, diligence and commitment at the heart of our sport.

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The winners of the Administration, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Leadership and Support Services Awards will receive a prize of $7,500, with an additional $2,500 awarded to the winner's team at their farm, stable or organization. The two runners-up in these categories will win $2,500 each, with $2,500 awarded to their farm, stable or organization.

The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive $2,000 and a five-day educational trip to Dubai, with $1,000 awarded to their team at their place of work. The two runners-up in this award will receive $1,000 each, and $1,000 will also be awarded to their farm, stable or organization.

As the winner of the Community Award, Nick Caras will receive a prize of $7,500 and an additional prize of $2,500 will be donated to the charity of his choice. Diana Pinones will receive $2,500 as the runner-up in this category.

The 2021 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards finalists are:

Katherine McKee Administration Award sponsored by Keeneland

Lori Johnson	The Jockey Club
Sue Kenny	Herringswell Stables
Kelsey Marshall	Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners

Support Services Award sponsored by I am Horse Racing

David Kyle	Fasig-Tipton
Katherine Todd Smith	Self-Employed, Horse Identifier
Brenda Wilhelm	Charles Town Races

Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Hallway Feeds

Luis Coronado	Machmer Hall
Wayne Howard	Spendthrift Farm
Calvin Smith	Runnymede Farm, PA

Dedication to Racing Award sponsored by National Thoroughbred Racing Association

Benjamin Betts	Ocala Jockey Club, retired
Tessa Bisha	Brad H. Cox Racing
Lorita Lindemann	Joe Sharp Racing

Leadership Award sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Joseph Littrell	Stone Farm
Robert Turner	Stonestreet Farms
Billy Sellers	Lane's End Farm

Newcomer Award sponsored by New York Racing Association

Emily Csenar	Taylor Made Sales Agency
Joshua McLemore	Keeneland
Olivia Desch	WinStar Farm

Thoroughbred Industry Community Award sponsored by Churchill Downs

Winner	Nicholas Caras, New York Racetrack Chaplaincy
Runner-up	Diana Pinones, Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

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NY Race Track Chaplaincy and Saratoga Community Come Together for Backstretch Families

Nick Caras, Programs Director of the NY Race Track Chaplaincy, Kim Weir, a Saratoga Volunteer Coordinator, and Mark Kehrer, Pastor of Revelation Church, have organized a small army of volunteers and sponsors from the Saratoga Springs community in recent weeks to improve housing conditions for backstretch families who have traveled to Saratoga for the duration of the meet.

For years, many of the stable workers have stayed at rudimentary cabins at the Pine Grove Family Camp on Pine Road in Saratoga Springs. Caras always wanted them to have something better.

“The sheets in their beds were even turned down, and each cabin was lovingly prepared,” Weir said.

In addition to the sparkling clean conditions, each family received some special gifts:
• The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce donated one box of masks and one bottle of hand sanitizer for each cabin
• Impressions of Saratoga donated one tote bag full of goodies to each cabin.
• Temple Sinai donated one loaf of Challah bread to each cabin

“To see so many different entities within the Saratoga community come together to help some families they don’t even know was really heartwarming,” Weir said. “It was really a group effort and it couldn’t have happened without the generous and widespread support we received.”

Among those who pitched in were: Impressions of Saratoga (owner Marianne Barker and daughter Maddy Zanetti); The Dominguez Family; Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties; The Brown Family; The Brindle Family; The Lautenberg Family; Saratoga Springs Friends of Recreation; The Weir Family, The PNECC Social Concerns Committee, The Saratoga Immigration Coalition, Temple Sinai; and Friends of Spa City.

“I think this outpouring of support is just another example of the tight bond that exists between the good people of Saratoga and the Thoroughbred racing community,” Caras said.

“Champions Talk,” a virtual benefit for the organization featuring legendary racecaller Tom Durkin along with Hall of Fame jockeys Angel Cordero, Jr. and Ramón Dominguez, Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, trainer Dale Romans and Pro Football Hall of Fame and two-time Super Bowl winning coach and Thoroughbred owner Bill Parcells will premier on Facebook and YouTube Aug. 5 at 7 p.m.

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