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Congressman Rooney Named NTRA President & CEO

Thomas J. (Tom) Rooney, a former U.S. Congressman, has been named to succeed Alex Waldrop as the president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). As has been previously announced, Waldrop will retire at the end of this year.

Rooney is an owner and breeder and has been part of his family's Shamrock Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding and lay-up operation in Maryland. The farm was founded by his grandfather, Art Rooney, Sr. He has also served on the board of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association for the past year. The Rooney family has been the majority owners and operators of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers since 1933. Rooney family members also own the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, owned Yonkers Raceway in New York until 2019, and owned former racetracks Green Mountain in Vermont and Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania.

“It is a great privilege for me to join the NTRA and serve as the organization's next leader,” said Rooney. “Having been immersed in horse racing my entire life, I know the issues and have a solid understanding of the needs of the industry. Coupled with my 10 years serving as a member of Congress, I know how to get things done in Washington, D.C. and look forward to increasing our advocacy efforts with our nation's lawmakers. I'm excited to join the team and look forward to working with all our member organizations to move our agenda forward.”

Rooney served with the U.S. Army as a lawyer in the JAG Corps. During his tenure, he was Special Assistant U.S. Attorney at Fort Hood, Texas, prosecuting all civilian crimes on post, and he served in the 1st Cavalry Division. After completing active duty with the rank of captain, Rooney taught constitutional and criminal law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

“On behalf of the NTRA Board, I am excited to confirm Tom Rooney's appointment as the next president and CEO of the NTRA,” said Alan Foreman, Chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA) and the NTRA Board member who led the NTRA's transition and search committee. “We are incredibly fortunate to have engaged such a talented and experienced individual as Tom as we position the NTRA to address the challenges facing our industry. I believe Tom's taking on this position will be a game-changer for the NTRA and the Thoroughbred racing industry. Tom's track record of experience and leadership will be invaluable as we move forward and as we expand our presence and advocacy on the federal level.”

In conjunction with Rooney's appointment, the NTRA will conduct a strategic review of the organization and its activities as it places additional focus on its role as the trade association for the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. The NTRA plans to open an office in Washington, D.C., where it will focus primarily on federal legislative and policy issues. As part of his appointment, Rooney will also become President of Horse PAC, the NTRA's political action committee.

As a Congressman, Rooney focused on economic, agricultural, national security, and military issues. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida from 2009 to 2019. He served on the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he played a prominent role in the House Intelligence Committee's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Rooney lives in Florida with his wife, Tara, and three sons.

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Former Congressman Tom Rooney New NTRA President And CEO

Former U.S. Congressman Thomas J. (Tom) Rooney has been named the successor to Alex Waldrop as the president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), it was announced Thursday by the NTRA Board of Directors. As announced earlier this year, Waldrop will retire at the end of 2021.

A Thoroughbred owner and breeder who hails from one of America's great sporting families, Rooney has taken an active role for several years in his family's Shamrock Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding and lay-up operation in Woodbine, Md., founded by his grandfather, including serving on the board of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association since 2020.

“It is a great privilege for me to join the NTRA and serve as the organization's next leader,” said Rooney. “Having been immersed in horse racing my entire life, I know the issues and have a solid understanding of the needs of the industry. Coupled with my 10 years serving as a Member of Congress, I know how to get things done in Washington, D.C., and look forward to increasing our advocacy efforts with our nation's lawmakers. I'm excited to join the team and look forward to working with all our member organizations to move our agenda forward.”

“On behalf of the NTRA Board, I am excited to confirm Tom Rooney's appointment as the next president and CEO of the NTRA,” said Alan Foreman, chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and the NTRA Board member who led the NTRA's transition and search committee. “We are incredibly fortunate to have engaged such a talented and experienced individual as Tom as we position the NTRA to address the challenges facing our industry. I believe Tom's taking on this position will be a game-changer for the NTRA and the Thoroughbred racing industry. Tom's track record of experience and leadership will be invaluable as we move forward and as we expand our presence and advocacy on the federal level.”

In conjunction with Rooney's appointment as president and CEO, the NTRA will conduct a strategic review of the organization and its activities as it places additional focus on its role as the trade association for the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry. As such, in the coming months the NTRA plans to open an office in Washington, D.C., where it will focus primarily on federal legislative and policy issues. As part of his appointment, Rooney will also become president of Horse PAC, the NTRA's political action committee.

Rooney has a deep background in racing and sports. He grew up attending the races with family members in his native Pennsylvania, as well as Maryland, New York, Florida and Kentucky. Led by his grandfather, Art Rooney Sr., the Rooney family has been the majority owners and operators of the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers since 1933. Rooney family members also own the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, owned Yonkers Raceway in New York until 2019, and owned former racetracks Green Mountain in Vermont and Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania.

As a Congressman, Rooney focused on economic, agricultural, national security and military issues. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida from 2009 to 2019. He served on the Committee on Agriculture, the Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence where he played a prominent role in the House Intelligence Committee's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Prior to becoming a member of the House, Rooney served with the U.S. Army as a lawyer in the JAG Corps. During his tenure, he was Special Assistant U.S Attorney at Fort Hood, Texas, prosecuting all civilian crimes on post, and he served in the 1st Cavalry Division. After completing active duty with the rank of captain, Rooney taught constitutional and criminal law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

He received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and became a member of the Florida Bar in 1999. He also has an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida. Rooney played football for Syracuse University and Washington & Jefferson College, where he earned a B.A. in English Literature.

Rooney resides in Palm Beach County, Fla., with his wife, Tara, and three sons, Tommy, Sean and Seamus.

The post Former Congressman Tom Rooney New NTRA President And CEO appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Knicks Go On Top Of NTRA Poll For 11th Consecutive Week

Korea Racing Stable's 5-year-old horse Knicks Go, the likely morning line favorite for the Grade 1, $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, retained his top ranking for the eleventh consecutive week in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll with 23 first place votes and 339 points.

St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska remained in second place in the poll with six first place votes and 312 points. Trained by Fausto Gutierrez, Letruska is a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Godolphin's 3-year-old standout colt Essential Quality, who like Knicks Go is trained by 2020 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, remained in third place in this week's poll with seven first place votes and 299 points. Essential Quality also is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior, a leading contender for the Grade 1, $2,000,000 Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, moved up one spot to fourth-place in this week's poll with 158 points. Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Hot Rod Charlie, another leading Classic contender, fell one spot to fifth-place in this week's poll with 149 points.

Michael Lund Petersen's Gamine, who is being pointed for the Grade 1, $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, moved up one spot to sixth in the poll with 129 points. Zedan Racing Stable's Breeders' Cup Classic hopeful, Medina Spirit (125 points), dropped one spot to seventh-place. There were no other changes in this week's rankings with Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (95 points), George Hall's Max Player (83 points) and Klaravich Stable's Domestic Spending (68 points) rounding out the top 10.

Click here for this week's complete poll results.

The post Knicks Go On Top Of NTRA Poll For 11th Consecutive Week appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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DHS Orders Halt to Mass Worksite Immigration Raids

Edited Press Release

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas directed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Tuesday to stop mass worksite raids and to take actions to promote a fair labor market by supporting more effective enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights and other employment laws and standards.

In accordance with a memorandum issued by Secretary Mayorkas, ICE, CBP, and USCIS will develop and update policies to enhance the Department's impact in supporting the enforcement of employment and labor standards. The agencies must also develop strategies for prioritizing workplace enforcement against unscrupulous employers and, through the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, facilitate the participation of vulnerable workers in labor standards investigations. The memorandum also calls for broader and deeper mechanisms for coordination with interagency partners to enforce worker protections.

“This is welcome news for the many horse industry businesses and employers, including trainers who pay close attention to labor laws,” said NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop.

The complete text of the memo can be found here.

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