Olivia Desch | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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WinStar’s Liam O’Rourke Promoted to Director of Bloodstock Services

Liam O’Rourke, a part of the WinStar bloodstock team since 2016, has been promoted to WinStar’s Director of Bloodstock Services. The Toronto native leaves a void on the Stallion Season Sales team which will be filled by Olivia Desch, who has been bloodstock assistant at WinStar since 2019.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to promote from within,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “Our team is deep with talent and we pride ourselves on hiring people that our clients enjoy working with. Liam has been an integral part of our team for the last four years and I have complete confidence in him.”

O’Rourke has been associated with several major Central Kentucky farms throughout his career and worked at the racetrack for trainer Brian Lynch after graduating from Bishop’s University with a degree in finance. He also attended the Irish National Stud Course and worked sales in Ireland and England.

“Since joining WinStar I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most talented people in the industry,” said O’Rourke. “While my main focus will remain on our stallion roster, I will now have the flexibility to expand into more bloodstock opportunities. I look forward to the new challenge and achieving shared success with the WinStar team and our shareholders.”

Desch is originally from Cincinnati and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Equine Science and Management.

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WinStar Farm Promotes O’Rourke To Director Of Bloodstock Services; Desch Joins Stallion Season Sales Team

WinStar Farm has announced the promotion of Liam O'Rourke as its new Director of Bloodstock Services. In conjunction with O'Rourke's promotion, Olivia Desch joins Chris Knehr on the Stallion Season Sales team.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, O'Rourke joined the WinStar bloodstock team in 2016.

“Since joining WinStar I have had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the most talented people in the industry,” O'Rourke said. “While my main focus will remain on our stallion roster, I will now have the flexibility to expand into more bloodstock opportunities. I look forward to the new challenge and achieving shared success with the WinStar team and our shareholders.”

Desch, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been with WinStar since 2019 when she was hired as a bloodstock assistant. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BS in Equine Science and Management and prepped yearlings for Lane's End prior to interning with WinStar in 2017.

“I am confident that our dedicated breeders will continue to have the best possible customer experience when they work with Chris Knehr and Olivia,” O'Rourke said. “Chris is a seasoned, knowledgeable team member and makes the breeding process easy for our customers. Olivia, through her hard work and dedication, has grown from an intern into a bloodstock and marketing assistant and now into a full-time bloodstock and sales role while gaining experience across a number of our divisions. Dedication to our clients will be the hallmark of this team.”

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