The six new barns contain a total of 240 stalls and feature:

· Wider shedrows to accommodate safe winter training for horses housed year-round;

· Interior and exterior wash stalls;

· Dedicated interior feed rooms along with dedicated hay/bedding storage;

· Office tack rooms for trainers; and

· A stall layout design that maximizes lighting and airflow with spacious windows and doors to the benefit of a healthy training environment for both horses and people.

Additionally, improved and dedicated parking was created throughout the facility, and new muck pit construction segregates horse traffic from human and equipment traffic for safety during training hours.

“This investment reflects Keeneland's confidence in the future of the Thoroughbred industry and the strength of Kentucky racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “TTC is critical to the continued health of the Kentucky racing circuit. We are excited to make these improvements as part of our commitment to the horses and the people we serve.”

Funding for the TTC barn construction project was aided by $500,000 from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, which included a matching program with counties in the region with residents who benefit from this investment by Keeneland in the TTC. Each county that collaborated on the project – Fayette, Lexington, Woodford, Scott and Jessamine – and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board has a correspondingly designated barn named in appreciation of their commitment.

“We especially thank Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles for his help in securing funds toward completion of this project, which benefits all of Kentucky racing,” Keeneland Vice President of Equine Safety Dr. Stuart Brown said. “This partnership represents the first significant equine-related collaboration for a facility construction project in animal agriculture. It also helps grow the equine footprint in Kentucky's agriculture space, and enhances reinvestment in animal agriculture for the Commonwealth to approach $100 million in overall support.”

Keeneland has owned The Thoroughbred Center, which originally opened in 1969, since April 2000. The facility has two dirt tracks: 5 furlongs and 7½ furlongs. Located within a six-hour drive of 10 race tracks, TTC is home to 831 horses, many of whom reside there year-round.

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• Wider shedrows to accommodate safe winter training for horses housed year-round;
• Interior and exterior wash stalls;
• Dedicated interior feed rooms along with dedicated hay/bedding storage;
• Office tack rooms for trainers; and
• A stall layout design that maximizes lighting and airflow with spacious windows and doors to the benefit of a healthy training environment for both horses and people.

Additionally, improved and dedicated parking was created throughout the facility, and new muck pit construction segregates horse traffic from human and equipment traffic for safety during training hours.

“This investment reflects Keeneland's confidence in the future of the Thoroughbred industry and the strength of Kentucky racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. “TTC is critical to the continued health of the Kentucky racing circuit. We are excited to make these improvements as part of our commitment to the horses and the people we serve.”

Funding for the TTC barn construction project was aided by $500,000 from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, which included a matching program with counties in the region with residents who benefit from this investment by Keeneland in the TTC. Each county that collaborated on the project–Fayette, Lexington, Woodford, Scott and Jessamine–and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board has a correspondingly designated barn named in appreciation of their commitment.

Keeneland has owned The Thoroughbred Center, which originally opened in 1969, since April 2000. The facility has two dirt tracks: 5 furlongs and 7 1/2 furlongs. Located within a six-hour drive of 10 race tracks, TTC is home to 831 horses, many of whom reside there year-round.

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Bellocq was initially drawn to the program when he realized he could help play a role in fixing racing's growing labor shortage. By heading up BCTC's program, Bellocq is now helping recruit young people to join the sport's much-needed workforce.

“We don't have anything in our industry that can predict what is going to happen with immigration reform at a federal level,” he said. “So, every year it's the same challenge and we can't count on that changing. We have to fend for ourselves. We have the mechanism to prepare really good workers–well-trained, domestic workers.”

The BCTC program first started in 2006 as the North American Racing Academy. But when Bellocq joined the team a few years later, they realized their need to widen its scope from a jockey school to an equine-based career and technical training program. Now referred to as BCTC Equine, the course is the first and only accredited community college-based program of its type in the country.

Today, there are between 35 and 40 students in the program each semester. After two years spent completing courses ranging from basic equine care to training theory, physiology and anatomy, students will graduate with an Associate's degree. Some students will earn a vet assistant certificate while others will choose to focus on breeding or racing. Those that take the riding classes will earn an exercise riding license from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission prior to their completion of their courses.

Incoming students start off in a semester-long racehorse care lab, where they handle the everyday well-being of the program's 12 retired racehorses located at The Thoroughbred Center outside of Lexington.

“The students are bringing them in from the paddocks, checking vitals and feeding,” Bellocq explained. “They're doing everything that anybody in any barn is going to be doing, but we monitor them and grade them. We check off the list to make sure that not only are they cleaning the stall, but that they can do it in a certain period of time. We're making sure they can work efficiently and do everything that is required if you're going to go out and work for a top-level trainer. We teach to the current standards.”

To move on to the riding course, students must first take an advanced fitness test. Students that pass attend daily training sessions run by Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor Dixie Kendall and instructor Amy Heitzman. Before completing the course, students spend a few weeks working for a trainer based out of the Training Center before graduation.

“There's a lot of attrition because we're tough,” Bellocq noted. “We have pretty rigorous academic requirements and we'll put them through the ringer if they're late. But the result is that we have quite a few graduates out there working who have moved up. We've placed students in some pretty high-end racing operations, including Mike Maker, Christophe Clemente, Michael Matz and Todd Pletcher.”

The majority of students currently taking the exercise riding portion of the course, Bellocq said, are female. He stressed the cruciality of the industry's acceptance of an evolving workforce.

“Employers, trainers and farm managers have to wrap their arms around the fact that our workforce is changing and we have to adapt to that,” he said. “It's not a question of if women work any harder or can't handle the work that men have traditionally done, it's a question of adapting and providing work-life balance. A lot of trainers are paying better than they ever have, but if Amazon is paying $15 an hour with benefits, we've got to come close because that is who is going to steal our workers, not a trainer down the shedrow.”

Nebraska native Callie Witt is currently enrolled in the exercise riding portion of the program. Prior to attending BCTC, she galloped at several tracks in her home state.

“Since I was a little girl, it's always been my dream to be a jockey,” she said. “My parents' big thing was that I had to have a degree in something to fall back on, so I was really lucky to find this type of program where I can continue my passion for horses, learn how to ride and still get a degree.”

Witt acknowledged the challenges behind working in this industry.

“You've got to learn to have a thick skin. Not everyone is going to have the greatest things to say, but you've got to keep a good head, work fast and keep a positive attitude. Every day is hard work and you've got to keep pushing through it.”

Morgan Patterson is from Alabama and said she has also learned several valuable lessons from her time at BCTC.

“I think my biggest thing is to not overthink it,” she said. “I want to micromanage everything, especially with my riding. But I feel like I'm learning a lot here. Someday I definitely want to travel and ride abroad.”

Classmate Petula Randolph enrolled at BCTC because she knew it was an optimal location to begin working towards her dream of becoming a trainer.

“There's really no better place to learn what we're doing,” she said. “It's a really good environment and less stressful than learning on the job. You get quality instruction here and you know you're learning the right things.”

Randolph grew up attending races at her home track, Retama Park, and said she would like to return to Texas to win a top race there someday.

“If I could train a horse to run in the Sam Houston Ladies' Classic, that would be pretty cool because Midnight Bisou won there.”

Bellocq said that one of his favorite encounters with the students is their annual trip to Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week for a tour of the backstretch, where students have the opportunity to chat with some of the top trainers.

“It's kind of eye-opening for them,” he said. “All those superstars will say the same thing, 'You're not going to make a lot of money starting off, you're going to work crazy hours and really have to pay your dues. But if you have the passion and you love what you do, then you can rise as far as you want to in this industry.' That's really inspiring for our students because they're not hearing it from their teachers, they're hearing it from the people they see in the racing news all the time, and that has such weight.”

As the program continues to grow, Bellocq enjoys seeing their work come to fruition as graduates excel in their careers across all facets of the industry.

“We have an alumni group that will meet for a big barbecue every year during Keeneland and it's great to see them all compare notes on who they're working for,” Bellocq said. “For our graduates, we have a great network of internships and mentorships.  We have stellar employers who say, 'Listen, just send me a good student and I'll always have jobs for them.' And that's a really great testament to our program.”

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Plans call for two existing concrete barns to be demolished and replaced with six state-of-the-art barns. Improvements around the barns will be made to walking rings, muck disposal and drainage, as well as to landscaping and access to and from the training track in those areas.

“Keeneland is excited to break ground on these significant improvements to the barn area at TTC for the benefit of our horses and horsemen, many of whom stable at the facility year-round,” Keeneland Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell said. “This investment reflects the strength of the Kentucky racing circuit and Keeneland's confidence in the future of the Thoroughbred industry in Kentucky and throughout the world.”

“TTC is vital to the health of the Kentucky racing circuit, providing a home base for a number of trainers, and we are thrilled to make these enhancements for them,” TTC General Manager and Keeneland Director of Racing Surfaces Jim Pendergest said. “Horsemen are drawn to Kentucky by the strong purse structure now in place and expected to continue to improve, particularly with the support of historical horse racing.”

Work on the project is anticipated to begin in May pending approval from local planning and zoning authorities, with completion by Keeneland's 2021 Fall Meet, which begins Oct. 8. Keeneland will work with trainers stabled at TTC to find alternate locations for their horses during construction.

“This project is an important aspect of Keeneland's ongoing efforts to accommodate our horse population with safe and quality facilities throughout the year,” Keeneland Equine Safety Director Dr. Stuart Brown said.

Keeneland has owned The Thoroughbred Center, which originally opened in 1969, since April 2000. The facility has two dirt tracks: 5 furlongs and 7½ furlongs.

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The 53-year-old Delgado had been employed by Morey since 2016, but only recently relocated to Lexington. Prior to working for Morey, Delgado was a long-time employee of retired trainer Julio Canani.

He is survived by his wife, Graciela, and four sons, Miguel Angel, Ricardo, and twins Edgar and Oscar. The latter three work as horsemen in Southern California, while Graciela and Miguel Angel reside in Mexico.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay to transport Delgado's body to Mexico for burial and to cover funeral costs.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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“Dr. Stuart Brown is uniquely talented for the position of Equine Safety Director and to be a leader in enhancing safety practices at Keeneland and throughout racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “During his career, his knowledge and expertise have been sought by horsemen around the world and by top industry and veterinary organizations alike. Stuart's addition to the Keeneland team further deepens our commitment to the safety and welfare of horse and rider, and his position provides a platform that will benefit the entire horse industry.”

As Equine Safety Director, Dr. Brown will lead the effort to develop, communicate and enforce safety and integrity policies for both racing and sales operations; review all racing-related accidents with the goal of prevention; assess relevant equine health and safety research; and proactively communicate best practices to the racing community and public. His duties will encompass both Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center.

During his nearly 30-year practice with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (formerly Hagyard-Davidson-McGee), first as an intern then as an associate veterinarian and a partner, Dr. Brown has specialized in equine reproduction and ambulatory medicine. With a primary focus on Thoroughbreds, his areas of concentration included equine reproduction, foal evaluations, private/public purchase evaluations, herd health and preventative medicine, federally required import/export protocols and issues affecting the welfare and safety of equine racing athletes.

“Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is excited to support Dr. Brown in his new position as Equine Safety Director at Keeneland,” Dr. Ernie Martinez with Hagyard said. “Dr. Brown has been an integral part of Hagyard's history and success since he started as an intern in 1991, and with the support of the Hagyard veterinary team, he has cared for some of our sports' most successful racehorses.

“We at Hagyard know Dr. Brown will bring his diverse network of connections and his experience as a veterinarian and as a horse owner to his new position,” Martinez said. “We look forward to seeing the positive changes and innovation he can drive in our industry.”

Throughout his career, Dr. Brown has mentored many veterinarians, served on numerous industry and veterinary boards and committees and represented veterinarians and horses on a national level.

Dr. Brown's memberships and affiliations include the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA), Kentucky Association of Equine Practitioners (KAEP), Society for Theriogenology and Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club.

His recent appointments include serving as Chairman of the Gluck Equine Research Foundation, Trustee for the AVMA Insurance Trust, AAEP Delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates, Director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (KTOB), Member of the AAEP's Public Policy and Welfare Council, AAEP Liaison to the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, Board Chairman of the University of Kentucky Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory and a Member of The Jockey Club.

Dr. Brown previously served as a Commissioner for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC), Chairman of the KHRC's Equine Drug Research Council and President of the KVMA, as well as a committee member of the AAEP Racing Committee (and Subcommittee Chair for Issues Pertaining to the Horse Racing Integrity Act) and the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Advisory Committee.

Born and raised in Central Kentucky, Dr. Brown completed his undergraduate work at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University. He also owns and operates a Thoroughbred breeding, racing and sport horse farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

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“Dr. Stuart Brown is uniquely talented for the position of Equine Safety Director and to be a leader in enhancing safety practices at Keeneland and throughout racing,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “During his career, his knowledge and expertise have been sought by horsemen around the world and by top industry and veterinary organizations alike. Stuart’s addition to the Keeneland team further deepens our commitment to the safety and welfare of horse and rider, and his position provides a platform that will benefit the entire horse industry.”

As Equine Safety Director, Dr. Brown will lead the effort to develop, communicate and enforce safety and integrity policies for both racing and sales operations; review all racing-related accidents with the goal of prevention; assess relevant equine health and safety research; and proactively communicate best practices to the racing community and public. His duties will encompass both Keeneland and The Thoroughbred Center.

“During my veterinary career, I have had the great fortune to work with some of the most dedicated horsemen and women in our industry,” Dr. Brown said. “I am proudest of these relationships, and those with my colleagues and the team at Hagyard, with whom I have collaborated to provide exemplary care to every horse touched along the way. Most recently, I have had the benefit of serving in several roles in racing alongside many of my racetrack practitioner colleagues, which has allowed me to gain an appreciation for their unique perspectives in the care of the racehorse. It is these experiences shared over time that form the foundation for me to embrace this new and exciting role as Keeneland’s Equine Safety Director.”

During his nearly 30-year practice with Hagyard Equine Medical Institute (formerly Hagyard-Davidson-McGee), first as an intern then as an associate veterinarian and a partner, Dr. Brown has specialized in equine reproduction and ambulatory medicine. With a primary focus on Thoroughbreds, his areas of concentration included equine reproduction, foal evaluations, private/public purchase evaluations, herd health and preventative medicine, federally required import/export protocols and issues affecting the welfare and safety of equine racing athletes.

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