TIEA Awards | Horse Racing Free Tips

FTBOA’s Robert Cole Named Finalist for Newcomer Award

Congratulations to Robert Cole, one of three finalists in the Newcomer Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Cole, an intern/co-op program student at Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA), retired after 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and went back to an early love for Thoroughbreds as he was considering his next career, saying he wanted to be immersed “in anything that was Thoroughbred racing.” Cole was pursuing an equine exercise and physiology degree at the College of Central Florida when he landed the internship at FTBOA.

“He was born with the gene of the soul of horse racing,” said FTBOA’s associate vice president, Tammy Gantt. “He doesn’t want to tell you what the industry is, he wants you to feel it.”

Click for the video feature on Cole done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Newcomer Award are Alexis Kolasa of Denali Stud and Aaron West of Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, who will both be recognized on these pages in the coming days. The Newcomer Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in racing or breeding for under five years and has shown ambition to continue a career in some facet of the Thoroughbred industry while also improving his or her skills and knowledge.

A total of seven award categories will be honored by TIEA for 2020. Maria Cristina Silva of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) has already been announced as the winner of the Community Award, while the winners in the other categories will be announced live in a virtual ceremony hosted by Jill Byrne and streamed at the TDN homepage Thursday, Nov. 5, at 12:00 p.m. ET. All finalists will be spotlighted in TDN in the days leading up to the ceremony.

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McPeek Racing’s Shawn Autry Named Finalist for Dedication to Racing Award

Congratulations to Patrick ‘Shawn’ Autry, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Racing Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently the assistant stable manager for McPeek Racing and Kenny McPeek’s Magdalena Farm, Autry got his first pony, named Fireball, when he was just five before moving on to breaking and exercise riding at a young age. He took out his trainer’s license in 1981 at the age of 19. A 1994 accident while working a horse left him paralyzed, but he still dabbled in the horse business while then pursuing a computer career. Autry eventually joined McPeek full-time in the office in 2009.

“Shawn and I go back at least 35 years. I remember when he was one of the best exercise riders around,” said McPeek. “He’s worked for me since we opened Magdalena Farm. He knows the ins and the outs of this business like no one else and loves it, he has certainly dedicated his life to it. His passion for the horse business will never end.”

Click for the video feature on Autry done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Dedication to Racing Award are Gregory Smothers of Niall Brennan Stables and Marcelo Arenas of Leah Gyarmati Stables. The Dedication to Racing Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in the Thoroughbred racing industry for at least 10 years and is a pivotal part of his or her employer’s success.

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Marcelo Arenas of Leah Gyarmati Stables Named Finalist for Dedication to Racing Award

Congratulations to Marcelo Arenas, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Racing Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently the assistant trainer at Leah Gyarmati Stables, Arenas is originally from Chile, where both his father and his grandfather were trainers. He moved to the U.S. two decades ago and worked his way through the ranks of walking hots, grooming, and being a foreman before finally becoming an assistant trainer. He spent 15 years with Gary Contessa before moving to Gyarmati’s barn five years ago. Arenas says horses are his passion and the barn is his second home.

“He is truly an asset to my barn and in these difficult times I don’t know how I would have made it without him,” said Gyarmati. “His experience and, most importantly, his desire to learn and expand his knowledge in the industry is impressive. His love for the game is evident in everything he does.”

Click for the video feature on Arenas done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Dedication to Racing Award are Gregory Smothers of Niall Brennan Stables and Shawn Autry of McPeek Racing, who will be recognized on these pages tomorrow. The Dedication to Racing Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in the Thoroughbred racing industry for at least 10 years and is a pivotal part of his or her employer’s success.

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Gregory Smothers of Niall Brennan Stables Named Finalist for Dedication to Racing Award

Congratulations to Gregory Smothers, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Racing Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Smothers is the head rider at Niall Brennan Stables and has been a part of the operation for more than 30 years. Upon leaving the military, he started on a farm doing maintenance, then learned how to ride on a pony. Brennan was leaving his position at Kinsman Farm as head trainer at the time and going out on his own, and Smothers went with him as an exercise rider.

“His passion for the horse is unparalleled,” said Brennan of Smothers, “and his ability to give a shy horse confidence, an aggressive horse discipline, and all horses the ability to understand the breaking process with the minimal amount of stress is phenomenal.”

Click for the video feature on Smothers done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Dedication to Racing Award are Marcelo Arenas of Leah Gyarmati Stables and Shawn Autry of McPeek Racing, who will both be recognized on these pages in the coming days. The Dedication to Racing Award is presented annually to an individual who has been in the Thoroughbred racing industry for at least 10 years and is a pivotal part of his or her employer’s success.

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