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Aaron West of Bradley Thoroughbreds Named Finalist for Newcomer Award

Congratulations to Aaron West, one of three finalists in the Newcomer Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently the racing operations manager at Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, West originally hails from Arkansas, where he was bitten by the Thoroughbred bug at Oaklawn Park. A move to Kentucky followed, as did a graduation from the North American Racing Academy (NARA) after focusing on ground skills and barn management. First a yearling groom at Lane’s End Farm, West landed at Bradley Thoroughbreds. He coordinates with owners–making sure everyone is licensed, ensuring silks and papers are in the right spots, and organizing seating on race days; provides updates on breezes; works with trainers on horses’ targets; and more.

“Aaron comes to work every day with a can-do attitude,” said Pete Bradley.

Click for the video feature on West done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Newcomer Award are Robert Cole of FTBOA and Alexis Kolasa of Denali Stud. 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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Denali Stud’s Alexis Kolasa Named Finalist for Newcomer Award

Congratulations to Alexis Kolasa, one of three finalists in the Newcomer Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently an administrative assistant at Denali Stud, Kolasa was the captain of her college equestrian team at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. At Denali, she works on billing, gives tours via Horse Country, posts on social media, and tracks racing and sales graduates.

“We kind of call her our Swiss Army Knife; she has lots of different skills and assets rolled into one,” said Denali vice president Conrad Bandoroff.

Click for the video feature on Kolasa done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Newcomer Award are Robert Cole of FTBOA and Aaron West of Bradley Thoroughbreds LLC, who will be recognized on these pages tomorrow. 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.

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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.

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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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