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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.

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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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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Indiana Grand’s Roy Smith Named Finalist for Leadership Award in Racing

Congratulations to Roy Smith, one of three finalists in the Leadership Award in Racing category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. The track superintendent at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, Smith has been “a track man [his] whole life.” He says he was born and raised at Indiana Grand, as his father was a trainer. He grew up walking hots, became a groom, ponied, became an assistant track superintendent, and did just about everything on the backside other than become a trainer, a route he knew he didn’t want to follow. After time at Suffolk Downs, he spent 31 years as Philadelphia Park’s track superintendent before coming home to Indiana Grand six years ago.

“Track superintendents are such a vital part of the overall racing scene,” said nominator Joe Carr. “As part of his lifelong passion for the industry, [Smith] has dedicated his life to the health and welfare of the horse, the rider, and the track personnel through his work. He is a global resource of racetrack management knowledge and shares that knowledge through the Track Superintendents Field Day he established over 15 years ago.”

Click for the video feature on Smith done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Leadership Award in Racing are Carmen McShane of D/M Racing and Cindy Hutter of George Weaver Racing. The Leadership Award in Racing is presented annually to an individual who is part of Thoroughbred racing in a managerial or supervisory role and displays exceptional leadership qualities.

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Weaver Racing’s Cindy Hutter Named Finalist for Leadership Award in Racing

Congratulations to Cindy Hutter, one of three finalists in the Leadership Award in Racing category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Currently assistant trainer at George Weaver Racing, whose principal also happens to be her husband, Hutter grew up in Pennsylvania and knew from about the time she was 15 that she wanted a life with horses. One of her earliest employers was Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, whom she stayed with for eight years until leaving with Todd Pletcher to become his assistant trainer when he went out on his own. Hutter has been in the industry for 35 years.

“I have so much respect for her,” said Weaver’s assistant at Belmont, Blair Golen. “She would never ask you to do something that she wouldn’t do herself. She expects the best from us every day, but that is because she gives her best every day.”

Click for the video feature on Hutter done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Leadership Award in Racing are Carmen McShane of D/M Racing and Roy Smith of Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, who will be recognized on these pages tomorrow. The Leadership Award in Racing is presented annually to an individual who is part of a Thoroughbred racing stable in a managerial or supervisory role and displays exceptional leadership qualities.

The post Weaver Racing’s Cindy Hutter Named Finalist for Leadership Award in Racing appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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