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‘Unusual Times Call For Creative Solutions’: NYRA Goes Virtual To Support Toys For Tots

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) is proud to announce that it will continue its longtime support of the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation, which is being conducted virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NYRA encourages fans to donate at https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/ during the upcoming virtual weekend of giving on Friday, Dec. 4; Cigar Mile Day on Saturday, Dec. 5; and on Sunday, Dec. 6. Members of the Marine Corps Reserve will use the funds to collect and distribute new and unwrapped toys for children and families during the holidays.

In contrast to previous years when NYRA and the Marine Corps Reserve set up donation boxes around Aqueduct Racetrack to collect toys, cash contributions, and checks for Toys for Tots, fans are asked to make donations online – via credit card with a secure one-step process; or by selecting and donating toys via the organization's virtual toy box. This process also allows donations both this weekend and throughout the year.

“Unusual times call for creative solutions and by giving virtually, fans can continue the tradition of working with the Marine Corps Reserve to make sure children throughout New York City and across Long Island receive toys for the holidays,” said Vanessa Rodriguez Payne, NYRA Community Relations Manager. “New York racing fans and our employees have generously supported Toys for Tots for years, and we're pleased to encourage that giving spirit again in 2020.”

As part of its support of the Toys for Tots Foundation, NYRA is making a financial contribution to the organization. Toys for Tots is also supported by generous contributions from the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA) and thoroughbred owner Harold Lerner.

“NYTHA is proud to one again support the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Foundation and the outstanding work they do in bringing joy to children,” said NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum. “Our horsemen are a vital part of our local communities, and we strongly believe it is our responsibility to support our friends and neighbors during the holidays, and all year round.”

Lerner cited the age-old mission of making the holidays extra special for children as his reason for supporting Toys for Toys, now in its 73rd year of giving.

“There has never been a more important time than now to lend a helping hand to our fellow New Yorkers,” he said. “I hope these acts of kindness will inspire the children receiving gifts to go on to do great things, knowing that there is a community that cares about them.”

Though New York state currently requires all racetracks to operate without spectators in attendance to combat the spread of COVID-19, the employees, horsemen and jockeys at Aqueduct will be able to leave donations of new and unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots this weekend in a bin outside the Jockey Room. Checks made out to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation can be mailed to: U.S. Marine Corps; Attention: GySgt, John Sardine; 605 Stewart Avenue; Garden City, NY 11530.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card. First post is 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

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50th Annual Eclipse Awards Ceremony To Be Held Virtually On Jan. 28

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form (DRF) and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) today announced that the 50TH annual Eclipse Awards ceremony, honoring Thoroughbred racing's champions of 2020, will be held on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 as a virtual event, with portions hosted from historic Spendthrift Farm in Lexington.

Winners in 17 human and equine categories will be announced in a virtual ceremony streamed live on multiple outlets, including TVG and Racetrack Television Network, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. on Jan. 28.

The finalists for the 2020 Eclipse Awards will be announced on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021.

“Aligning the 50th Eclipse Awards with a historic property like Spendthrift Farm, serving as the backdrop for the broadcast, is a natural,” said Keith Chamblin, NTRA Chief Operating Officer. “Earlier this summer when it became clear that the 2020 Eclipse Awards ceremony would need to be a virtual event, we began discussions with Spendthrift about hosting portions of the event. Not only is Spendthrift one of the leading stallion farms in the world, steeped in a great tradition of champions, under the leadership of B. Wayne Hughes it has led the way in introducing innovations to the industry like Safe Bet, Share the Upside and MyRaceHorse.com.”

The Eclipse Awards are named after the great 18th-century racehorse and foundation sire Eclipse, who began racing at age five and was undefeated in 18 starts, including eight walkovers. Eclipse sired the winners of 344 races, including three Epsom Derbies. Eclipse Awards are voted on by representatives of the NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and NTWAB.

In addition to Spendthrift Farm, Eclipse Awards sponsors include Keeneland, Roberts Communications, Four Roses Bourbon, Daily Racing Form, Breeders' Cup, FanDuel, The Stronach Group, TVG, Dean Dorton, Jackson Family Wines, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, and Hallway Feeds.

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Free Virtual Equine Industry Symposium Focuses On COVID-19 Response

Over the last eight months, the struggles of COVID-19 have affected our day-to-day lives. In the wake of the global pandemic, the theme of this year's Equine Industry Symposium will be RESILIENCE: Rethinking, Restructuring, Revaluating due to COVID-19. The event will be hosted as a live webinar via a zoom platform from November 16th through November 20th, 2020 each evening from 7 to 8 p.m. EST. This event is free upon advanced registration at the Eventbrite website.

How has COVID-19 affected you and your horse? Come find out at the 5th annual Equine Industry Symposium held virtually November 16-20, 2020.

Many of those in the equine industry have been impacted by the pandemic in multiple ways. Some of these challenges result from a lack of preparation, which can lead to insufficiencies both financial and of animal well-being. To address how to overcome these negative experiences and plan for a brighter future, each evening of this year's Equine Industry Symposium is focused on exploring the challenges presented by the pandemic, understanding its effects on the equine industry, discussing opportunities to re-evaluate and restructure, and proactively planning for situations similar to this that may occur in the years to come.

The symposium is hosted by students in the Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management Equine Management degree program at the University of Guelph, together with Ontario Equestrian and Equestrian Canada. Over the five evenings, live and pre-recorded speakers will discuss the effects of the pandemic in their areas of expertise followed by live question and answer sessions.

On Monday evening, Bronwynne Wilton from the Wilton Group will give a summary of the report provided to Equestrian Canada on the effects of COVID-19 on the equine industry. An open discussion with Danielle Glanc, farm policy analyst with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Jonathan Zammit, executive director of Ontario Racing, and Christine Reupke, director of Equestrian & Breed Sport at the Royal Horseshow in Toronto, Canada will provide insight on how they viewed and approached the pandemic from their respective equine communities.

On Tuesday evening, Melanie Barham will discuss farm and business planning. Sean Jones from Sunlife Financial will provide a five-step action list for designing a recession-proof financial plan. Catherine Willson, equine lawyer, and Mike King from Capri CMW insurance will discuss insurance implications and risk mitigation in light of COVID-19.

Wednesday evening will examine the effects of the pandemic on horse welfare. Gayle Ecker, director of Equine Guelph, will present the minimum standards of care as outlined in the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines. Roly Owers, CEO of World Horse Welfare, will analyze what welfare means and how to cope with pandemic restrictions without compromising welfare. Bettina Bobsien will discuss responsible decision-making for older and retiring horses.

On Thursday evening, Stewart Everett, UK Equine Register, and Nic de Brauwere, Redwings Sanctuary, will outline the traceability program in the UK. Kristy House from Equestrian Canada will give a summary of how traceability will be implemented in Canada and how it will assist with emergency situations like the pandemic.

Friday evening will begin with an address from Assistant Deputy Minister Frederic Seppey, Market and Industry Service Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, on how the equine industry is positioned and how the ministry can support the industry moving forward. Kristy House, Equestrian Canada and Tracey McCaugue-McElrea, Ontario Equestrian, will discuss how industry organizations are helping the industry as a whole. The symposium will conclude with highlights of some of the positives that have emerged from the pandemic.

While this event is free, attendees may wish to support “For the Herd”, an emergency fundraiser administered by Ontario Equestrian to assist riding schools that are struggling to provide for their horses due to the loss of revenue from lessons and camps due to COVID-19. All proceeds raised go toward riding school facilities and their school horses across the province. For more information and to donate visit the For the Herd Website.

Rutgers Hosts Virtual Equine Expert Panel

The Rutgers University Equine Science Center will host an “Ask the Expert” webinar on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. The panelists will address equine health, manure and pasture management, exercise physiology and more.

The panelists include:

Dr. Michael Fugaro, New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners

Dr. Karyn Malinowski, Founding Director, Rutgers University Equine Science Center

Dr. Kenneth McKeever, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Dr. Michael Westendorf, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Dr. Carey Williams, Rutgers University Department of Animal Sciences

Learn more and register for the event here.

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