Industry News

Eric Thomson has been named Churchill Downs Racetrack's new Senior Vice President of Marketing & Partnerships. Thomson, who will report to Churchill Downs Racetrack President Mike Anderson, will lead marketing, brand strategy, partnerships, sponsorships, licensing and creative services for Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Thomson joins Churchill Downs from Pernod Ricard, where he held senior global and regional marketing leadership roles across some of the world's best-known premium wine and spirits brands. Over more than 20 years, he has led brand strategy, marketing innovation and high-profile collaborations across sports,...

Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be present at Del Mar for Pacific Classic Day Saturday to raise awareness for accredited aftercare. The organization will be honored with a named race on the day's undercard. TAA's Director of Social Media Hannah Bloom will host winners of the 2026 "Off to the Races" VIP Experience online benefit auction that was generously donated by Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Based in Lexington, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that accredits, inspects, and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retrain, retire, and rehome Thoroughbreds...

Liam Cunningham was the winner of the TbSales Step Challenge, which invited users to predict how many steps tbSales employee Marcel de Arruda would take while picking up consignor cards at the Fasig-Tipton sales. Cunningham, a graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program was at the sale working for Runnymede. De Arruda walked 18,828 steps during the sale, a number verified by Fasig CEO Boyd Browning. Liam's guess was 19,293. For his closest-to-correct guess, Cunningham won a Garmin Vivosmart 5 Fitness tracker. De Arruda was said to be surprised, as...

Payson Stud President Christian Erickson, prominent owner/breeder Jonathan Green, and trainer Gary Mandella have been appointed to the Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA)  Board of Directors, the group announced Friday. Additionally, Mike McMahon was reappointed president, Marette Farrell was named vice-president, Shannon Griffin was named secretary, and Marshall Gramm was reappointed treasurer. That trio joins current TCA Directors Ben Bernhard, Carrie Brogden, Torie Gladwell, Ryan Mahan, Dan Metzger, Liam O'Rourke, Mandy Pope, Cathy Shircliff, Brook Smith, and Jesse Ullery. Formed in 1990, Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) raises and distributes...

Edited Press Release The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced a new partnership naming New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech), a leader in career-oriented professional education, as the presenting sponsor of NYRA's community-focused educational initiatives, Leg Up! and Students to the Starting Gate. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to creating meaningful educational experiences, introducing young people to new career pathways, and helping students build the skills and confidence needed to succeed in school and beyond. Launched by NYRA in 2024, the Leg Up! program is...

Edited Press Release Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) hosted its first Equine Assisted Services Summit in Saratoga Springs, NY, on Aug. 12, bringing together professionals and organizations from across the aftercare community specializing in equine-assisted services to examine the growing role of retired Thoroughbred racehorses in therapeutic, educational, and human services programs. The summit was held at two Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredited organizations: Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga and Long Shadows Charitable Foundation. The summit opened with remarks from Stacie Clark Rogers of Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, followed by a welcome from Erin...

Marc Holliday, a Thoroughbred owner, breeder and chairman of The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA), and his wife Sheree, an avid and competitive equestrian, were honored Wednesday, Aug. 12, with the John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney Award for their generous support of the New York backstretch community at the New York Race Track Chaplaincy's 19th Annual Fundraising Brunch at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the non-profit said in a Wednesday press release. "The backstretch community is the lifeblood of any racetrack and Sheree and I are proud to support...

The Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (PTHA) will celebrate its horsemen and membership with the annual Owners & Trainers Appreciation Day this Saturday, Aug. 15, at Parx Racing, the organization said via a press release on Wednesday. The 12-race program will feature more than $700,000 in total purses, with first post scheduled for 12:40 p.m. ET.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association today unveiled an all-new brand and logo for Ocala, Marion County, Horse Capital of the World®--the federally registered trademark it has owned and managed since 1997--the organization said in a Tuesday press release. The Association also opened its Official Partners program, inviting brands and organizations that build the region's community and equine industry to align with the mark.

LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society, Woodbine's local Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) accredited non-profit dedicated to caring and retraining retired Thoroughbreds, will host a 50/50 raffle this week leading up to Saturday's 167th King's Plate. The 50/50 raffle is open to participants across Ontario and tickets will be available for purchase online via the LongRun 50/50 Raffle website. It will run from Monday, Aug. 10 through King's Plate Day Saturday, Aug. 15. Tickets are available for $10 for 5 tickets, $25 for 25 tickets, $50 for 100 tickets, or $100 for 250...

The 'Ship & Win' program at Santa Anita will return for the Autumn meet starting Friday, Sept. 25 and run through Sunday, Nov.1, the track announced Monday. The six-week stand features increased overnight purses in addition to a stakes schedule topped by seven 'Win and You're In' events for the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. For this year's meeting, horses from out of state who made just one start at the Del Mar summer meet will remain eligible for the 'Ship & Win' purse bonus provided they did not make an...

The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA), which has awarded more than $330,000 in scholarships since 2000, is awarding $79,000 in college scholarships this year to the families of 23 licensed backstretch employees, according to a release from the FHBPA Friday. "The FHBPA is very proud of this year's recipients," said trainer Ron Spatz, co-chairman of the scholarship program along with Kathy Davies. "Since 2000, when this program was started by our late executive director and horseman Kent Stirling, we've seen the impact these scholarships have made for the...