Ocala Stud general manager David O'Farrell, president of the new Thoroughbred Racing Initiative The Thoroughbred Racing Initiative — an industry collaboration created to fight for live horse racing in Florida and elsewhere in the United States — officially launched today. The TRI’s immediate mission is to bring the Thoroughbred industry together to provide funding and [...]
Horsemen and racing enthusiasts who live in or have business interests in Florida, we need your help NOW! Take 30 seconds to send a message to Florida Senate that decoupling is a jobs and industry-killer. Even if you've already participated in one of our campaigns, this is a new one that sends a prepared letter to [...]
(Damon Thayer photo courtesy Kentucky Legislative Research Commission) As did Kentucky, Florida legislature should bet on live racing HB 105 would cripple industry's $3.24 billion impact, 33.5K jobs By Damon Thayer The Florida State Legislature is facing a crossroads similar to what we in Kentucky’s General Assembly faced in early 2021. At [...]
National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback (Photo by Gwen Davis) Horse racing is woven into the cultural and economic fabric of Florida as well as the United States. For generations, our sport has brought communities together, created jobs, served as the foundation for vibrant local economies and sparked an economic-driving industry. However, the proposed [...]
Conference registration and more information Q&A with Damon Thayer on HBPA.org Damon Thayer — who served as one of horse racing’s foremost champions during his 22-year tenure in the Kentucky General Assembly — will be the keynote speaker at the National HBPA Conference Feb. 25-27 in in Safety Harbor, Fla. Thayer will address the [...]
Spikezone winning Parx's $75,000 Let's Give Thanks Stakes on Nov. 27 under Mychel Sanchez (Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO) Spikezone, who overcame a second round of knee surgery to go 11 for 14 as a 5-year-old, has been named the National HBPA’s National Claiming Horse of the Year for 2024. The gelding’s 11 wins [...]
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) finds it necessary to address a recent press release picked up by several media outlets regarding decoupling from live racing. The press release from Gulfstream Park ("1/ST") contains inaccuracies pertaining to the Gulfstream horsemen and their affiliation. The NHBPA wishes to clarify that the Gulfstream horsemen’s association is [...]
The interactive, electronic version of The Horsemen’s Journal’s Winter 2024 issue is now available online. It is an enhanced version of the printed magazine, which is currently being mailed. To view it, click here. Features in the issue include: Back to the Bluegrass The Claiming Crown returned to Kentucky for a successful 26th renewal at [...]
Damon Thayer (right) with trainer and Kentucky HBPA President Dale Romans (Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation) Citizen legislator chapter ends; involvement in industry won’t Damon Thayer on Jan. 1, 2025 ends his 22-year run as a Kentucky State Senator, the last 13 as the Republican Majority Floor Leader, having announced last December [...]
Photo by Gwen Davis/Davis Innovation Dale Romans is the new president of the Kentucky HBPA, following the long tenure of fellow trainer Rick Hiles. Romans was voted president by the newly seated Kentucky HBPA board. The longest continuously serving board member, Romans has been on the HBPA board for most of his training career that began in 1986, [...]