The Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA), which ministers to the needs of those in the racing industry, honored WinStar Farm's Elliott Walden and outrider Bo Butler with the 22nd annual White Horse and Community Service Awards during the RTCA's “Night of Faith, Hope & Love” held during Breeders' Cup week. The awards are meant to recognize “selfless servants” throughout the industry.
Walden, who has served as the RTCA National President for six of the last seven years, was named the RTCA 2024 Community Service Award recipient. Among his other efforts, he was instrumental in establishing both the first full-time chaplain at Churchill Downs and the permanent chapel on the backstretch. The awards presentation featured tributes from Chaplain Humberto Chavez from New York, Chaplain John Shumaker from Turf Paradise and Arapahoe Park, RTCA Board Vice President Corey Johnsen, and a video message from Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day.
Butler was honored with the 2024 RTCA White Horse Award after defusing a dangerous situation at Fonner Park Mar. 3. With horses and jockeys down after clipping heels during a race, he sacrificed his own safety to keep a horse running the wrong way from colliding with the field and endangering the stricken riders and horses further. When he awoke in the hospital, his first thought was for his pony, who lost his life.
“I was doing my job and we were doing the best that we could to prevent worse things happening,” said Butler in a moving video.
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