The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards concluded this afternoon during an awards ceremony at Keeneland Racecourse's Sales Pavilion. Winners were announced in a total of seven categories with a total of $122,000 awarded. Frank Mirahmadi, track announcer at Santa Anita and Saratoga Racecourse, served as the master of ceremonies. The full list of winners and runners-up is as follows:
Newcomer Award, sponsored by NYRA
Winner: Johnathan Estrada, Groom, David Donk
(Runners-up: Charles Churchill, Ed Brown Society and 1/ST Racing Intern, Stronach Group; Maddie Rowland, Apprentice Jockey Monmouth Park, Elizabeth Merryman nominator)
Support Services Award, sponsored by I Am Horse Racing
Winner: Laura Scheer, Crossing Guard, New York Racing Association
(Runners-up: Tim Tullock, Jr., Compliance Officer, Maryland Jockey Club; Walter Johnson, Travel Agent, Protravel International)
Katherine McKee Administration Award sponsored by Keeneland
Winner: Darla Shoemaker Gaige, Office Administration, Charles Town HBPA
(Runners-up: Angela Ramsey, Finance Manager and Human Resources, Sequel Holdings; Blair Eads, Production and Marketing Manager, Equix)
Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Hallway Feeds
Winner: Don Jenkins, Groom, Darby Dan Farm
(Runners-up: Danny Mitchell, Foaling Manager, Denali Stud; Steve Holbrook, Assistant Manager, Coolmore America)
Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by the NTRA
Winner: Felipe Pulido Mendoza, Groom, Richard Mandella Racing
(Runners-up: Alice Clapham, Assistant Trainer, Graham Motion Racing; Danny Ramsey, Exercise Rider, McPeek Racing Stables)
Leadership Award, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Winner: Leanna Willaford, Assistant Trainer, Bill Mott
(Runners-up: Anne Eberhardt-Keogh, Visuals Director, BloodHorse Publications; Matthew Zehnder, Equine Resources Coordinator, University of Kentucky Maine Chance Farm)
Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award, sponsored by Churchill Downs
Winner: Jessica Hammond, Benevolence and Counseling Director & Program Administrator for Beyond the Wire, Georganne Hale, nominator
Runner-up: Dr. Kyle Roper, Regional Medical Director, CHI St. Vincent
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