The Legislative Action Committee of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) attracted voluntary contributions in 2019 of $750,000, the highest amount contributed to the campaign since the pre-recession year of 2008. The NTRA LAC is a program that supports the breeding and racing industry's federal legislative efforts in Washington, D.C.
More than 5,000 individuals and farms support the program and the funds are raised primarily through the NTRA's voluntary check-off program supported by buyers and consignors at Thoroughbred auctions equal to one-quarter of one percent of the prices of horses sold. Also contributing to the program are the sales companies themselves, National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) members who contribute a portion of their $50 annual dues and supporters of the NTRA Foal Program.
The work in Washington of the NTRA federal legislative team, funded entirely by the LAC, has directly contributed to such recent industry successes as the COVID-19 economic relief legislation available to segments of the horse breeding and racing industry and the reinstatement of three-year depreciation as an option for all racehorses.
“We thank the more than 1,000 consignors, buyers and farms that participate in the check-off program, and the thousands of NHC Tour members for the outstanding results with last year's Legislative Action Campaign,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “We also greatly appreciate our sales company partners at Keeneland, Fasig-Tipton, Ocala Breeders Sales (OBS) and the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (WTBOA), who support our legislative fundraising efforts by allowing the NTRA to work with their buyers and sellers across the country.”
The NTRA LAC annual report may be accessed here.
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