NTRA

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has joined the certified public accounting and professional business advisory firm, Dean Dorton, in conducting a nationwide survey focused on Thoroughbred horse farm employee compensation. The survey includes questions related to average hourly and salary pay rates for various positions, bonuses, health insurance, housing, visa programs, internships, retirement plans, and more. All Thoroughbred farm owners are encouraged to complete this survey, which will allow comparison and sharing of state-specific results to those of the nationwide respondents. All information from specific respondents will remain completely...

Stephanie Hronis, a long-time member of the Thoroughbred racing community, has been added as a board member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Political Action Committee. The move was announced Monday by Board Chairman Bill Farish and President Tom Rooney. Hronis is part of the Hronis Racing ownership team, alongside her husband Kosta, his brother Pete, and their family. "It is a great honor to join the NTRA Horse PAC® and to support the significant work being done to ensure the longevity of the horse racing industry," Hronis said. "This...

Since the advent of professional sports, change has been a necessary part of the game. Adjustments have been made to make sports more safe, more practical, and more entertaining for the audiences. While change is never easy, sometimes it's necessary. From adding the three-point line in basketball, to implementing more stringent concussion protocols in football, to adding the pitch clock in baseball, making changes in sports doesn't mean taking away from the sport. Instead, change helps the sport evolve with the times, and make the experience as positive as possible...

Britney Eurton, Acacia Courtney Clement and Nick Luck will co-host the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) said in a release Wednesday. Held on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 at The Breakers Palm Beach, Caton Bredar will be again serving as the Ceremony Announcer. "We are very excited for this wide range of talent to host this year's Eclipse Awards and for FanDuel TV to bring it live to households across the country," said NTRA President...

Steve Byk, who hosts Sirius XM radio magazine 'At the Races With Steve Byk', is once again teaming with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) for the 'Beat Byk NHC Challenge,' offering a seat at the 2024 National Horseplayers' Championship. Running from July 15 through Sept. 4, Byk will select the weekend stakes races that comprise that week's promotion and announce them his show and on his Twitter page. During the initial promotional period, there will be 17 chances to qualify to the Beat Byk NHC Online Qualifier on September...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced the disqualification of three unnamed players from the NHC and NHC Tour for a period of two years on Thursday. After hearing input from the horseplayer community and others in the industry, the NTRA revealed on Friday that the players who colluded are Jordan Jayne, James Pauly and Ryan Patrick Scully. "Protecting the integrity of the NTRA and the NHC tournament is among my highest priorities in this job," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "By not initially releasing the names of the...

Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into state law the self-described "strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country." Under the new statute--the bulk of which goes into effect on July 1--business owners with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the immigration status of new hires, and be subjected to enforceable penalties for employing undocumented workers, as well as stricter penalties for sending undocumented workers across state lines to work in Florida, among other provisions. When enforced, the new stringent laws are highly likely to impact everyone...

Effective June 5, Amber Florence was named vice president of finance and administration for The Jockey Club, the organization said in a release Thursday. "I am excited to be back in the Thoroughbred industry and look forward to working with The Jockey Club and its diverse group of companies, charities, and initiatives," Florence said. Prior to joining The Jockey Club, Florence served as the vice president of Corporate Accounting for MiddleGround Capital, where she led the finance operations of the private equity firm's management company. Florence's experience before MiddleGround was...

Two pieces of federal legislation to incentivize investments in Thoroughbreds were reintroduced Apr. 27 by United States Reps. Andy Barr and Morgan McGarvey, both of Kentucky. The Race Horse Cost Recovery Act of 2023 would make the three-year depreciation schedule permanent for racehorses, regardless of their age when put into service. Currently, Congress must reauthorize this provision in the tax law on an annual basis. The Racehorse Tax Parity Act would reduce the holding period for equine assets to be considered long term capital gains, putting them on a level...

Edited Press Release Paul Calia, a retired disability advisor for Social Security from Kansas City, Missouri, toppled a field of 779 entries to take home the grand prize of $800,000, in addition to finishing in fourth place with his second entry--good for another $150,000-- to earn an Eclipse Award and Horseplayer of the Year honors during the NTRA National Horseplayers' Championship which concluded Sunday in Las Vegas. This is the first contest that Calia has ever won. Calia amassed winnings of $362.50 on his first entry, and $305.50 on his...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced that Jose Arias, Dennis Decauwer, Jim Goodman, and Bill Shurman have been voted by their peers for induction into the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship's Hall of Fame. The handicappers represent the ninth class of NHC Hall of Fame inductees and will be recognized during the NHC Champions Dinner Sunday, Mar. 12, 2023 at the conclusion of the NTRA National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas. For more information on the latest inductees, click here.

Ralph Thomas Waldrop, Sr., a life-long resident of Mayfield, Kentucky and the father of former longtime head of the NTRA Alex Waldrop, passed away Friday, Feb. 24, surrounded by family at his home. He was 100 years old. Waldrop was born June 7, 1922, near Mayfield. As a young boy growing up during the Great Depression, he worked many jobs including as a newspaper boy for the Louisville Courier-Journal where he was recognized as a statewide top-seller and as a caddy at Mayfield Golf and Country, where he was a...