Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is hosting a webinar for THA trainers Sept. 6, featuring representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor - Wage & Hour Division, as well as the New York State Department of Labor. Topics will include employer requirements for the H-2B visa program, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and investigative processes, along with labor law specifics for New York State employers. Speakers will include: Sarah Decker, Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist - DOL/Wage & Hour Division; Cynthia Spahl, Regional Enforcement Coordinator for the...

Tina Marie Bond, recently elected president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), added the office of president of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA) to her duties after the THA's annual meeting and election Mar. 19-20 in Florida. "It's an honor to be elected president of such an esteemed collective," said Bond, who is the first woman ever to helm the organization. "THA is at the forefront of collaborative decision-making and policy implementation on issues such as racehorse aftercare, equine safety and welfare, and protecting the integrity of our...

A panel discussion titled "From Data to Dollars: Understanding Horse Racing's Economic Impact As Racing's Future is Questioned" during Wednesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) led off with moderator Alan Foreman confronting "the elephant in the room that we dodge." Foreman, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said racing is facing an "existential moment" at a time when industry stakeholders increasingly must make the case for the sport's so-called social license to exist in the...

The opening months of 2019 were still fresh in California lawmakers' minds when they passed a bill that summer giving the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) emergency authority to suspend racing at a track without the hitherto required 10-day public notice period. The precipitating event, of course, was the spate of equine fatalities that had covered Santa Anita, and the racing industry in general, under a pall of public condemnation--the exact same kind of scrutiny Churchill Downs has faced these past few weeks, culminating with the announced switch of racing...

Laurel Park will be open for training on Thursday and Friday, with the intent to run this Saturday, Apr. 29, Alan Foreman, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (THA), said by phone Wednesday afternoon. Last Saturday's cancelled Apr. 22 card of 98 entries included a pair of $100,000 races in the Native Dancer S. and the Primonetta S., scheduled for the main track. This time around, the racing office has taken 116 entries over 11 races with the same slate of five stakes. The decision...

Greg Means died suddenly two weeks ago at the age of 62. If his name doesn't ring a bell, it should. For over two decades working with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Greg and his firm the Alpine Group were our principal lobbyists in Washington. It was Greg's responsibility to promote and advocate for the economic health and well-being of our industry during very challenging times as competition from other forms of gaming grew and animal rights advocates questioned our relevance and very existence. He was a great advocate...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority will be implementing changes to HISA Rule 2276, which pertains to full outer rim shoes and toe grabs. The rule will not be enforced for horses racing on dirt that are shod with traction devices on their hind feet in the form of either a full outer rim shoe or a toe grab, both up to 4mm in height. All other provisions of the rule will remain the same and be enforced Aug. 1 as previously announced. Click here to read the full HISA...

Edited Press Release The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associations, Inc, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Thoroughbred Owners of California, and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association collectively have established a diverse group of experienced horsemen, regulators, and veterinarians to review the extensive documents regarding HISA's proposed rules. Each reviewer provided written comments in an open letter to HISA and they are summarized below. Racetrack vs Training Facilities--The inclusion of training facilities in the statute was designed to ensure that horsemen could not evade the requirements for racetracks by stabling at training facilities. HISA needs to...

Alan Foreman, the chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Tuesday afternoon as the Green Group Guest of the Week. Discussing the upcoming 2022 MATCH series for mid-Atlantic horses, a program he spearheaded, and providing updates on the scheduled renovation projects at Pimlico and Laurel, Foreman also called upon his legal expertise to weigh in on Bob Baffert's appeal of the GI Kentucky Derby disqualification and why the THA supports the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act. While many in the racing...

Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association CEO Alan Foreman joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to talk about the MATCH Series schedule, which kicks off in April at Laurel Park, and give the latest updates on the much-discussed renovation of Pimlico Race Course.

Industry veteran Andy Belfiore, who has honed her skills on both the backside and on executive teams, has been named the new Executive Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA). For the last two years, Belfiore has been the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Project Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. The Massachusetts native spent the four years prior to that as Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "The FHBPA board members as well as myself are delighted that Andy accepted our...

The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association issued a statement Tuesday regarding the proposed Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, which was announced Monday and is expected to be introduced in the Senate this month. THA Chairman Alan Foreman said: "For the past year, the THA has been actively involved with industry leaders in seeking solutions to our medication issues and in enacting rules, policies and protocols to enhance the health, safety and welfare of our horses. It has been our widely-expressed view that the original Horseracing Integrity Act, as proposed, should encompass mandatory...