education

Horse racing frequently talks about the importance of fan building, ownership development and growing our workforce. But imagine if the leading organizations in Thoroughbred racing truly joined forces to invest in tomorrow's fans, workforce, and owners. That's exactly what the golf industry did in 1997. The USGA, LPGA, Masters Tournament, PGA of America, and PGA TOUR collaborated to launch First Tee, a youth development non-profit with a mission to make golf accessible and affordable for all children. The USGA alone committed $3 million in the program's first three years--an amount...

Dear Readers, If you are reading this, you are likely already involved and educated enough to understand the challenges and struggles our beloved industry faces. Conversely, I would like to focus on a few of the amazing things that the Thoroughbred racing industry offers. I will then challenge others to bring to light more positive news from our industry. Unfortunately, much too often, the only Thoroughbred news that reaches the mainstream media is negative. We, as an industry, must share, educate and enlighten others, both inside and outside of our...

The Jockey Club will invest more than $6 million to support initiatives such as equine safety and aftercare, industry growth, promotion of the sport, education, and national and international collaboration as part of its Industry Impact Report released Wednesday. "We are proud of the many initiatives we support and that The Jockey Club's mission has not wavered in more than 130 years," said The Jockey Club's President and COO James L. Gagliano. "It is so encouraging to see how many other organizations are committed to improving and growing Thoroughbred racing,...

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. will host its annual general membership meeting and educational seminar Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The event, which features a free dinner and cocktail hour for attendees, will run from 5-8 p.m. This year's seminar topic will focus on equine financial management. Attendees will learn about stallion syndication deals, evaluations, and farm business management. The seminar, sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund, will feature Mark Toothaker, stallion sales manager for Spendthrift Farm, Len...

by Sara Gordon and Katie Petrunyak How do we guarantee a future for horse racing? Many will offer answers such as increased equine and track safety, improved wagering opportunities, and modernizing and embracing technological advancements. And though those are all extremely important, it will all be for naught if there is no incoming generation to grow the fan base and ultimately, hopefully, join the industry's workforce. That's where Amplify Horse Racing comes in. Founded in 2019 by Annise Montplaisir, now the Executive Director, and Madison Scott, a member of the...

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) will hold a pair of educational webinars ahead of upcoming rule changes that will go into effect July 8. The first, aimed towards trainers, will take place Monday, July 1 at 2 p.m. and will cover the impact of the modified rules along with a Q&A on the changes. To register and/or submit questions, click here. The HISA Town Hall series will continue with a one-hour webinar Monday, July 8 at 2 p.m. and will also include an overview on the major rule...

Registration is open for a Spring Break bus tour through Lexington, KY horse country hosted by Amplify Horse Racing, a nonprofit that spotlights industry education and career opportunities. The event, held Friday, April 5, will guide young adults age 13 and up through various places such as WinStar Farm's training center and Hallway Feeds before ending the day at Keeneland for racing on opening day. Tickets can be purchased here.

Mareworthy Charities, a group dedicated to supporting causes that positively impact the lives of Thoroughbred mares, has created a new program titled Mare Scouts. Mare Scouts offers a pathway for both experienced equestrians and newcomers to contribute to charitable initiatives while having a great time. Through various activities and events, participants progress through engagement levels, earning recognition and rewards along the way. The program operates on a tiered system and provides a structured approach for progression and involvement. Participants can engage in activities such as fund-raising, volunteering, educational courses, community...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Fund (TERF) is awarding the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) $10,000 to be used for educational purposes. The mission of the BCCA is to 'provide a safe, supporting and adcademically inspiring environment' for the children of parents working in the backstretch areas of Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga Race Course. TERF has awarded funds to the BCCA over the last four years which were used to fund their early childhood education program. The BCCA early childhood education program encompasses a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math)-based...

English may be his second language, but it certainly would have been difficult to guess when 2nd grader Markus won his school's spelling bee and went on to compete against kids several years his elder in a district-wide spelling tournament. Markus moved with his family to the U.S. several years ago when his parents started jobs working on a horse farm in Paris, Kentucky. His family valued education and after receiving a partial scholarship, Markus was able to attend St. Mary School in his new hometown, where his principal Miranda...

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) has opened their 2023 grant awards cycle. With the mission of bettering the life of Thoroughbreds, TERF primarily aims to support students in pursuit of education in equine industry careers and to fund research efforts which better the life of the Thoroughbred racehorse. The missions and programs of the organizations selected to receive this year's grant awards will reflect TERF's strategic focus and vision to support and promote equine education and research. Information regarding the grant award program can be found here.

The Thoroughbred Education and Research Foundation (TERF) will award $5,000 to Amplify Horse Racing to be used for educational, mentorship, and career opportunities. Amplify Horse Racing's mission is to spotlight careers and education in the thoroughbred industry by supporting and enhancing existing educational and engagement initiatives. In alignment with their mission to support and promote equine education through inclusion and engagement, TERF continues to offer financial assistance to programs in 2023.