McShane, Hutter, Smith Up for Racing Leadership Award

Carmen McShane, Cindy Hutter, and Roy Smith have been named finalists for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards' Leadership Award (Racing). A winner will be announced Nov. 5 during a virtual ceremony scheduled for noon ET. 

Presented by Godolphin, the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards recognize and reward the outstanding talent, diligence, and commitment of the farm and racing stable staff who are at the heart of horse racing. The Leadership Award in the Racing category is presented to an individual in a Thoroughbred racing stable, in a managerial or supervisory role with more than two employees, who displays exceptional leadership qualities—particularly in terms of motivating, mentoring, and supporting colleagues in the workplace.

McShane, the assistant trainer for D/M Racing, has put her heart into Thoroughbred racing for over 30 years. She has been a jockey, exercise rider, and an outrider, while also helping to look after horses on the farm.

"She is the first one to the barn and the last one to leave. If there were more hours in the day, I believe she'd spend those at the barn as well," said McShane's nominator and daughter, Michelle.

A leader by example and compassion, McShane is the first person to offer help when someone around her needs it. From examples of D/M Racing interns to her own experience, her daughter added: "I learn something new from my mother at the barn almost daily."

WATCH: TIEA Leadership Award (Racing): Carmen McShane

Hutter, the assistant trainer of George Weaver Racing, has been working in the Thoroughbred industry for 35 years. After working for D. Wayne Lukas, she went on to work as an assistant to Todd Pletcher before she became assistant trainer to her husband, George Weaver, when he started training in his own name.

"I have so much respect for her. She would never ask you to do something that she wouldn't do herself," nominator Blair Golen said. "She expects the best from us every day, but that is because she gives her best every day."

WATCH: TIEA Leadership Award (Racing): Cindy Hutter

From a young age, Indiana Grand track superintendent Smith has worked in a variety of aspects of the Thoroughbred racing industry, from hotwalker to groom to outrider and assistant track superintendent. As track superintendent at Philadelphia Park, a position he held for 31 years, Roy helped establish Track Superintendent Field Day to promote collaboration among track superintendents with the goal of increased safety of track surfaces.

"Track superintendents are such a vital part of the overall racing scene. As part of his lifelong passion for the industry, Roy has dedicated his life to the health and welfare of the horse, the rider, and the track personnel through his work," nominator Joe Carr said. "He is a global resource of racetrack management knowledge and shares that knowledge through the Track Superintendents Field Day he established over 15 years ago."

WATCH: TIEA Leadership Award (Racing): Roy Smith