TCA to Honor Roytz and Our Mims Retirement Haven

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Jen Roytz with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Our Mims Retirement Haven with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 32nd Annual Stallion Season Auction's 'Tis the Season Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at Grand Reserve in Lexington, Ky.

The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past award winners include LNJ Foxwoods, Dan Rosenberg, Barbara Banke, Bourbon Lane Stable, Graham and Anita Motion, Frank Stronach, Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and Madeline Auerbach.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Roytz is a marketing and communications specialist based in Central Kentucky with a professional background in Thoroughbred racing, breeding, and aftercare. Over the past 10 years, Roytz served in the capacities of board member, marketing consultant, and executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project. Roytz is a partner in Topline Communications and was previously marketing director for Three Chimneys Farm. Roytz is a passionate advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare and regularly speaks on the topic at both the national and local levels. She and her husband, Dr. Stuart Brown, own and operate Brownstead Farm, a breeding, sales, racing, and sport horse facility in Versailles, Ky. Her dedication to the well-being of Thoroughbreds during and after their racing careers exemplifies the spirit of the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award.

The Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award is presented annually to an organization that works to uphold TCA's mission. Past award winners include the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Backstretch Employee Service Team, The Jockey Club's Thoroughbred Incentive Program, CANTER USA, Retired Racehorse Project, Belmont Child Care Association, Old Friends, and New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

Founded in 2007 by Jeanne Mirabito, Our Mims Retirement Haven is the only Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the U.S. dedicated solely to caring for retired broodmares. The organization's namesake is the 1977 champion 3-year-old filly whom Mirabito adopted in 1997. As a tribute to the mare, Our Mims Retirement Haven was created to help many more broodmares at the conclusion of their breeding careers. Sadly, in 2020, Mirabito passed away; however, her husband, Pete Mirabito, and the organization's board of directors proudly carry on the organization's vision and mission.

The Stallion Season Auction opens with an online auction of stallion seasons at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 5 and continues through 4:30 p.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 7. Over 150 seasons will be available in the online auction including Audible  , Basin  , Candy Ride  , McKinzie  , More Than Ready  , Speightstown  , and Volatile  . A full list of seasons is available here.

Most of the seasons will sell during the online auction; however, select seasons to Bolt d'Oro  , Charlatan  , City of Light  , Constitution  , Liam's Map  , Maxfield   (with 2023 breed back), Nyquist   (with 2023 breed back), Quality Road  , and Yaupon   (with 2023 breed back) will be sold at the 'Tis the Season Celebration on Sunday, Jan. 9. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on select seasons by attending the event in person or they may email ecrady@tca.org to register to bid online. Non-season items, including a John Deere Gator, accommodations at the Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa "tree house," a wall box and stall webbing from Charlie Whittingham's barn, and more will also be offered in the live auction. Tickets can be purchased here.

An online silent auction of non-season items, including halters worn by Life Is Good , Curlin  , Charlatan, Tapit  , Knicks Go  , and more will be offered. A list of silent auction items is available here. More items will be added.

The auction is generously sponsored by Limestone Bank, Coolmore America, Equine Medical Associates, Bourbon Lane Stable, L.V. Harkness & Co., BloodHorse, Paulick Report, and Thoroughbred Daily News. For further information regarding the TCA Stallion Season Auction please visit tca.org or call (859) 276-4989.