TIEA Winners Honored at Keeneland
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Photo: Coady Photography
Winners of the inagural Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Sponsored by Godolphin
The inaugural edition of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Sponsored by Godolphin concluded Oct. 7 at Keeneland.
Winners were honored in five categories along with runners-up. Churchill Downs' Jill Byrne was the master of ceremonies with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas on hand as presenter of the awards.
"The judges remarked about the difficulty in separating a winner in each category, as the quality of the nominees was simply outstanding," said Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin America. "I'd just like to say congratulations to all the winners and to their colleagues who sent in the nominations, and to the judges who took on the task of selecting the winners."
The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, with a total prize money of $115,000, were managed and administered by the Horsemen's Protective and Benevolent Association, The Jockey Club, and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Media partners are BloodHorse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, and TVG.
"Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists and winners," said TOBA CEO Dan Metzger. "These are the people that are so vital to our racing and breeding industry and it's just tremendous to see them being recognized in this way. And on the behalf of TOBA, The Jockey Club, and the HBPA, thank you to Godolphin for bringing this program to America and for allowing us to be its industry partners in such a great event."
The full list of winners and runners-up is as follows:
Dedication to Breeding Award
James Sebastian, handler, mares and foals, Claiborne Farm
(Runners-up: Everett "Powell County" Charles, groom, Stone Farm and Leon Hamilton, foreman, Ashview Farm)
Dedication to Racing Award
Jose "Vinny" Castaneda, groom, Marty Jones Racing Stable
(Runners-up: Danny Ramsey, exercise rider, Kenny McPeek Racing and Raul Rodriguez, groom, Sherman Racing Stable)
Leadership Award—Farm
Victor Espinoza, farm manager, Brookdale Farm
(Runners-up: John Hall, yearling manager, Taylor Made Farm and Matt Koch, owner/manager, Shawhan Place)
Leadership Award—Racing
Melissa Cohen, assistant trainer, Richard Violette
(Runners-up: Jimmy Barnes, assistant trainer, Bob Baffert and Las Guerra, assistant trainer, Mike Maker)
Thoroughbred Industry Community Award
Israel "Izzy" Vega, racetrack chaplain, Racetrack Chaplaincy of California