NYTB presents annual Nielsen & Malloy Winkler scholarships Friday at the Spa

By Sarah Mace

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) presented its two annual scholarships, the Gerald A. Nielsen, Sr. Scholarship and Debby Malloy Winkler Scholarship, in the Saratoga winner’s circle after the second race on Friday, July 19.

Established by Mrs. Joanne Nielsen to honor her late husband Gerald A. Nielsen, Sr. and by Mrs. Vivien Malloy to honor her late daughter Debby Malloy Winkler, these $5,000 scholarships recognize a full-time student enrolled in an equine-related course of study at an accredited college or university in New York State. The scholarships are intended to foster the education and development of individuals who show the promise of making make a positive contribution to the thoroughbred industry in New York and beyond.

Receiving the 2019 Gerald A. Nielsen, Sr. Scholarship was Margaret (Meg) Goodale. A rising fourth-year student at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine with an anticipated graduation date of May 2020, Goodale grew up in Groton, MA and graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonberg, VA, with a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She has been dedicated to horses since a young age.

At Cornell, Goodale has served as vice-president and president of Cornell’s student chapter of AAEP, headed Cornell’s student team of night and weekend large animal surgery technicians and maintained a position for over five years in a Regenerative Medicine Laboratory. Getting her professional career off to a head-start, Goodale has co-authored six research papers on stem cell research and related subjects and presented at a half-dozen conferences.

After graduation, Goodale plans to complete an equine private practice rotating internship involving sport and racehorses followed by a large animal surgery residence with a focus on lameness as well as orthopedic and soft tissue surgery.

Goodale said, “As the recipient of the NYTB Gerald A. Nielsen, Sr. Scholarship, I am committed to thoroughbreds as a breed as well as the racing industry in New York. I believe that with the public scrutiny currently facing the sport, the role of veterinarians is as important as ever. I aspire to help these athletes have illustrious careers on the track and provide them with therapies that allow for success in transitioning to other disciplines.

Mrs. Nielsen and Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, made the presentation.

Receiving this year’s Debby Malloy Winkler Scholarship was Lindsay Seewald, who will begin her third year at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall. A graduate of Duxbury High School in Duxbury MA, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth College in 2016 with a major in Chemistry. She is already excelling academically at Cornell, earning the Phi Zeta Award in 2019 for the second-year veterinary student with the highest grade point average.

Seewald’s’ primary background is in the hunter-jumper world, where she has worked with off-the-track thoroughbreds as they retrain for a new discipline. She was also the captain of the Varsity Equestrian team at Dartmouth. At Cornell, Seewald has worked as a research assistant in projects investigating new biological therapies for post-traumatic osteoarthritis, including as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Protein (IRAP) and stem cells.

“I am incredibly grateful to be this year’s recipient of the Debby Malloy-Winkler Scholarship,” Seewald said. “I truly appreciate the support of the Malloy Family and NYTB and I think their support of students pursuing equine careers sets a wonderful example for the rest of the equine industry. This gift will alleviate some of the financial burden associated with achieving my dream of becoming an equine sports medicine practitioner, allowing me greater flexibility in the externships, internships, and other educational experiences I choose over the next few years.

“I look forward to embarking on a career centered around horses and I hope that I’ll be able to give back to the thoroughbred breeding community in the future.”

Mrs. Vivien Malloy and Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, made the presentation.

Previous recipients of the Gerald A. Nielsen, Sr. New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Scholarship:

2018 Lauren DeGennaro (read more[3])
2017 Rachel L. Hilliard (read more[4])
2016 Cassandra Cromer (read more[5])
2015 Tate Morris (read more[6])
2014 Kaitlyn Douglas (read more[7])
2013 Allison Tuchrello (read more[8])
2012 Jacqueline Pino (read more[9])

Previous recipients of the Debby Malloy Winkler. New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. Scholarship:

2018 Rudy Weitze (read more[3])
2017 Ella Mariah Pittman (read more[4])
2016 Natasha Tarnawa (read more[5])
2015 Courtney O’Connell (read more[6])
2014 Nicolina Foti (read more[7])

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/07/19/nielsen-winkler-scholarships-2019/

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NYTB tees up 2019 Saratoga Events

[1]Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Yearling Sale Cocktail Party 2019

Please join NYTB for the 2019 Cocktail Party at the Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Preferred Yearling Sale on Sunday, August 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Guests will enjoy fine culinary selections and complimentary cocktails in the Upstairs Buyers’ Lounge and Balcony at the Fasig-Tipton Sales grounds in Saratoga Springs.

Tickets: $50 NYTB members
$75 non-members

You MUST RSVP by August 5^th at (518) 587-0777 or a late fee will apply.

Click here[2] for party invitation.
Click here[3] for printable reply card.

[4]Saratoga Showcase Day with NYTB in the All-New 1863 Club

Please join NYTB on Friday, August 23, 2019 at Saratoga Race Course for the Saratoga New York Showcase Day — an all-New York-bred race card featuring six stakes races.

The Rail at the 1863 Club is a climate-controlled facility at the clubhouse turn that offers sweeping unmatched views of the track.

Included is admission, race day program, a buffet-style lunch with non-alcoholic drinks included, tax and gratuities. The cost is $75 for NYTB Members and $100 for non-members. Tickets are offered at over 50% below cost for NYTB members!

This is a sell-out event!
Guests MUST RSVP by August 1 by calling (518) 587-0777.

Click here[5] for event flyer.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/06/28/nytb-tees-up-2019-saratoga-events/

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NYTB Joins Exmark, NYTHA in Honoring Rick Violette with “For the Good” Mower for ReRun

[1](Edited NYTHA Press Release)

Equine Equipment’s For the Good program, which donates the use of commercial mowers to aftercare facilities around North America, has announced a special donation of an Exmark mower for the 2019 mowing season to ReRun in East Greenbush, New York, to honor the late trainer and horsemen’s advocate Rick Violette Jr.

The donation to ReRun was organized by Equine Equipment in partnership with Exmark and the NYTHA and New York Thoroughbred Breeders.

A trainer for more than 40 years, Violette made a significant impact both on and off the track. In addition to being an accomplished conditioner, he worked tirelessly for horses and horsemen as a longtime board member and president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), and he advocated for all members of the racing industry: owners, trainers, breeders, backstretch workers and horses. Violette passed away in 2018, leaving a void not just in the New York racing industry but the racing industry nationwide.

The donation to ReRun was organized by Equine Equipment in partnership with Exmark and the NYTHA and New York Thoroughbred Breeders.

“I was honored to be one of Rick’s first grooms back in the 1970s in New England, and we remained friends for decades,” said Steve Andersen, founder of Equine Equipment. “He cared about the horses and people of this great industry, so to be in a position of honoring him is special. He was a very good man and gone too soon. Rick believed passionately in aftercare for retired Thoroughbred racehorses, so ReRun is a nice fit to receive an Exmark mower in his honor.”

“Exmark delivers exceptional value to the entire horse world, and this is another way they are giving back,” added John Cloutier, senior marketing manager for the Exmark Manufacturing Company. “When Steve approached Exmark with this idea it was a no-brainer for us. We saw an opportunity to help great organizations, and we are delighted to be involved.”

Originally founded in Kentucky in 1996, ReRun has been active in New York since 2002 and has become one of the largest aftercare programs in the region.

“ReRun is thrilled to be the recipient of this donation for 2019,” said Lisa Molloy, program director for ReRun. “It frees up a lot of valuable resources that are typically expended by using outside mowing and landscaping services. Keeping the farm premises in superb condition is just one facet of the overall program and the work that we put in to make ReRun the premier adoption program in New York and the northeast. To receive this donation in memory of Rick Violette makes it even more special because he was such an inspiring and committed member not just of the racing industry but also the aftercare community.”

“We are thrilled that Steve Anderson and Equine Equipment are honoring Rick in this way,” added Andy Belfiore, executive director of the NYTHA. “Rick was a staunch advocate for the horsemen for so many years, and he was especially dedicated to making sure that retired racehorses have healthy and happy lives beyond the track. New York’s TAKE THE LEAD Program, started under Rick’s leadership, has partnered with ReRun to find retirement homes for more than 150 racehorses. This is a fitting tribute.”

“I’ve always preached to owners and especially new people coming into the horse business that you own a horse not until his or her last race or her last foal but until that horse has found a new home,” said Tom Gallo, president of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “Thanks to the efforts of Rick Violette, Andy Belfiore and countless other New York breeders, owners and trainers, we have programs like ReRun and TAKE THE LEAD to care for our horses.

“Ever since these organizations were established, they have not only found homes and re-purposed horses but provided medical care and rehabilitation for horses in need,” he added. “Case in point: an old racehorse of ours named Kid Blast just showed up at ReRun last week. He raced and we enjoyed his company for over four years and he retired sound and then we were able to re-purpose him as a lead pony at NYRA. After a career as a lead pony, he developed back issues. His former owner, along with NYTHA through TAKE THE LEAD, gathered funding, organized and paid for vanning, and made a donation to ReRun where he will recuperate and get ready for his third career as someone’s loving riding horse.

“This generous donation of an Exmark mower is just one way to thank them for the efforts they have made to help so many Thoroughbreds by re-purposing them to wonderful, forever homes as future equine athletes. Kudos and congratulations to an organization that keeps on giving.”

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/06/21/nytb-rick-violette-mower-for-rerun/

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Diversify crowned 2018 NY-Bred Horse of the Year, Bromans named top breeders for third straight year

By Sarah Mace

Diversify, whose crowning achievement last season was a brilliant wire-to-wire victory in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Whitney Handicap at Saratoga Racecourse, was the voters’ choice for the 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year. Chester and Mary Broman were named the state’s outstanding breeders for the third straight year and sixth time overall.

The 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year, Breeder of the Year and the winners of the New York-Bred Divisional Championships were announced at New York Thoroughbred Inc.’s (NYTB’s) awards banquet held on April 1, 2019 at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs.

Sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, the event was emceed by Richard Migliore, who is co-founder and partner of Sport of Kings Media Productions. Migliore is best known for a stellar career as a jockey on the New York circuit. He won more than 4,400 races over a career spanning three decades, including 25 Grade 1 races.

The New York-bred Divisional Champions and Horse of the Year were chosen by a ballot of New York turf writers, handicappers, chart callers and racing analysts conducted by NYTB.

Diversify, a gelding by current New York sire Bellamy Road, was bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding. Campaigned by Lauren and Ralph Evans, he was trained by Rick Violette, whom the New York breeding and racing community sadly lost last October. Winner of the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2017, Diversify won three of five starts in 2018, upping his game each time. Following a narrow win against fellow state-breds in the Commentator in May, Diversify won the Grade 2 Suburban by six lengths in July and the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap by more than three lengths in August. He earned $1,190,000 in 2018 and was also voted Champion Older Dirt Male.

The other multiple winner of the night was Holiday Disguise, who took home the hardware for Champion Female Sprinter and Champion Older Dirt Female. Her half-sister Midnight Disguise was honored as Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. Both champions were bred by Dr. William B. Wilmot and Dr. Joan M. Taylor. Mind Your Biscuits, two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year was honored as Champion Male Sprinter

Chester and Mary Broman, whose names are synonymous with New York breeding and racing success, won 69 races with their homebreds in 2018, including five stakes races, and earned $3,352,927 in purses. Highway Star, who garnered two stakes victories last season retired with more than $1.3 million in earnings. The couple won the outstanding breeders award previously in 2004, 2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

A complete list of New York’s 2018 equine and human honorees follows:

New York-Bred Horse of the Year & Champion Older Dirt Male:

Diversify (Bellamy Road – Rule One, by Street Cry (IRE))
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding
Owner: Lauren and Ralph M. Evans
Trainer: Rick Violette

Champion Female Sprinter & Champion Older Dirt Female

Holiday Disguise (Harlan’s Holiday – Thin Disguise, by Yes It’s True)
Breeder: Dr. William B. Wilmot & Dr. Joan M. Taylor
Owner: Lady Sheila Stable
Trainer: Linda Rice

Champion Two-Year-Old Male

Somelikeithotbrown (Big Brown – Marilyn Monroan, by Tapit)
Breeder: Hot Pink Stables & Sand Dollar Stables
Owner: Skychai Racing LLC and Sand Dollar Stable LLC
Trainer: Mike Maker

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly

Sue’s Fortune (Jump Start – Democrat Taxes, by Catienus)
Breeder: Richard Nicolai
Owner: Fortune Farm (Richard Nicolai)
Trainer: Jeremiah C. Englehart

Champion Three-Year-Old Male

Audible (Into Mischief – Blue Devil Bel, by Gilded Time)
Breeder: Oak Bluff Stables, LLC
Owner: China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd A. Pletcher

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

Midnight Disguise (Midnight Lute – Thin Disguise, by Yes It’s True)

Breeder: Dr. William B. Wilmot & Dr. Joan M. Taylor
Owner: Wilmot, William B., Taylor, Joan M. and Wilmot, Devin T.
Trainer: Linda Rice

Champion Turf Male

Voodoo Song (English Channel – Mystic Chant, by Unbridled’s Song)
Breeder: Stonewall Farm
Owner: Barry K. Schwartz
Trainer: Linda Rice

Champion Turf Female

Fourstar Crook (Freud – Avril a Portugal, by D’Accord)
Breeder: Kathleen M. Feron
Owner: Dubb, Michael, Bethlehem Stables LLC and Aisquith, Gary
Trainer: Chad C. Brown

Champion Male Sprinter

Mind Your Biscuits (Posse – Jazzmane, by Toccet)
Breeder: Jumping Jack Racing LLC
Owner: J Stables LLC, Head of Plains Partners, Summers et al
Trainer: Chad Summers

Broodmare of the Year: Rule One, dam of Diversify

New York-Bred Trainer of the Year: Jeremiah C. Englehart

New York-Bred Jockey of the Year: Irad Ortiz, Jr.   

New York Breeder of the Year: Chester and Mary Broman

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/04/01/diversify-2018-hoy-bromans/

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NYTB Seats 2019 Board, Gallo re-elected Board President

[1]By Sarah Mace

The Board of Directors of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) held its first meeting of 2019 on Wednesday, January 30. The newly-seated board re-elected Thomas J. Gallo, III, founder and managing owner of Dream Maker Racing, Thomas J. Gallo III Sales Agency, LLC and owner of Blue Stone Farm, as Board President.

Mallory Mort was re-elected as NYTB Board Vice-President. Vivien Malloy was likewise re-elected for another term as NYTB Secretary / Treasurer. All three NYTB board officers will serve two-year terms concurrent with their two-year tenure on the board.

NYTB Officers and Board of Directors for 2019:

Officers:

• Thomas J. Gallo, III, founder and managing owner, Dream Maker Racing and Thomas J. Gallo III Sales Agency, LLC; owner, Blue Stone Farm – President
• Mallory Mort, manager, Gallagher’s Stud – Vice-President
• Vivien Malloy, owner, Edition Farm – Secretary/Treasurer

Directors:

• Scott Ahlschwede, D.V.M.
• H. James Bond
• Seth Gregory
• Daniel P. Hayden
• Michael Lischin
• Joanne Nielsen
• Suzie O’Cain
• Joan M. Taylor, DVM

Director Emeritus:

• Chester Broman

 

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/02/01/nytb-seats-2019-board/

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NYTB announces 2018 New York-bred divisional championship nominees

[1]By Sarah Mace

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce the nominees for the New York-bred divisional champions of 2018. New York turf writers, handicappers, chart callers and racing analysts will vote on the winners of each division. The voters will also choose the 2018 New York-bred Horse of the Year.

The 2018 New York-bred divisional champions and New York-bred Horse of the Year will be announced at NYTB’s Annual Awards Banquet on the evening of Monday, April 1, 2019 at the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, New York. Also to be honored at the banquet, will be Broodmare of the Year, Champion Trainer, Champion Jockey and Outstanding Breeder.

A list of the 2018 New York-bred divisional championship nominees by category follows, along with links to their Equibase Horse Profiles:

Champion Two-Year-Old Male:

Bankit[2]
Dugout[3]
Frosted Ice[4]
La Fuerza[5]
Not That Brady[6]
Somelikeithotbrown[7]

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:

Espresso Shot[8]
Forgotten Hero[9]
Sassy Agnes[10]
Sue’s Fortune[11]
Surge of Pride[12]

Champion Three-Year-Old Male:

Audible[13]
Sea Foam[14]
Therapist[15]

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly:

English Soul[16]
Midnight Disguise[17]
Split Time[18]

Champion Older Dirt Male:

Can You Diggit[19]
Control Group[20]
Diversify[21]
Mind Your Biscuits[22]
Pat On the Back[23]

Champion Older Dirt Female:

Bonita Bianca[24]
Frostie Anne[25]
Highway Star[26]
Holiday Disguise[27]
Still There[28]

Champion Male Turf Horse:

Disco Partner[29]
Offering Plan[30]
Sandy’z Slew[31]
Therapist[15]
Voodoo Song[32]

Champion Female Turf Horse:

Fifty Five[33]
Fire Key[34]
Fourstar Crook[35]
La Moneda[36]

Champion Male Sprinter:

Disco Partner[29]
Eye Luv Lulu[37]
Mind Your Biscuits[22]
My Boy Tate[38]
Sandy’z Slew[31]

Champion Female Sprinter:

Bonita Bianca[24]
Fire Key[34]
Highway Star[26]
Holiday Disguise[27]
Still There[28]
Swing and Sway[39]

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2019/01/21/2018-nyb-div-champ-nominees/

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NYTB board election results 2018

[1]By Sarah Mace

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) concluded its annual board election on Friday, December 14, 2018. This year NYTB members voted to fill five seats on the board for candidates to serve two-year terms from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.

The winning candidates are:

Scott Ahlschwede, DVM
Thomas J. Gallo III
Daniel P. Hayden
Vivien G. Malloy
Mallory Mort

The six remaining members of the NYTB Board will serve the second year of two-year terms in 2019:

James Bond
Seth Gregory
Michael Lischin
Joanne Nielsen
Suzie O’Cain
Joan M. Taylor, D.V.M.

Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli, LLP, an accounting firm in Queensbury, NY, administered the NYTB board elections by validating the eligibility of all voters and receiving the completed ballots directly from members of the association. The firm then tabulated and certified the election results.

Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli, LLP reported the official results to NYTB in a letter dated on December 14, 2018.*

*Click here[2] to read Whittemore, Dowen & Ricciardelli, LLP’s letter certifying the results of the election.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/12/15/nytb-board-election-results-2018/

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Leading equine nutrition consultant Steve Jackson to take the podium at NYTB seminar Dec. 8

[1]By Sarah Mace

Dr. Stephen G. Jackson, a leading equine nutrition consultant and the president and owner of Bluegrass Equine Nutrition in Versailles, KY, will be the featured speaker at New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc. (NYTB) Breeding Industry Educational Series Seminar “Focus on Nutrition: Feeding to Raise an Athlete.” The seminar-style meeting will take place on Saturday, December 8 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs.

The New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Corporation is the sponsor of this free event. Attendees should RSVP to the NYTB office by December 3 at (518) 587-0777 or info@nytbreeders.org[2].

A native of Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Jackson earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Science at Texas A&M University, before going on to complete a Ph.D. in Equine Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from the University of Kentucky. He taught for 12 years at the University of Kentucky while focusing his research on Equine Growth and Development, Exercise Physiology and Nutrition of the Equine Athlete.

Moving to the public sector, Dr. Jackson served as the vice president of Kentucky Equine Research in Versailles from 1990-96, before assuming his current position as president and owner of Bluegrass Equine Nutrition, also in Versailles.

Dr. Jackson acts as consultant for horse farms in the areas of horse nutrition and management and feed manufacturers in the formulation of horse feeds. He has lectured and consulted throughout the U.S and in over 50 countries across the globe.

Dr. Jackson’s clients are a veritable who’s who of leading farms in the United States, Japan, England, Ireland, Brazil and Australia. His Kentucky clients include Darley, Lanes End, Three Chimneys Farm, Pin Oak Stud, Taylor Made Farm, Sienna Farm, Juddmonte Farm and Denali Stud. In California he has consulted Harris Ranches, Tommy Town Farm, Ballena Vista Farm and Megali Stud. Internationally his clients include Darley (England, Ireland and Japan), North Hills Management in Japan, Stud TNT in Brazil and Coolmore (Ireland and Australia).

Owner of Jackson Purchase Farm in Versailles Kentucky, Dr. Jackson also breds for the commercial market and race track.

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/11/17/steve-jackson-nytb-seminar-dec-8/

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Longtime NYRA trainer, former NYTHA president Rick Violette, Jr. passes away at 65

It is with heavy hearts that we at NYTB must pass along the news that longtime New York horseman Rick Violette passed away this morning, Sunday, October 21, following a long illness. He will be sorely missed by New York’s racing and breeding communities. We reproduce NYRA’s statement on Rick’s passing in full below, which includes a comment from NYTB Executive Director Jeff Cannizzo. Also, click here [2]to read the statement from NYTHA.

From NYRA Communications:

ELMONT, N.Y. – Longtime New York Racing Association (NYRA) horseman and former president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) Richard Violette, Jr. passed away this morning in Florida following a lengthy illness. He was 65.

Violette was born January 30, 1953 in Worchester, Massachusetts and showed hunters and jumpers as a teenager. After his graduation from Lowell University, Violette turned his attention to the racetrack and, at age 24, began training thoroughbreds full-time. He saddled his first starter on June 25, 1977 at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts. His first win came less than two months later with Catch the Action on August 18 at Rockingham in New Hampshire.

Following his training start, Violette worked as an assistant to Emile Allain at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario, Canada, before moving to New York as David Whiteley’s assistant trainer. He resumed his own stable in 1983.

“Rick Violette embodied New York racing, and his commitment to the men and women who are the backbone of our sport was unparalleled,” said NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay. “As the longtime President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Rick was a powerful advocate in Albany for the interests of horsemen and women across New York. Knowing how hard he worked, and the determination he showed throughout his life, it was particularly fitting to see the success Rick enjoyed over the past year with multiple Grade 1 winner Diversify. On behalf of the New York Racing Association, we offer our condolences to Rick’s family, friends and colleagues. He will be missed.”

Violette was an ardent advocate for New York horse racing, having served more than 25 years on the NYTHA board, including nine as its president from 2008-2017. He was a member of NYRA’s Board of Directors during his tenure as NYTHA president. He was also the former president of the national Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (THA). Violette was named director emeritus of the THA in 2018.

“Rick was a champion, plain and simple. His work, largely unnoticed and often unrecognized, made the lives of the backstretch workers better. He was their promoter and defender – creating and solidifying programs that have real impact on people’s lives – health care, college scholarships, rider safety, substance abuse counseling. These programs would not exist without Rick’s foresight and perseverance,” said NYTHA President Joe Appelbaum. “For twenty-five years, Rick fought like a lion for the horsemen and our workers; gaining us a voice in the conversation with his tireless effort and tenacious spirit. Visiting the backstretch at Saratoga, not seeing him standing at the main track gap with his binoculars slung over his shoulder is unimaginable. What a sad day for horse racing.”

Violette’s support of the New York breeding program was no more evident than in the litany of talented New York-breds he sent postward over the years, including multiple graded stakes winners Read the Footnotes, Samraat, and two-time New York-bred champion Upstart.

“I had the privilege to work with Rick for over a decade through many ups and downs in New York racing. His perseverance will never be matched,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “Rick did so much tirelessly on behalf of his fellow horsemen. He stuck to his morals and always kept to his beliefs. I had the utmost respect for him and learned much from his actions. As I told him this summer, I’m glad we had the chance to see how good a horseman he truly was this year with Diversify. His support will be missed by all of New York.”

Most recently, Violette campaigned Lauren and Ralph M. Evans’ New York-bred Diversify to victory in the 2017 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, as well as the Grade 2 Suburban and Grade 1 Whitney this summer. Through three seasons of racing, Diversify has garnered nearly $2 million in earnings with 10 wins from 16 starts. Additional Grade 1 winners for Violette include Kentucky-bred Dream Rush and the Florida-bred Man From Wicklow, who Violette also owned.

Through his nearly four-decade-long career, Violette recorded 870 wins and total purse earnings of $44,521,759. His final winner was Byself in an allowance optional claiming race on Sunday, October 14 at Belmont Park.

Violette found perhaps his greatest passion, however, advocating for issues affecting horsemen and backstretch workers and the advancement of thoroughbred aftercare.

At NYTHA, Violette oversaw the expansion of a number of social initiatives, including its college scholarship program and racehorse aftercare. In addition, he championed and secured funding for Backstretch Education, which offers ESL courses, a language lab and the Groom Development Program.

Violette was co-chair of the Backstretch Employee Service Team Board of Directors (B.E.S.T), a non-profit based at Belmont Park that provides free health and social services to the backstretch communities at all NYRA tracks.

He was a founding member of the Board of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and co-created the TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Retirement Program. In 2012, he co-founded TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program with a focus on providing an avenue for the retraining of retired racehorses for the show horse world. He served as the organization’s president until his death.

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/10/21/longtime-nyra-trainer-former-nytha-president-rick-violette-jr-passes-away-65/

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Leonard Green brings impressive credentials, wealth of experience to NYTB October seminar

By Sarah Mace

The featured speaker at the New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc. Sunday, October 14 meeting “How to Develop a Strategy for Success: Equine Business Consultation” will be Leonard C. Green, CPA, MBA. Green has extensive credentials, three decades of experience in the thoroughbred industry and a long list of accomplishments which should make for a highly informative discussion about succeeding in today’s challenging equine business environment.

Given the open format of the seminar-style meeting, Green has also asked NYTB to solicit questions from attendees in advance about any topics they would like to see discussed. Questions may be emailed to info@nytbreeders.org[2].

A New Jersey Certified Public Accountant, Leonard Green is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Owner / President Management Program. He holds a master’s degree in Taxation, with Honors, from New York University and an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Rutgers University. For 17 years Green has taught entrepreneurship and family business courses at Babson College.

Green has been involved in the thoroughbred industry as owner, breeder and consultant for more than 30 years. He is the managing partner of DJ Stable, LLC, a successful racing operation which has won 2,300 races at 13 different racetracks and has bred and/or owned 80 stakes winners, including grade 1 winners Songandaprayer, Do It With Style, and Hoppertunity. DJ Stable bred or owned champions Larkwhistle, November Snow and Rhum and has earned eight individual leading owner’s titles at four different race tracks including Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands. The operation is responsible for the sales of approximately $35,000,000 worth of horses, including five horses for $400,000 and up, and 24 horses for over $250,000 and up.

Green is also Founder and Chairman of New Jersey-based accounting and equine advisory firm The Green Group[3], which specializes in the thoroughbred industry and has over 400 accounting clients in the thoroughbred and standardbred industries nationwide, including partnerships, syndications, owners, trainers and breeders. The Green Group has successfully handled over 100 IRS matters within the horse industry and he has done valuation work both for clients and in connection with legal disputes.

In addition to his classroom duties at Babson, Green has been a featured speaker at the annual Kentucky Legal Conference (UKCLE) in Lexington which is annually attended by almost 200 legal, insurance and business professionals, a regular speaker at Monmouth Park, the New Jersey State Bar Association and a number of Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) sessions. He has also been featured on CNBC “Business to Business” for stories focusing on making money in the horse breeding and racing industries. A monthly columnist on the horse business for the shuttered Thoroughbred Times, in 2017 Green released a top selling business book, The Entrepreneur’s Playbook.

NYTB board member Joan Taylor, DVM, who is also the chair of the organization’s Educational Committee, said,

The NYTB Educational Committee is thrilled to offer the opportunity for New York thoroughbred breeders to benefit from Len Green’s extensive equine, business, and accountant expertise at our upcoming seminar. Thirty years breeding, owning, racing and selling thoroughbreds have shaped his unique perspective on how to surmount the often difficult business and financial challenges we face in our industry.

Taylor also urges attendees to take advantage to Green’s offer for them to submit questions in advance about topics relevant to them. “Submit questions in advance that you would like Len to address” Taylor said. “This is a tough business, but here’s your chance to get sound, free business advice from the ultimate pro!”

The seminar, which is scheduled to take place the day before Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga Fall Sale and includes the 2018 Annual NYTB Membership Meeting, will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion.

The entire event is sponsored by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund Corporation and will be immediately followed by a complimentary guest cocktail hour and barbeque for all RSVP’d guests in attendance. Those who wish to attend must RSVP to the NYTB office by October 11 at (518) 587-0777 or info@nytbreeders.org[4]. Click here[5] for seminar flyer.

 

 

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2018/09/18/leonard-green-nytb-october-18-seminar/

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