Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award winners announced for 2025
The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards marked its 10th year anniversary in North America on October 21 in Lexington, Kentucky, by once again honoring and awarding the individuals that make the Thoroughbred industry the unique and special industry it is. Winners were announced in a total of seven categories with a total of $122,000 awarded. Scott Hazelton, FanDuel TV analyst, served as the master of ceremonies.
Joe Clancy, Publisher and Co-owner of the Saratoga Special, and this year’s judging panels chair, said, “I commented earlier in July the difficult task in determining the three finalists in each category. I must admit we were presented with an even harder assignment in trying to choose the actual winners in each category. It’s rare for a triple dead heat in our business but that’s pretty much what we faced with these fantastic and talented individuals in each category. They truly are the backbone of our industry and are great ambassadors and representatives of our sport.”
The full list of winners, finalists and runners-up are as follows:
Katherine McKee Administration Award sponsored by Keeneland
Winner: Isabel Escobar (Todd Pletcher Racing Stable)
Finalists: Vicki Forbes (Thoroughbred Daily News), Sandy Martin (Race Track Chaplaincy of America)
Runners-up: Lacey Coler (Barton Thoroughbreds), Lauren Monnet (National HBPA)
Support Services Award, sponsored by 1/ST Racing
Winner: Lynne Hewlett (Hagyard Equine Medical Institute)
Finalists: Robert "Elmo" Richardson (KatieRich Farms), Nathan Stephens (Stephens Farrier Service, Inc.)
Runners-up: Mary Perkins (Keeneland Association), Steve Peterman (Gulfstream Park)
Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Hallway Feeds
Winner: Sara Patterson (Cedar Run Farm)
Finalists: Juan Piedra (Stone Bridge Farm), Mario Ponce (Coolmore American)
Runners-up: Luis Sanches (Kenneth McPeek Racing Stable), Alan Shell (Kenneth McPeek Racing Stable)
Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by the NTRA
Winner: Fiona Goodwin (Jena Antonucci)
Finalists: Jackie Dayutis (WinStar Farm), Carlos Alarcon (D/M Racing Stables
Runners-up: Rafael Fernandez (Herringswell Stable), Lee Vickers (Miguel Clement Racing Stable)
Managerial, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Winner: Jesus Pinales (Mulholland)
Finalists: John Motaung (Sequel Bloodstock), Duane Reed (Coolmore America)
Runners-up: Kali Kleinfelt (Stone Bridge Farm), Edwyn Kiely (Hunter Valley Farm)
Newcomer Award, sponsored by NYRABets
Winner: Kinnon LaRose (Tom Amoss Racing Stables)
Finalists: Braden Heath (Three Chimneys Farm), Ivanna Rabii (WinStar Farm)
Runners-up: Madison Jackson (Churchill Downs), Maxine Pina (Taylor Made Sales Agency)
Dr. J. David “Doc” Richardson Community Award, sponsored by Churchill Downs
Winner: Nancy Turner (This Old Horse)
Finalists: Peter Drumsta (Finger Lakes Thoroughbred Adoption Program), CJ Wilson (Win Place Home)
Runners-up: Victoria Mangini (Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Assoc), Caroline Tatum (Sterling Equestrian)
Notes to editors:
- The Awards are primarily sponsored by Godolphin in partnership with the National HBPA, TOBA, The Jockey Club, and Breeders’ Cup. Media partners are the TDN, BloodHorse Publications, Daily Racing Form, The Paulick Report, Fox Sports, FanDuel, Real Players Inside the Backstretch, Agentes 305 and DRF Espanol. And for the first time this year, Kentucky Downs was the travel sponsor.
- This year the awards received additional monetary and collateral support from category sponsors NYRABets, 1/ST Racing, Keeneland, Hallway Feeds, NTRA, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, and Churchill Downs.
- The winners of the Managerial, Breeding and Racing, the Support Services, Administration and Community categories will receive a prize of $7,500 to the winner. Two finalists are each awarded $3,500. Separate from the winner and two finalists, two runners-up receive $2,000 each.
- The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive $5,000. Two finalists are each awarded $2,500. Two Runners-up receive $1,000 each.
For more information, please visit the website: TIEA.org.
