appointment

Caitlin Courtney has been named the new Director of Sales at Denali Stud after eleven years working with St George Sales and Brookstone Farm. She succeeds Elizabeth Snellings who held the position for three years. "We are thrilled to have Caitlin join the team at Denali," said Conrad Bandoroff. "She has extensive sales and industry experience, and we're looking forward to her bringing this skillset to Denali and our clients." A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Courtney has grown up around the Thoroughbred industry and started working for St George Sales...

Orla Donworth has joined Fasig-Tipton as its new Global Brand & MultiMedia Manager, according to the organization on Wednesday. "We are delighted to have Orla join the team at Fasig-Tipton," said Fasig-Tipton President and CEO Boyd Browning Jr. "Her experience and expertise will assist us in delivering content for both our live and digital sales." A graduate of the University of Limerick in 2014, Donworth spent six years at top farms around the world including Ireland's Baroda Stud, Roundhill Stud and Rathmore Stud, in addition to Woods Edge and Dell...

Johnny Velazquez, who has served as Chairman of the Jockeys' Guild for more than 20 years and as Co-Chair with Mike Smith since 2018, will be stepping down from that role, the organization announced Thursday. The members have elected Smith and Javier Castellano as Co-Chairs; Joe Bravo, James Flores, and Julien Leparoux as Co-Vice Chairs; Tyler Gaffalione as Secretary; and Julien Leparoux as Treasurer. In addition, Alex Birzer, James Graham, Rodney Prescott, and Velazquez will serve on the Board of Directors. Velazquez will also remain actively involved with the Guild...

Jun Zhang has been appointed as the new general manager of Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong, the organisation posted on X early Thursday morning. The announcement follows the news of Vin Cox's resignation just a handful of days previously. Zhang, who is married to Yuesheng Zhang's daughter April, has been an integral part of Yulong for many years. "Having seen the positive impact Vin had in his time at Yulong, I am confident we can continue to build on this as we head towards the 2025 breeding season," said Jun Zhang in...

Cindy McDonald and Michelle Keating have been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF). McDonald is armed with a background in finance, strategic planning, and community engagement, while Keating offers experience in leadership and community service. As Senior Vice President at KeyBank, McDonald has an background in developing innovative financial strategies and fostering community partnerships. "I am honored to join the TRF Board of Directors," said McDonald. "I look forward to leveraging my 30 years of nonprofit experience to help drive the mission forward and...

Ken Brown, who held the position of Track Superintendent at the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC), officially retired from the organization Dec. 1. To ensure a smooth transition, Danny Finke has been appointed Interim Track Superintendent. With 40 years of experience on the MJC track crew, Finke has a deep knowledge of track maintenance making him an ideal choice to step into this interim role. "Ken Brown's leadership has been instrumental in navigating MJC through a challenging period and raising the standard of our racing surfaces," said Mike Rogers, Acting President...

Dr Caroline Scott has been appointed as the new finance director at Tattersalls, it was announced on Wednesday. Scott is a chartered accountant and has been head of finance at Tattersalls since 2023, having first joined the sales organisation in 2006 as the assistant financial controller. In addition to her new role as finance director, Scott has been appointed as company secretary and her appointment also holds significance as the first woman to join the Tattersalls board in its 258-year history. Besides her longstanding role at Tattersalls, Scott's broad engagement...

The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) unanimously voted to appoint owner/trainer Mark Glatt to fill a vacancy on the board created by the recent resignation of longtime board member Rick Gold. After studying at Western Washington University, Glatt began training Thoroughbreds in 1995, handling a second string for his father at Yakima Meadows. The following year, he moved to Golden Gate Fields in Northern California; and in 2000 he relocated to Southern California. He has amassed more than 1,200 wins and career earnings of over...

William Alempijevic has been named Chief Operating Officer of AmWager.com, according to AmWest Entertainment LLC Tuesday. As COO, Alempijevic will oversee AmWager.com's operational strategies with a focus on leveraging technology to enhance user experiences. He will also head business development by maintaining and building supportive relationships both within and outside the horse racing industry. With a career that spans over two decades in the industry, Alempijevic formerly served as Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and in various strategic positions within the New York Racing Association (NYRA)....

Tony Calo has been named the new track announcer at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced Monday. The North California native, who replaces the departing Scott Shapiro, will continue to serve as the announcer at Turfway Park Racing & Gaming in addition to a handicapping analyst at Churchill Downs. Aside from his duties as an announcer, Calo will join Joe Kristufek, Kaitlin Free and, newly-promoted handicapping analyst, Kevin Kilroy on the Churchill Downs simulcast feed for the Spring, September and Fall Meets. "I'm honored to become the...

Jamie Haydon, president of Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation, has been named deputy executive director of The Jockey Club, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Jockey Club James L. Gagliano announced Wednesday. In this added role, Haydon, who will be responsible for industry engagement, will report to The Jockey Club Executive Vice President and Executive Director Matt Iuliano. Haydon will engage with the industry on initiatives of the company and foster collaboration among industry organizations on health, safety, and promotion of the Thoroughbred. Among his field duties, he will...

Frank Gabriel, who has served as the New York Racing Association's Sr. Vice President of Racing Operations since 2022, has resigned, effective Feb. 18, it was announced Thursday. Andrew Offerman will succeed Gabriel as NYRA's Sr. Vice President of Racing and Operations. "On behalf of NYRA and the broader racing community in New York, I thank Frank Gabriel for his many contributions to NYRA and to Thoroughbred racing," said David O'Rourke, NYRA President & CEO. "Because of Frank's hard work during a period of great transition, NYRA continues to be...