NTRA

The NTRA's Tom Rooney has a lot to deal with in Washington right now, arguing on behalf of the racing industry for immigration, tax relief, and tariff relief. He appears on the TDN Writers' Room, presented by Keeneland, as the Gainesway Guest of the Week to discuss what progress is being made in Washington on those issues. Rooney was asked first about the new 30% tariffs recently announced by Donald Trump on racing-heavy regions like the European Union, Canada, and Japan, and how that would affect racehorses. The tariffs are...

Tom Rooney, President and CEO of the NTRA, joins this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss implications of 'The One Big Beautiful Bill' Act for the industry.

The One Big Beautiful Act (OBBBA), passed by Congress and expected to be signed into law by President Trump, makes permanent 100% bonus depreciation, an important incentive for Thoroughbred breeders and owners, but also has negative implications for gamblers that are concerning to the industry. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday, and now the bill heads to President Trump's desk to be signed, which is expected to happen on Friday, July 4. The bill extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts, approves hundreds of billions of dollars on...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) and 'At the Races' host Steve Byk will once again partner for the 'Beat Byk NHC Challenge' this summer, offering one NHC tour member the opportunity to compete in the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) at the Horseshoe Las Vegas from Mar. 13-15, 2026. "For me, the return of 'Beat Byk' means summer and featured contest races at Saratoga, Del Mar, Ellis Park, Colonial Downs, Monmouth Park and by Labor Day, Kentucky Downs," said Byk. "'Beat Byk' has proven to be an excellent gateway for...

The version of President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" passed by the Senate earlier this week contains a tax provision that could prove prohibitive to gamblers, with ramifications for horse racing's bottom line. In the Senate's version of the bill, deductions for gambling winnings will be limited to 90% of annual losses. Currently, gamblers can deduct 100% of wagering losses (below a net profit) for any given year. As NBC Sports describes it, "$100,000 in winnings against $100,000 in losses will be treated for tax purposes as if the losses...

The 1,116-page bill the House passed early Thursday morning could have a profound effect on the horse racing industry. Currently, horse owners can only write off 40 percent of the cost of a race horse once it enters service. Under the Trump bill, the write-off, known as bonus depreciation, will be 100% for five years. With the bill now headed to the Senate, there is some speculation that the 100 percent deduction will be made permanent. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 increased bonus depreciation to 100% until...

Journalism (Curlin), winner of last weekend's GI Santa Anita Derby, moved to the top of Week 11's rankings of the 2025 NTRA Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll conducted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Two-for-two this season, this year's GII San Felipe winner concluded the period with 269 points and 26 first-place votes by members of the national media. Racing performances run through Apr. 6. Journalism stands well ahead of GI Arkansas Derby scorer Sandman (Tapit), who has amassed 209 points. Heading the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, last season's champion...

Thomas Meis and Mallory Baker will be joining the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA)'s Washington, D.C. office, and Steve Driskill will be promoted to Vice President of NTRA Advantage-Equine Discounts. Driskill has been a member of the Advantage team since its inception in 2002. He replaces Fritz Widaman, who has joined the new Maryland Jockey Club. Driskill started his career in horse racing at Remington Park. Baker joins the NTRA's Washington, D.C. office in the newly created position of Horse PAC® coordinator. Previously, she's worked as an associate for The...

Dan Piazza, a financial advisor from Chicago, won the 26th NTRA National Horseplayers Championship at the Horseshoe Las Vegas held from March 14-16, and took home $825,000, an Eclipse Award as 2025 Horseplayer of the Year and earned a return trip to next year's NHC, according to a press release late Sunday from the NTRA. Sticking to his strategy throughout the contest, Piazza prevailed by amassing a mythical bankroll of $356.52. "I didn't try to do anything different and didn't get me out of my comfort zone," he said. "That...

Though still weeks from being potentially enacted, the threatened 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. is causing some Canadian-based owner-breeders to sound the alarm about the possible impacts to their businesses and to the country's broader industry. "For us, it could be the end of the industry. Period," warned Yvonne Schwabe, the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, and the breeder of 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. "That's the scary part." As currently outlined, the tariffs are scheduled to go into effect on...

In anticipation of the 25% blanket tariff on all Canadian goods entering the U.S. expected to be enacted April 2, the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) has issued an advisory to its members, aiming to provide some clarity to a fluctuating and often confusing situation. Already this week, the U.S. government enacted a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and metal imports. "This could very well change at any moment given whatever the will of the president is," warned Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Thoroughbred...

Besting a field of over 5,500 competitors over a 12-month period, Brett Wiener has claimed the 2024 National Horseplayers Championships (NHC) Tour and is eligible for a $5-million bonus if he wins the 26th NTRA NHC Mar. 14-16 at Horseshoe Las Vegas, it was announced via press release Friday. Wiener kicked off 2024 with an induction in the NHC Hall of Fame and later won online and ontrack contests during the '24 tour season to amass 25,160 tour points. Gregory Lewis finished second in the Tour standings with 24,793 points...