Tom Rooney

A panel discussion titled "From Data to Dollars: Understanding Horse Racing's Economic Impact As Racing's Future is Questioned" during Wednesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) led off with moderator Alan Foreman confronting "the elephant in the room that we dodge." Foreman, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said racing is facing an "existential moment" at a time when industry stakeholders increasingly must make the case for the sport's so-called social license to exist in the...

Three days after the 60 Minutes segment "Horse Racing Reform?" which covered doping in horse racing, HISA, and breakdowns, Tom Rooney, the President and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, stressed the need to commit to and better communicate the reforms racing is making. Rooney issued a statement that said: "Issues raised in recent media accounts are a reminder of why the public needs to know about the significant progress the sport of Thoroughbred racing has made in equine safety over the last few years. On behalf of NTRA...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) has announced the launch of a new campaign, "Safety Takes The Lead," highlighting the sport's recent enhanced safety and welfare protocols, as well as its commitment to do more. The campaign features a new comprehensive safety section on the NTRA website, which includes the latest news on safety and welfare programs, videos, and relevant links. "Nothing comes in front of our sport's commitment to equine and human safety," said Tom Rooney, NTRA president and CEO. "This campaign is designed to help make the public...

The NTRA reported new guidance out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which will streamline the glanders testing protocol for importing horses into the United States, the organization said in a release Friday morning. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service update, Veterinary Services Guidance 13407.3, introduces a new procedure effective Oct. 10 for glanders, which has been susceptible to produce false positives when horses were tested during their import quarantine. "One of the number one issues I've heard in this job is how cumbersome USDA testing protocols slow down...

Many of you may have seen that last week a bill was introduced in Congress to repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, better known as HISA. I want to set the record straight as to what this legislation does or doesn't do, assure you that the bill isn't going anywhere in Congress, and stands no chance of becoming law. First things first-it's important to remember that any member of Congress can introduce a bill. They write the language, file the bill, and voila it's been introduced. Just in the...

Stephanie Hronis, a long-time member of the Thoroughbred racing community, has been added as a board member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Political Action Committee. The move was announced Monday by Board Chairman Bill Farish and President Tom Rooney. Hronis is part of the Hronis Racing ownership team, alongside her husband Kosta, his brother Pete, and their family. "It is a great honor to join the NTRA Horse PAC® and to support the significant work being done to ensure the longevity of the horse racing industry," Hronis said. "This...

1/ST Racing & Gaming is ready to shake up the Triple Crown. The company, which operates Pimlico Race Course, has confirmed to the TDN that it is giving strong consideration to moving the date of the GI Preakness S. so that it is run four weeks after the GI Kentucky Derby. "We have discussed it internally and believe it's in the best interests of horses and horse safety to move the race four weeks after the Kentucky Derby," said Aidan Butler, Chief Executive Officer of 1/ST Racing & Gaming. "This...

Since the advent of professional sports, change has been a necessary part of the game. Adjustments have been made to make sports more safe, more practical, and more entertaining for the audiences. While change is never easy, sometimes it's necessary. From adding the three-point line in basketball, to implementing more stringent concussion protocols in football, to adding the pitch clock in baseball, making changes in sports doesn't mean taking away from the sport. Instead, change helps the sport evolve with the times, and make the experience as positive as possible...

Britney Eurton, Acacia Courtney Clement and Nick Luck will co-host the 53rd Annual Eclipse Awards, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) said in a release Wednesday. Held on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024 at The Breakers Palm Beach, Caton Bredar will be again serving as the Ceremony Announcer. "We are very excited for this wide range of talent to host this year's Eclipse Awards and for FanDuel TV to bring it live to households across the country," said NTRA President...

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association announced the disqualification of three unnamed players from the NHC and NHC Tour for a period of two years on Thursday. After hearing input from the horseplayer community and others in the industry, the NTRA revealed on Friday that the players who colluded are Jordan Jayne, James Pauly and Ryan Patrick Scully. "Protecting the integrity of the NTRA and the NHC tournament is among my highest priorities in this job," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "By not initially releasing the names of the...

Last month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into state law the self-described "strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country." Under the new statute--the bulk of which goes into effect on July 1--business owners with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the immigration status of new hires, and be subjected to enforceable penalties for employing undocumented workers, as well as stricter penalties for sending undocumented workers across state lines to work in Florida, among other provisions. When enforced, the new stringent laws are highly likely to impact everyone...

The Eclipse Award ceremony will again be held at The Breakers Palm Beach next year. The 53rd annual event, hosted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters, will be held Jan. 25. "After a great success this past year, we are excited to bring the Eclipse Awards back to The Breakers Palm Beach," said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. "The enthusiasm for this event continues to build, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to Palm Beach at the...