Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Nov. 1, 2018
Assistant trainers at two Mid-Atlantic racetracks were among the winners in the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin.
The winners were announced and honored at Churchill Downs Oct. 31 as part of the lead-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Lisa See, a groom an assistant to trainer Anthony Pecoraro, who is based at Delaware Park for much of the year, was selected for the Dedication to Racing Award, which goes to “an individual racing stable employee—grooms, hot walkers, exercise riders, etc.—who has shown reliability in a racing role.” The individual must have at least 10 years of service in the racing industry and must be pivotal in his or her employer’s success.
The Newcomer Award went to Devon Dougherty, assistant trainer for the Roy Houghton Stable at Parx Racing in Pennsylvania. The award recognizes “an individual who has been working in any area of the Thoroughbred racing or breeding sector for five years or less as of May 7, 2018, and who has shown a commitment to and ambition for a career in the industry including a desire to improve and progress their skills and knowledge.”
Zachary Richards, a Corporate Partnership Account Executive for the New York Racing Association, was a runner-up for the Newcomer Award, while Daisy Tobin, assistant trainer for the James W. Casey barn at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, was a runner-up for the Leadership Award—Racing.
“We were thrilled that Churchill Downs and the Breeders’ Cup welcomed us to be part of Championship Week this year and we sincerely thank them both for their support,” said Jimmy Bell, President of Godolphin America. “We also want to express our gratitude to the nominators for providing such an outstanding group of worthy nominees and sincere thanks as well to the judges, our corporate partners and our media partners. As they say, ‘It takes a village,’ and it’s very heartwarming to see how the entire industry has embraced these important awards now in their third year.”
The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards program, which provide total prize money of $128,000, was managed and administered by The Jockey Club, the National Horsemen’s Protective and Benevolent Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
Here’s the complete list of winners and runners-up:
Leadership Award—Farm
Winner: Sandy Hatfield, Stallion Manager, Three Chimneys Farm
Runners-up: Richard Barry, Stallion Manager, Ashford Stud; and John Hall, Supervisor, Taylor Made Sales Agency
Leadership Award—Racing
Winner: Cesar Aguilar, Foreman, John W. Sadler Racing
Runners-up: Gene Corbin, Farm Trainer, Shade Tree Thoroughbreds; and Daisy Tobin, Assistant Trainer, James W. Casey Racing
Dedication to Breeding Award
Winner: Therese Reese, Stoneway Farm
Runners-up: Noe Murillo-Hernandez, Assistant Manager, The Acorn Farm; and Barbara Nicholls, Equine Manager, Stone Farm
Dedication to Racing Award
Winner: Lisa See, Groom and Assistant, Pecoraro Racing Stable
Runners-up: Jehobany Alvarez, Assistant Trainer, Peter Miller Racing Stable; and Esteban Medina, Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino
Newcomer Award
Winner: Devon Dougherty, Assistant Trainer, Roy Houghton Stable
Runners-up: Zachary Richards, Corporate Partnership Account Executive, New York Racing Association; and Lindsay Scott, Farm Manager, Langsem Farm
Thoroughbred Community Award
Recipient: Angie Carmona, Deputy Executive Director and Secretary, California Thoroughbred Trainers
Photo of Devon Dougherty, Bob Baffert and Lisa See (left to right) by Bessie Gruwell