Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
Posted: Nov. 29, 2016
On behalf of the board of directors and our member organizations, I want to welcome you to the THA’s long-awaited and much-anticipated website. We hope you will find it as useful and informative as we have planned.
We didn’t just want a website. While the industry has many organizations and websites, none provide the resources in a single, convenient site that horsemen—and others in the industry—can access for needed information on a daily basis.
We’ve taken the time to talk with many of you—owners, trainers, industry stakeholders, regulators—to see how we could create a website that would provide the kind of information you need on a daily basis without having to search dozens of sites or locate important information buried so deep you didn’t know where to look.
Our site is designed to be a one-stop shop. Our Horsemen’s Resources section provides everything from overnights, stall applications, race replay links, entries, results, our affiliate member state’s rules and regulatory information, licensing information and forms, links to industry organizations of importance to horsemen, our member track websites, access to your horsemen’s account, and access to TOBA’s Owner’s Concierge service.
The Medication Information section is the only one of its kind in the industry—a single location where you can find in- depth information about therapeutic medication, the National Uniform Medication Program, the Multiple Medication Violation System, the Uniform Classification of Foreign Substances, ARCI Recommended Penalty Guidelines, member state medication rules and regulations, and Medication Alerts, which will note policy changes and developments of importance to horsemen.
Our commitment to the well-being of our horses after their racing careers end is emphasized in our Aftercare section, with links to each of our member organization’s aftercare programs and the national Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
And, yes, we will have daily news, commentary and features.While we will not shy from controversy, we want to ensure that there is balance to current industry conversations and coverage, that facts are presented, and that the horsemen’s views are represented and known.
We hope you will find us to be positive and forward-thinking, as has been our reputation over the years. We are delighted that Tom LaMarra, one of the industry’s best known and well-respected journalists, is joining us to manage our website.
For more than 20 years, the THA has been the respected and reliable voice for horsemen in racing. Since its formation in the early 1990s, the THA has provided a collaborative environment for like-minded and forward-thinking organizations to responsibly and, when necessary, aggressively represent the interests of our members.
Our mandate has been simple: to provide a forum for horsemen to interact and seek consensus; represent our horsemen on the local, regional and national level and before state governments and Congress to the best of our ability; protect the economic interests of our members: protect and preserve the health and welfare of our cherished horses; and ensure the integrity of our sport and a level playing field for all our participants, fans and the betting public. We think we do so simply and effectively.
On a personal note, I have been privileged to be a part of and serve the THA since the early days of its formation. Owners, many of whom are members of THA affiliated organizations, collectively have the largest capital investment of any constituency in racing. Owners and trainers, the thousands of individuals they employ who span every demographic group in our country, and the thousands of small businesses and cottage industries they support, are the backbone of Thoroughbred racing in North America.
THA organizations serve this constituency, as well as the industry at large. The boards of THA affiliate organizations are equally comprised of owners and trainers who choose to serve as volunteers dedicated to the well-being of their fellow horsemen, backstretch workers, the health and welfare of the horse, and the industry. There is nothing in it for them other than their love for our sport. It can be a challenging task and sometimes decision-making is difficult. After all, these are challenging times for the racing industry, and sausage-making is not always pretty. But they do an excellent job for the pay.
It may not be fashionable in today’s world to ask, but if you have a moment, take a look at our Affiliates section and read the names of the individuals who serve THA organizations. If you see one of them, thank them and tell them how much you appreciate their time and effort on our collective behalf.
And thank you for allowing us provide this website. If there is anything you think we need to add, let us know.
Alan M. Foreman
Alan Foreman is Chairman and CEO of the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association