Finalists for the 2018 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards announced

The finalists for five of the six prestigious Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced. The winner of the sixth category, The Thoroughbred Industry Community Award, is Angie Carmona, deputy executive director and secretary of the California Thoroughbred Trainers.

The other finalists, along with Ms. Carmona, will be recognized at the awards ceremony luncheon.

The shortlist judging panel, first of the two judging panels, met at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) offices on Friday, September 7, to decide the finalists and Community Award winner.

The second and final stage of judging will take place on October 30 with a separate judging panel deciding the winners in the five remaining categories. The winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award has already been decided as one prize is awarded in that category.

Dan Fick, chairman of the shortlist judging panel stated, “On behalf of my fellow judges, we would like to expressly thank Godolphin and Sheikh Mohammed for presenting and underwriting these very prestigious employee recognition awards for the third year in America. Angie Carmona and these 15 finalists are being recognized for their dedication and leadership in Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding because they are the unsung heroes of our great industry.

“Judging all of the nominations in six categories was an honor and a pleasure for the judges. The stories were heart-warming and inspirational. There are so many deserving women and men working with our horses, it made all of us proud to be part of this wonderful sport.

“I am sure when the next judging panel interviews each finalist at the end of October; we will have an exciting but arduous task in selecting a winner in each category. For them to share their life’s history in horse racing with the judges will be a special occasion none of us will certainly ever forget. While we must choose a winner, all of the finalists are winners in the recognition they will have received from this special recognition awards program.”

The shortlist panel was comprised of: Chairman Dan Fick, chairman of Racing Officials Accreditation Program; Holly White, director of development, Grayson Jockey Club Foundation; Stephanie Nixon, vice president, Virginia HBPA; Nacho Patino, general manager, Siena Farm; and Beth Bayer, Thoroughbred Sales Agent.
Churchill Downs will host the awards ceremony on Wednesday, October 31 in partnership with Breeders Cup week. 

The finalists are:

Leadership Award – Farm

Sandy Hatfield - Three Chimneys Farm

Richard Barry - Ashford Stud

John Hall - Taylor Made Sales Agency

Leadership Award – Racing

Gene Corbin - Shade Tree Thoroughbreds Inc

Daisy Tobin - James W. Casey Racing

Cesar Aguilar - John W. Sadler Racing

Dedication to Breeding Award

Noe Murillo-Hernandez - The Acorn Farm, LLC

Therese Reese - Stoneway Farm

Barbara Nicholls - Stone Farm

Dedication to Racing Award

Jehobany Alvarez - Peter Miller Racing Stable Inc.

Lisa See - Pecoraro Racing Stable

Esteban Medina - Delta Downs

Newcomer Award

Devon Dougherty - Roy Houghton

Zachary Richards - NYRA

Lindsay Scott - Langsem Farm

Thoroughbred Industry Community Award winner

Angie Carmona - California Thoroughbred Trainers