DRF to live stream Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards ceremony

Daily Racing Form on Friday will stream the ceremony that announces the winners of the inaugural Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, presented by Godolphin. Held at Keeneland, the event starts at 11 a.m. Eastern, and the five winners will each receive a trophy and a check for $10,000.

Modeled after a similar awards program that Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin established in England 11 years ago and later instituted in Ireland and Australia, the TIE Awards recognize excellence and achievement for grooms, foaling crews, exercise riders, office staff, and others who work on farms and racetracks in the United States. To be eligible, nominees must be U.S. citizens and work at a farm or racing stable in the U.S.

One of the U.S. winners already was named when the finalists were announced Sept. 2 because Israel "Izzy" Vega of Racetrack Chaplaincy of California was the only finalist for the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award. Vega will receive $10,000, and an additional $5,000 will be given to the charity of his choice.

The finalists in the other four categories:

Leadership Award – Farm: Victor Espinoza of Brookdale Farm, John Hall of Taylor Made, and Matt Koch of Shawhan Place.

Leadership Award – Racing: Jimmy Barnes from trainer Bob Baffert’s stable, Melissa Cohen from trainer Richard Violette’s stable, and Laz Guerra from trainer Mike Maker’s stable.

Dedication to Breeding Award: Everett Charles of Stone Farm, Leon Hamilton of Ashview Farm, and James Sebastian of Claiborne Farm.

Dedication to Racing Award: Jose "Vinny" Castenada of Marty Jones Racing Stable, Danny Ramsey of Kenny McPeek Racing, and Raul Rodriguez of Art Sherman Racing.

The winners of the two Farm and two Racing awards will each receive a trophy and a prize of $10,000, with an additional $5,000 being awarded to the winner’s farm or stable. The two runners-up in those categories will win $2,500 each, with the same amount going to their farm or stable.

The awards are sponsored by Godolphin and facilitated by the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, and The Jockey Club. Media partners are DRF, Thoroughbred Daily News, Blood-Horse Publications, and TVG.