Finalists named for Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards; Caras named Community Award winner

The finalists for the 2021 North American Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards have been announced, as well as the winner and runner-up of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award. This year’s Community Award winner is Nick Caras of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy, with Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association’s Diana Pinones as runner-up.

After last year's awards were presented virtually, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 award recipients and finalists will be honored in an in-person event planned for Oct. 15 at Keeneland.

Godolphin is the principal sponsor of the awards, in association with The Jockey Club, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protection Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and the Breeders’ Cup. Godolphin also sponsors the equivalent Stud and Stable Staff Awards in Ireland, Australia, Great Britain, and France. The awards were first presented in North America in 2016.

The awards, which drew almost 200 nominations this year for the various categories, carry total prize money of $122,000. As the winner of the Community Award, which is sponsored by Churchill Downs, Caras will receive a prize of $7,500 and an additional prize of $2,500 will be donated to the charity of his choice. Pinones will receive $2,500 as the runner-up in this category.

The 2021 finalists in the remaining categories are:

* Katherine McKee Administration Award, sponsored by Keeneland: Lori Johnson (The Jockey Club), Sue Kenny (Herringswell Stables), Kelsey Marshall (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners).

* Support Services Award, sponsored by I am Horse Racing: David Kyle (Fasig-Tipton), Katherine Todd Smith (self-employed, horse identifier), Brenda Wilhelm (Charles Town).

* Dedication to Breeding Award, sponsored by Hallway Feeds: Luis Coronado (Machmer Hall), Wayne Howard (Spendthrift Farm), Calvin Smith (Runnymede Farm, Pa.).

* Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by National Thoroughbred Racing Association: Benjamin Betts (Ocala Jockey Club, retired), Tessa Bisha (Brad H. Cox Racing), Lorita Lindemann (Joe Sharp Racing).

* Leadership Award, sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute: Joseph Littrell (Stone Farm), Robert Turner (Stonestreet Farms), Billy Sellers (Lane’s End Farm).

* Newcomer Award, sponsored by New York Racing Association: Emily Csenar (Taylor Made Sales Agency), Joshua McLemore (Keeneland), Olivia Desch (WinStar Farm).

The shortlist judging panel, the first of the two judging panels, met on Aug. 17 to determine these finalists in each category as well as the Community Award winner. The second and final stage of judging will be conducted as in-person interviews with each finalist on Oct. 14. The shortlist panel was chaired by University of Louisville chief of surgery Dr. David Richardson, and was also comprised of bloodstock agent and racing manager Jane Buchanan, Mindy Coleman of the Jockeys' Guild, and Tom Law of ST Publishing.

“Determining 20 finalists from almost 200 nominations was no easy task, but what a rewarding experience it was to learn about these nominees who have dedicated their livelihoods to the sport we all love,” Richardson said in a release. “While difficult decisions were made in order to narrow down what is a most impressive field, I think all will see from the list of finalists that we are blessed with an incredible workforce in our industry. These awards are incredibly important to our industry and sport. Now more than ever as we navigate a workforce shortage across the country, these awards are an opportunity to recognize and reward the industry’s most steadfast individuals.”