Maryland's Bobby Lillis honored with Thoroughbred Industry Community Award

Bobby Lillis, executive director of the Maryland Horsemen’s Assistance Foundation and director of benefits for the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, has been named as the winner of the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award, it was announced Friday. Finalists in the other six divisions of the North American Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards were named.

The awards, sponsored by Godolphin in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, The Jockey Club, the National HPBA, and the Breeders' Cup, carry a large prize pool, with both the category winners and their employers, as well as chosen charities, benefitting from a win. A shortlist judging panel met on Aug. 13 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to determine the finalists and the Community Award winner. A second and final stage of judging will take place with a second panel on Oct. 10, with the winners announced at a luncheon on Oct. 11 at Keeneland.

An Administration Award category was added to the program this year, with the finalists being Andrea Greathouse of Paramount Sales, Bessie Gruwell of the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and Maria Catignani of Charles Town HBPA.

The finalists for the Dedication to Breeding Award are Barrett Midkiff of Taylor Made Farm, Ernest Blair of Lane’s End Farm, and Steve Clark of Godolphin. The finalists for the Dedication to Racing Award are Cristobal Trejo of Tomlinson Thoroughbred Training LLC, Janeen Painter, working for trainer Richard Mandella, and Lesley McCall, working for Moquett Racing.

The finalists for the Leadership in Breeding Award are Jenny Carpenter of Buttonwood Farm, Joe Peel of Claiborne Farm, and Mark Cunningham of Airdrie Farm. The finalists for the Leadership in Racing Award are Destin Heath of WinStar Farm, Saul Castellanos of Mark Hennig Racing Stable, and Thomas Brandebourger, working for trainer Chad Brown.

The finalists for the Newcomer Award are Amy Stokes of Godolphin, Courtney Schneider of Shawhan Place, and Michael Norris, working for trainer Kathy Ritvo.

"Yet again, our job was a difficult one as the quality of the group was extremely high," chairman of Racing Officials Accreditation Program Dan Fick, who served as chairman of the first selection panel, said in a release. "All those involved, including the nominators, should be very proud of their participation this year. ... I look forward to sitting down with each of the finalists when the final judging panel meets in October. And based on the strength of the nominees, we will certainly have our work cut out for us, but it will be an honor for all of us to meet these exceptional individuals in person."

The winners of the two breeding and two racing categories, as well as the administrative category, will receive a prize of $7,500 with an additional $2,500 being awarded to the winner’s farm or employer. The two runners-up in these categories will win $2,500 each, with the same amount going to their employer. The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive $2,500 with $1,000 going to their employer. The winner will also receive an all expenses-paid trip to Dubai. The two runners-up for this award will receive $2,000 each with $1,000 going to their farm or stable. Lillis, as winner of the Community Award, receives $7,500 with an additional prize of $5,000 going to the charity of his choice.