TCA to honor Oxleys, RRTP at stallion season auction

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor prominent owners John and Debby Oxley and the Retired Racehorse Training Project at its annual select stallion season auction on Jan. 4 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Ky.

“John and Debby Oxley and the Retired Racehorse Training Project have made outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred industry,” TCA President Dan Rosenberg said. “Both honorees embody the mission of Thoroughbred Charities of America and it is our honor to recognize them for their tremendous efforts.”

The Oxleys will be presented with the TCA Leadership Award, which annually recognizes an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA’s mission.

The Oxleys are prominent Thoroughbred owners and breeders with notable runners including 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos, 1999 Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Eclipse Award winner Beautiful Pleasure and 1995 Kentucky Oaks winner Gal in a Ruckus. The couple has been a strong advocate for the Thoroughbred industry and has supported numerous Thoroughbred aftercare organizations, backstretch and education programs and research organizations.

“We are deeply honored and humbled by this award,” the Oxleys said in a release. “The work of TCA is critically important to the Thoroughbred industry and we enthusiastically support TCA. We commend all TCA recipient organizations, their staff and volunteers who do the daily work to support and care for retired thoroughbreds. Thank you for your dedication.”

The Retired Racehorse Training Project will be honored with the TCA Industry Service Award, presented annually to a current TCA grantee that exemplifies TCA’s mission.

Retired Racehorse Training Project (RRTP), a current recipient of TCA funding, is an organization dedicated to increasing demand in the sport and recreation marketplace for Thoroughbred ex-racehorses through public events, clinics, training publications, videos and internet tools. Its recent Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium at Pimlico Race Course showcased the talents of Thoroughbreds who had transitioned from racing to 10 different equestrian disciplines.

“Thoroughbred racehorses are the most magnificent animals on the planet, and there is no group of people we would rather be honored by for our work on their behalf than the board of directors of TCA,” RRTP President Steuart Pittman said. “Most of us are dumbfounded that Thoroughbreds lost so much of the riding horse market share in the last three decades to other breeds, but all of us understand how important it is to take that share back. We believe that with TCA on our team we will.”

The TCA Stallion Season Auction is the charity’s largest annual fundraiser. Approximately 200 seasons will be auctioned with the majority of the seasons offered during the telephone and online portion of the auction. Online bidding will open at 9 a.m. Eastern on Jan. 2 and continue through 10 a.m. on Jan. 4. Telephone bids will be accepted Jan. 2 and 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Jan. 4 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Ten to 15 seasons will be sold in a live select season auction on Jan. 4. In addition to the seasons, the live auction will feature non-season lots such as a Triple Crown ticket package, John Deere mower, tickets for the 2014 Breeders’ Cup and a NASCAR race at the Kentucky Speedway. A silent auction will also be offered. For more information, visit www.tca.org.