Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards finalists named; Hammond wins Richardson Community Award

Jessica Hammond of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has been honored with the Dr. J. David "Doc" Richardson Community Award sponsored by Churchill Downs, it was announced this week along with the finalists for the other 2022 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in America.

A short-list judging panel met on July 29 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to determine finalists in six Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards categories, as well as to name Hammond as the winner of the Community Award, and Dr. Kyle Roper of CHI St. Vincent as the runner-up.

A second stage of judging, consisting of in-person interviews with the finalists, will take place on Oct. 13 in Lexington, Ky. The awards will be presented in a ceremony on Oct. 14 at Keeneland.

Hammond joined the MTHA as counselor and benevolence administrator, soon after expanding her role as administrator of the region's Beyond The Wire aftercare program. She was nominated for the TIEA awards by the Maryland Jockey Club's Georganne Hale.

“Jessica helps every person on the backside or frontside of the racetracks in Maryland," Hale said in a release. "She is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Jessica helps and solves problems that employees bring to her when they may affect their physical or mental well-being. Her door is always open.

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“Jessica not only helps the humans. Her other job is protecting the horses when their careers as racehorses are over. Jessica makes sure every horse lands in a safe and healthy environment when they retire. We need many more Jessica Hammonds in the racing industry.”

Hammond will receive a prize of $7,500 and an additional prize of $2,500 will be donated to the charity of her choice. Roper will receive $2,500 as the runner-up in this category.

The remaining 2022 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards finalists, and their employers, are:

Katherine McKee Administration Award sponsored by Keeneland
Darla Shoemaker Gaige (Charles Town HBPA)
Blaire Eads (EQUIX)
Angela Ramsey (Sequel Holdings)

Support Services Award sponsored by I Am Horse Racing
Walter “Stretch” Johnson (Protravel International)
Timothy Tullock Jr. (Maryland Jockey Club)
Laura Scheer (New York Racing Association)

Dedication to Breeding Award sponsored by Hallway Feeds
Don Jenkins (Darby Dan Farm)
Danny Mitchell (Denali Stud)
Steve Holbrook (Coolmore America)

Dedication to Racing Award sponsored by National Thoroughbred Racing Association
Alice Clapham (Graham Motion)
Felipe Pulido Mendoza (Richard Mandella)
Danny Ramsey (McPeek Racing Stables)

Leadership Award sponsored by Hagyard Equine Medical Institute
Matthew Zehnder (University of Kentucky Maine Chance Farm)
Leanna Willaford (Bill Mott)
Anne Eberhardt (BloodHorse Publications)

Newcomer Award sponsored by New York Racing Association
Charles Churchill (Ed Brown Society and 1/ST Racing)
Maddie Rowland (Elizabeth Merryman)
Jonathan Estrada (David Donk)