TIEA award finalists announced

The finalists and runners-up for the North American edition of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, to be presented Oct. 15 at Keeneland, have been announced.

The TIEA program, which recognizes individuals providing crucial behind-the-scenes work at racetracks, farms, and other Thoroughbred industry outlets, was held for the first time in America in 2016. The awards have Godolphin as a principal sponsor, 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 sponsors equivalent awards in Ireland, Australia, Great Britain, and France.

The finalists for the Katherine McKee Administration Award, sponsored by Keeneland, are Lauren Marks (Ocala Breeders' Sales Company), Tia Murphy (Turfway Park), and Deeann Ruppert (Claiborne Farm), with Gretchen Feld (Lane's End Farm, David Ingordo) and Tiffany Leggett (1/ST Racing) as runners-up.

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The finalists for the Support Services Award, sponsored by 1/ST Racing, are Keith and Joy Cooper (Cooper Horse Transport), Cass Dewey (Desert Oasis Rescue), and Vicki Tomlinson (Churchill Downs), with runners-up Justine "Tina" Elam (Hagyard Equine Medical Institute) and Kevin Moran (Keeneland Association).

The Dedication to Breeding Award, sponsored by Hallway Feeds, finalists are Sue Hooper (Haven Oaks Farm), Francisco "Poncho" Sanchez (Craig Wheeler Thoroughbreds), and Steve Vargas (Bridlewood Farm), with runners-up Abel Garibay (C&S Thoroughbreds) and Christine Sgorrano (Sugar Plum Farm).

The Dedication to Racing Award, sponsored by National Thoroughbred Racing Association, finalists are Francisco D'Angelo (D'Angelo Racing Team), Milver Martinez (Brendan Walsh Racing), and Erma Lee Scott (William I. Mott Racing), with the runners-up Darquin "Darwin" Aguilar-Valenzuela (Brad H. Cox Racing Stables) and Lee Vickers (Christophe Clement Racing Stable).

The finalists for the Managerial Award, sponsored by HagyardEquine Medical Institute, are Stuart Angus (Taylor Made Farm), Christine Jones (Pleasant Acres Stallions), and Jack Sadler (Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners), with runners-up Lauren Eads (Watercress Farm) and Debbie Ward (Safari North Farm).

The finalists for the Newcomer Award, sponsored by the New York Racing Association, are Katie Petrunyak (Thoroughbred Daily News), Demetrio Rabadan (Christophe Clement Racing Stable), and Julianne Stowell (Niall Brennan Stables), with the runners-up being Nicole Dreiling (Bel-Mar Farm) and Ethan Fry (O'Sullivan Farms).

The Dr. J. David "Doc" Richardson Community Award, sponsored by Churchill Downs, finalists are Joel Helmburg (Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation at Blackburn Correctional Facility), Bob Miller (Ocala Farm Ministry), and Nancy LaSala (Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund), with runners-up Melanie Case (Kentucky Race Track Chaplaincy) and Christian Countzler (Stable Recovery).

The winners of the Administration, Dedication to Breeding, Dedication to Racing, Managerial, Community, and Support Services categories will receive a prize of $7,500, with the other two finalists receiving $3,500, and the runners-up receiving $2,000 each. The winner of the Newcomer Award will receive $5,000, with other finalists receiving $2,500 each, and the runners-up $1,000 each.

These finalists and runners-up were determined by a shortlist judging pandel that met in July. A second and final stage of judging, including in-person interviews with the finalists, will take place in October.

"To learn about the backgrounds of those that make our industry work is just so meaningful," panel chair Tom Law said in a release. "Represented were backstretch workers, exercise riders, those in administrative roles, farm workers, those that donate their time to help in the equine community; the list goes on. They're not the ones in front of the camera. They're not the ones accepting trophies. They truly represent the backbone that makes our industry work. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude, and the TIEAs are one meaningful way in which we can repay them for all that they do."

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