LEXINGTON, Ky. (Wednesday, March 25, 2015) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) today announced the release of the 2014 Annual Report for its bipartisan federal Political Action Committee, Horse PAC.
Under the leadership of Chairman William S. Farish Jr., the Horse PAC Board of Directors raised $293,405 in 2014 from members of the Thoroughbred racing industry, a 19.7 percent increase over the prior year’s mark and the largest amount raised since 2007.
Horse PAC disbursed $227,000 in 2014 to federal political candidates and leadership PACs, bringing its total for the 2013-14 Congressional cycle to $452,500, the largest two-year disbursement since the 2007-08 cycle.
“The robust growth in Horse PAC fundraising and disbursements is especially timely in the current political environment,” said Margaret E. Hendershot, president of Horse PAC. “It’s critical that our industry has a strong voice in Washington, D.C. On behalf of the entire Horse PAC board, I want to thank everyone who has supported Horse PAC, including an important group of individuals who have contributed annually since its formation in 2002.”
In the 2014 elections, Horse PAC-supported candidates won all 39 of their House contests and three of four Senate races for a 97.6 percent success rate.
More than 165 NTRA members – including 34 first-time donors – contributed to Horse PAC in 2014. Forty-four donors gave at the maximum level of $5,000.
The Horse PAC Annual Report for 2014 has been be mailed to PAC contributors; other NTRA members may request a copy by contacting Barbara Fossum, assistant PAC treasurer, at bfossum@ntra.com. A PDF version of the report also can be found online at www.ntra.com/media/8953425/2014_pac_annualrep.pdf.
Horse PAC supports federal political candidates who serve on Congressional committees that oversee matters pertaining to livestock and agriculture issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act; are established Congressional leaders; understand horse racing’s issues; have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers and ADWs in their states; are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus; or are emerging leaders meriting early support in their legislative careers. For more information visit www.SupportHorseRacing.org.
About the NTRA
The NTRA is a broad-based coalition of more than 100 horse racing interests and thousands of individual stakeholders consisting of horseplayers, racetrack operators, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity, welfare and integrity of Thoroughbred racing through consensus-based leadership, legislative advocacy, safety and integrity initiatives, fan engagement and corporate partner development. The NTRA owns and manages the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance, NTRA.com, the Eclipse Awards, the National Handicapping Championship, NTRA Advantage, a corporate partner sales and sponsorship program, and Horse PAC, a federal political action committee. The NTRA has offices in Lexington, Ky., and New York City. NTRA press releases appear on NTRA.com, Twitter (@ntra) and Facebook (facebook.com/1NTRA).