By Tom Rooney
This past Sunday marked the 100th day of 2022, and it also marked my 100th day as President and CEO of the NTRA. These first 100 days have been filled with great events, lots of travel, meeting new people, and immersing myself in the Thoroughbred racing industry. In these first 100 days, we’ve had a lot of success as an organization. This success gives us a foundation we can use to continue to strengthen and grow, and it makes me even more excited to see what the rest of the year will bring.
I spent a few of my earliest days attending NTRA’s two capstone events – the National Horseplayers Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Eclipse Awards at Santa Anita in California. For me, with very little prior knowledge about either of these events, I was blown away by the excitement and support received by the industry. These two events are the perfect way to kick off the year for the Thoroughbred racing industry and gain enthusiasm for the rest of the calendar year.
I’ve also spent many of these past 100 days getting out around the country to various tracks and training centers, farms and events, listening to Thoroughbred breeders, owners, trainers, and others who experience the industry on a daily basis. Our ultimate goal is to build consensus in the industry around what issues we need to be advocating for in Washington. One way to do this is to make sure that everyone is included in the conversations. That’s why I am very pleased to welcome our newest members, Tampa Bay Downs and Oaklawn Park Racing Casino Resort, who have agreed to become members of the NTRA.
Another way I’ve spent many of these days is attending several of this year’s Derby prep races. From the Rebel in Arkansas, to the Louisiana Derby in New Orleans, the Sunland Park Derby in New Mexico, to the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, and many in between, I’ve gotten to see the scope and breadth of races we offer here in this country. Leading into Triple Crown season, I couldn’t be more excited for the talented equine and human athletes we have competing at the highest level of racing. Everywhere I have visited, I am gratified by the treatment and focus placed on caring for our majestic Thoroughbreds that are at the center of this great sport. Whether it’s meeting with owners and breeders in California and Florida, or with trainers like Bill Mott and Christophe Clement at Payson Park, the future of our industry is bright with incredible people.
I’ve also spent a lot of time meeting with my peers and working on NTRA-specific goals. At my first NTRA board meeting we elected Shannon Bishop Arvin, President and CEO of Keeneland Association, to serve as Chair of NTRA. I also held my first Horse PAC® board meeting with Chairman Bill Farish, where I was able to lay out my strategic vision for supporting allies on Capitol Hill running for elected office to garner as much support for the industry as possible in Washington.
And finally, the NTRA signed a lease on an office in Washington, D.C. As a former Member of Congress, I hadn’t been back in the Capitol building since I cast my last vote in 2018. I recently went back to the Hill to get our D.C. office up and running. With a location secured, we plan to be fully operational by Memorial Day weekend. We’ve started meeting with key leaders in Congress, like Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, to advocate on behalf of the industry and support our goals.
I didn’t really know what to expect in this job, but these first 100 days have far exceeded any expectations I might have had. The energy and enthusiasm for Thoroughbred racing, both inside and outside the industry, is palpable. We have a lot of great opportunities to grow and evolve, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it. As we gear up for the Triple Crown season, and the eyes of the sports world look at us, I’m confident of the work being done by NTRA and my team.