NANCY LaSALA / Residence: Illinois / Profession: Executive director of Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund / Involvement in racing: She is a lifeline to jockeys who require financial assistance after being injured. / Awards: 2013 Eddie Arcaro Award / Why she is an Impact Player: LaSala's dedication and commitment to making the issues of safety and financial provision for jockeys an industry issue has raised awareness and propelled the Permanently Disabled Jockeys' Fund to the forefront of awareness.

Photo: Nancy Knott

MARYLOU WHITNEY and JOHN HENDRICKSON / Residences: Florida, Kentucky, New York, Alaska / Profession: Co-founders of Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation program / Involvement in racing: Owners and Breeders of major winners; The Jockey Club member; Founding member of TRF; major contributor to Secretariat Center at the KHP; American Sportscasters Association; Saratoga Performing Arts Center; National Museum of Dance; Saratoga Hospital; Saratoga Backstretch Appreciation program / Awards: Whitney received the 2010 Eclipse Award of Merit / Why they are Impact Players: The couple have had a huge impact on improving the lives of backside workers.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

BARBARA BANKE / Residence: Kentucky / Profession: Attorney / Involvement in racing: owner of Stonestreet Stables; Stonestreet Training and Rehabilitation Center in Florida; on boards of Breeders' Cup and Belmont Child Care Association / Awards: Three consecutive Horse of the Year awards (Curlin, 2007-08; Rachel Alexandra, 2009) / Why she is an Impact Player: Banke's belief in bringing more fans to the sport is shown with the institution of Visit Rachel Alexandra Days at Stonestreet Farm. Her work with Anna House is helping change the lives of children of backstretch workers.

Photo: Jonathan Palmer

FRANK STRONACH / Residence: Austria, Canada, Florida, Colorado, Kentucky / Profession: Adena Springs, The Stronach Group / Involvement in racing: Adena Springs; racetrack owner through The Stronach Group of which he's chairman; Adena Springs Retirement Program; Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred Aftercare Program; Santa Anita Aftercare Program / Awards: 17/time Sovereign Award winner as breeder and/or owner; 12/time Eclipse Award winner as breeder and/or owner; Earle I. Mack Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Champion Award / Why he is an Impact Player: Has been a leader in Thoroughbred aftercare programs, as well as dedicated to helping those who work with Thoroughbreds.

Photo: photos by Z

MARY SCOLLAY / Residence: Kentucky / Profession: Veterinarian / Involvement in racing: Medical director of Kentucky Horse Racing Commission / Why she is an Impact Player: Scollay's establishment of the Equine Injury Database for The Jockey Club has provided valuable information for research.

Photo: Kevin Thompson

SHEIKH MOHAMMED Residence: Dubai / Profession: Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates / Involvement in racing: Owner of Godolphin and Darley stables; and, Darley breeding farms in the U.S., Europe (Dalham Hall Stud in England and Kildangan Stud in Ireland), Australia, Japan, and China. / Why he is an Impact Player: Created the Darley Flying Start program of educating talented and motivated people for careers in the Thoroughbred industry.

Photo: Joseph Diorio

STEUART PITTMAN JR. / Residence: Maryland / Profession: Owner of Dodon Farm, a 550/acre farm in Davidsonville, Md. Dodon is from the French 'Dieu Donne,' meaning 'from God.' / Involvement in racing: President of the Maryland Horse Council / Why he is an Impact Player: Pittman has been active in increasing the demand for Thoroughbred ex/racehorses through public education and promotion.

Photo: Denice Pharris / RTIP

ALAN FOREMAN / Residence: Maryland / Profession: Attorney / Involvement in racing: General counsel to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; National Thoroughbred Racing Association director; Racing Medication and Testing Consortium board member; member of the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety. / Why he is an Impact Player: Foreman has been active and influential in the drafting and dissemination of uniform medication thresholds and penalties for racing states.

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

B. WAYNE HUGHES / Residence: California / Profession: Owner of 700/acre Spendthrift Farm in Lexington Involvement in racing: Hughes has been an owner since 1970. He bought Spendthrift Farm in 2004 and now stands 14 stallions in Kentucky, one in Louisiana and one in New York. / Why he is an Impact Player: Besides reviving the stallion operation at historic Spendthrift, Hughes has been an innovator with breeding incentive programs.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

ERICH ZIMNY / Residence: West Virginia / Profession: Director of racing operations at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. He also holds a law degree. / Involvement in racing: Manages the $30 million/plus year/round racing program at Charles Town. / Why he is an Impact Player: Zimny has grown the quality of Charles Town¹s racing product its stature on the national racing stage by retooling the stakes program.

Photo: Denice Pharris / RTIP

MICK PETERSON / Residence: Maine / Profession: Libra Foundation Professor in the University of Maine's College of Engineering Involvement in racing: Executive director of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory. / Why he is an Impact Player: Peterson's research ties together the mechanics of materials with the biomechanics of animals. He has been a leader in applying research and science to the development and maintenance of safe racetrack surfaces.

Photo: SKIP DICKSTEIN

MICHAEL BLOWEN / Residence: Kentucky / Profession: Former film critic for the Boston Globe / Involvement in racing: Founder and executive director of the non-profit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky. The center has a satellite division near Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Why he is an Impact Player: Blowen has been instrumental in raising awareness of the need for Thoroughbred retirement and aftercare facilities through education and skillful marketing and promotion.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt