Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will honor Frank Stronach with the TCA Leadership Award and Belmont Child Care Association with the TCA Industry Service Award at the 23rd Annual Select Stallion Season Auction to be held January 5, 2013 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Kentucky.
"Mr. Stronach and the Belmont Child Care Association personify the spirit of these awards," said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA. "We are extremely grateful for their contributions and dedication to our industry."
The TCA Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past award winners include Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson and Bill Casner.
Frank Stronach is a five-time Eclipse award winning breeder and four-time Eclipse Award winning owner. In 2005, Stronach developed the first in-house retirement program, Adena Springs Retirement Program, to ensure a healthy and safe retirement for Adena Spring's horses. In 2011, Stronach created the Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred Aftercare Program with matching funds donated by the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He also recently formed the Santa Anita Aftercare Program and has pledged to match the funds currently deducted from purses in support of aftercare.
"To be recognized by Thoroughbred Charities of America, which for more than 20 years has provided support and love for Thoroughbreds and the people who work for them, is a great honor," Stronach siad. "We must always remember to care for those who work in our industry, and we must make it our business to ensure every Thoroughbred during and after its racing career is afforded a safe and loving environment to prosper throughout its life."
The TCA Industry Service Award is presented annually to a current TCA grantee that exemplifies TCA's mission. Past award winners include Old Friends, Kentucky Equine Humane Center, Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, New Vocations and Tranquility Farms.
Formed in 1998, the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) was created for the benefit of working families at New York area racetracks. In 2002, Anna House was built and donated to the BCCA to serve families of the backstretch by providing a high quality child care designed to enhance the emotional, social and education development of their children. The center provides scholarship funds to those unable to afford the cost of care.
"The Belmont Child Care Association subscribes to the philosophy that if you change the first five years and then you change everything. We want our children to become America's productive citizens of tomorrow," said Donna Chenkin, executive director of BCCA. "Anna House opened its doors on the Belmont Race Track to address the complicated challenge of the children of backstretch families who are at risk of failing school. Thanks to the education the children receive at Anna House and the support of the racing industry, when our graduates enter kindergarten they are engaged, healthy and eager to learn and ready to succeed."
The TCA Stallion Season Auction is the charity's largest annual fundraiser. Approximately 200 seasons will be auctioned with the majority of the seasons offered during the two-day telephone auction. Telephone bids will be accepted January 3-4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST). Interested bidders may register for a bidder number by visiting www.tca.org.
Approximately 25-30 seasons will be sold in a live Select Season Auction on January 5. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on the select seasons by attending the live auction in-person or they may bid on the select seasons during the telephone phase with the highest bidders earning the right to bid by phone during the live auction. In addition to the seasons, the live auction will feature non-season lots such as a Triple Crown package and a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A silent auction will also be offered.