(Edited press release)
The Race Track Chaplaincy of America announced Sept. 30 that the nominations deadline date for the 2009 White Horse Award has been extended to Oct. 15.
Bestowed annually since 2003, the White Horse Award will be presented at the White Horse Award Luncheon on Nov., at Santa Anita Park, the day before the start of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
The White Horse Fellowship, which selects the winner, is comprised of members of the horse racing industry and corporate partners who support the White Horse Award Program. Each believes in the RTCA mission and has decided to take a leadership role in not only serving those workers, but honoring one individual or group annually who answers the call to go above and beyond.
“I think its God’s plan that every day someone does something heroic on a certain level,” said retired jockey Pat Day, who co-hosted the 2008 awards ceremony, at which the group of horsemen who rescued 19 horses from the tragic barn fire in Vinton, La., last summer were honored. “The White Horse Award is a special way to recognize those in the horse racing industry that goes the extra mile to follow His plan.”
The White Horse Award winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a limited-edition White Horse bronze statue by noted sculptress Lisa Perry, and a trip for two to the Breeders’ Cup. Two runners-up will receive $1,000 each and a plaque recognizing their heroic effort.
Nominations will be accepted for heroic acts that have happened since August 1, 2008, and prior nominees are not eligible. The nominator must provide contact information for the nominee and a detailed description of the heroic act.
Newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts, video and any other supporting information are encouraged. Nominations should be submitted by our new extended deadline to the RTCA National office at (310) 419-1640, whitehorse09@sbcglobal.net, or P.O. Box 91640, Los Angeles, CA 90009. More information is available at www.rtcanational.org.