The board of directors of The Race For Education, a national education scholarship foundation, has named Donald R. Richardson, senior vice president of racing for Churchill Downs Inc., as the organization's new president. Doug Cauthen, president of WinStar Farm and RFE's president since its inception in 2002, remains on the board.
Richardson has served in his current position at CDI since January 1999. In that post, he was responsible for policy development, strategy, and horsemen's services of CDI racetracks in six states.
"The Race for Education is a shining success story for the Thoroughbred industry, and it is an honor to serve as its president," Richardson said in a press statement. "This organization is an example of our industry at its finest, as it provides a mechanism for those who have enjoyed success to give something back and provide scholarships and educational opportunities to children of horse industry families."
Richardson's affiliation with racing started at age 14, when he began selling programs at Churchill Downs. He joined the track's racing office and worked as a patrol judge in 1969. After holding positions in racing at tracks throughout the Kentucky circuit, as well as racing positions at Florida's Hialeah and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, Richardson returned to Churchill Downs as assistant racing secretary from 1973 to 1978. He served as racing secretary in 1974.
Richardson launched a new career as a jockey's agent in 1979 and represented Hall of Fame riders Chris McCarron and Don Brumfield, as well as veterans Jim McKnight, Keith Allen, Darrell Haire, Mike McDowell, and others.
He returned to the racing office at Churchill Downs in 1989 and was named stakes coordinator the following year, a post Richardson held until he moved to his current role with the track's parent company in 1999.
Richardson also serves on the board of overseers of Spalding University, board of directors of the Kentucky Derby Museum, and the advisory committee for the Klein Family Learning Center and WinStar Library at Churchill Downs. He is chairman of the Churchill Downs Horsemen's Racing Committee and is a member of the Thoroughbred Club of America.
The board also voted to invite George Isaacs, general manager of Arthur Appleton's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla., to join RFE as the board's newest member. Under Isaacs' watch, Bridlewood bred grade I winner Southern Image and stands Florida's 2001 Horse of the Year
Forbidden Apple, multiple graded stakes winner Honor Glide, and Florida's 2004 leading sire,
Halo's Image.
