Here and There

The organization Equine Advocates will hold its annual awards dinner and charity auction on Aug. 12 at Stone Bridge Farm in Schuylerville, N.Y. TOBA president Gary Biszantz will be honored by the group. The event, co-chaired by Betty Hettinger and Ellen Moelis, will feature a fiberglass horse, painted by Pierre "Peb" Bellocq, as part of its auction. The group strives to ensure humane retirement for Thoroughbreds at the end of their careers. For information or tickets call (581) 245-1599...Bret Barickman, a seasonal employee in Arlington Park's TV department for the last seven years, and Tommy Sroor, a member of Arlington's program department since 1989, both recently received Arlington's Aspire Award for responding and resolving situations to exceed expectations as Arlington employees. While working in an Arlington camera tower last month, Barickman observed a man stealing items from cars in the parking lot, and alerted another cameraman to start video taping the man. That quickly led to the apprehension of the suspect, and the return of property to the car owners. Sroor, who has received multiple Aspire Award nominations throughout his Arlington career, went above and beyond the call of duty to assist customers through the gate during Arlington's well-attended Father's Day program while also fulfilling his many normal duties on that special celebratory program...Mauricio "Moe" Espinosa is the Groom of the Week at Arlington Park. Espinosa is a native of Pueblo, Mexico, who has been a valued groom at the stable of trainer Gene Cilio for the last eight years.