Insurance Office of America, one of the fastest-growing independent agencies in the United States with more than 1,200 associates throughout the country, is the new official insurance provider of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), the two entities announced today.
IOA will also be known as the official insurance provider of the NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance and the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
IOA will provide exclusive insurance offerings to NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance-accredited racetracks and will serve as broker of record for NHC insurance placements (including a $3 million NHC Tour Bonus for winning the NHC and Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge back to back and a $2 million bonus for the NHC Tour winner should they go on to win the NHC). IOA also will be recognized as an official partner of the 47th Annual Eclipse Awards.
"We thank IOA for its support of Thoroughbred racing and the NTRA, particularly the Safety & Integrity Alliance, which plays a vital role in driving uniform implementation of important industry-established safety and integrity standards," said Alex Waldrop, President and CEO of the NTRA.
IOA has the advantage of decades of experience with racetracks and other Thoroughbred racing organizations thanks to insurance veteran John Patrick Unick, who joined IOA in October and is widely recognized as an expert in the equine and horse racing insurance space. For nearly 20 years, Unick has provided insurance services to racetracks across the United States, as well as to some of the world's most important races, including all three Triple Crown events and the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
"IOA is by far the most innovative insurance agency in the United States," Unick said. "Throughout my insurance career I have taken an entrepreneurial approach and IOA fosters that mentality. IOA's model, which focuses on major league sports, will allow my team to reward our longstanding clients with more resources while providing us with a national platform to introduce new insurance programs."
In addition to the horse racing industry, Unick serves as a broker for other specialized realms, including assisted living, real estate, legal malpractice for law firms, restaurants, casinos and venture capital firms.
For more information on IOA, visit ioausa.com.
