The board of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, the oldest and largest non-profit association devoted to the aftercare of racehorses, has announced a restructuring of its internal operations. The new structure comes in response to the growth of the organization and the increasing demand from the racing industry and fans for humane treatment of ex-racehorses. Two new positions have been created, and the organization will now maintain offices in Saratoga, N.Y. and Lexington, Ky.
Longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder and retired tobacco industry executive Larry Taylor has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the TRF. Taylor will oversee the TRF’s multi-state operations from the TRF’s new headquarters at Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.
Diana Pikulski, who has served as TRF Executive Director for 15 years and was named one of the industry’s “25 Most Influential Women” in the July 3 edition of Thoroughbred Times, will fill the new position of Executive Director for External Affairs and will continue to work from the foundation’s office in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The moves come in response to the board’s recently concluded study of the TRF’s operation and mission, according to TRF Chairman Tom Ludt, President of Vinery Ltd.
“The aftercare of Thoroughbreds is extremely important and it’s something the racing public is expecting from the industry,” Taylor said. “Moving the TRF headquarters to Lexington reflects our growing ties to the industry we serve and will improve our ability to forge strategic partnerships with other industry organizations. We want to get more people to understand and appreciate aftercare as well as the resources it takes.”
