Tom Metzen Sr. of National, Arizona and Minnesota HBPAs Passes Away

Tom Metzen Sr., a tireless worker for horsemen in Arizona, Minnesota and across the country, passed away on August 10. At the time of his passing, Metzen was First Vice President and Central Region Vice President for the National HBPA, President of the Minnesota HBPA and Executive Director of the Arizona HBPA.

“The entire horse racing industry has lost one of its biggest fans and one of its most vocal advocates,” said Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National HBPA. “To know Tom was to know his heart and thus his passion for the horse and his love of our industry. His tireless efforts toward promoting racing, advocating for horsemen and supporting backside programs will be sorely missed and may likely never be matched. I am honored to have known Tom and even more proud to have worked alongside him.”

Metzen was a member of the Canterbury Hall of Fame, and he enjoyed great success at the Minnesota track as an owner. He campaigned three horses to win Horse of the Year titles at Canterbury: Shot of Gold, Prime Step and Chisholm.

“We owe Tom a great debt of gratitude, as his contributions to making Canterbury Park and the Minnesota horse racing industry what they are today are unmatched,” said Canterbury President and CEO Randy Sampson. “I am personally grateful for the friendship and partnership I have been fortunate to share with Tom for the past 25-plus years. We didn’t always agree, but one thing we did always agree on is that we can accomplish a lot more when the track and horsemen work together. With Tom’s leadership of the HBPA, Canterbury Park and our horsemen became the model for how to work together to achieve success.”

His service to the Minnesota racing industry also included time as chairman of the Minnesota Racing Commission and president of the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association. Among his accomplishments in Minnesota, Metzen was instrumental in the establishment of the Claiming Crown at Canterbury. The event for blue-collar claiming horses debuted in Minnesota in 1999 and has been held there 10 times, most recently in 2010.

On a national level, he served on numerous committees for the NHBPA, including budget and dues, The Horsemen’s Journal, insurance and public relations. He also served on the NHBPA’s Executive Committee and chaired the organization’s National Assistance Committee.

In 2007, Tom received the National Industry Service Award. This award is the premier award of the National HBPA given in recognition of dedication, service and leadership to the horse racing industry.

“Tom was my mentor and my good friend,” said National HBPA President Leroy Gessmann. “He will be missed by all the horsemen and horsewomen he worked so hard for, not only in Minnesota and Arizona but all across the county. Whenever I had an issue I was struggling with, Tom was always there to help me out. As chairman of the National Assistance Committee, he went out of his way to help fellow horsemen and horsewomen in need. Tom will be missed by all.”

“Tom was a great family man, horseman and my friend for over 10 years and he will surely be missed,” said Arizona HBPA President J. Lloyd Yother. “Tom spent tireless hours working to protect and improve the interests of Arizona horsemen and horsewomen. He was instrumental in getting advance deposit wagering legislation here as well as getting added money for Arizona breeders in open races and funds for Arizona breeders awards. When there was a benefit or someone in need, Tom and his wife Karen were always there to support the cause.”

Tom was preceded in death by son Thomas Jr. and brother Jim. He is survived by loving wife of 56 years Karen; children Tim and Kathy (Tim) Machacek; grandchildren Nick (Tamara), Laura (Carl), Travis (Kayelynn), Luke (Shahara), Kayla, Adam and Allison; great-grandchildren Mya, Ava, Colton and Cooper; brother David (Leslie); sister-in-law Sandie Metzen. He is also survived by many nieces & nephews.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 16, at 11:30 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church located at 460 W. Annapolis St. in West St. Paul, Minnesota. Family will greet friends on Monday, August 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Kandt and Tetrick Funeral Home at 140 8th Avenue North in South St. Paul and will greet friends on Tuesday one hour before service at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to SSP Educational Foundation.

For more details on the memorial, go to http://www.kandt.org/book-of-memories/2673328/Metzen-Thomas/service-details.php.

Nominations Now Open for RTCA’s White Horse Award

Do you know a hero within the horse racing industry? Race Track Chaplaincy of America (RTCA) is currently seeking nominees for our 14th Annual White Horse Award (WHA). The WHA is presented annually at Race Track Chaplaincy of America’s White Horse Award Luncheon to an individual who has done something heroic on behalf of human or horse. It is a way of recognizing those unsung heroes of horse racing, whether their actions are of a headline-grabbing, or the quiet and not-so-obvious kind of heroism.

This year’s White Horse Awards Luncheon will take place on Thursday, November 3, at the Embassy Suites in Arcadia, California, just prior to the beginning of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships being held in the same city at Santa Anita Park. In addition to the White Horse recognition, two other awards will be presented—the Tribute to Excellence and Community Service Awards.

To submit a nomination for either the White Horse, Tribute to Excellence, or Community Service Awards, visit www.rtcanational.org for a complete list of rules and selection criteria, as well as downloadable nomination forms. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2016. For more information, please contact the RTCA National Service Center at (859) 410-7822.
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More about the White Horse Award – The WHA was established in 2003 to recognize individuals within the horse racing industry for their acts of selflessness and bravery. The most recent recipients include an outrider who rescued a horse from an infield lake at Los Alamitos and a young man who rescued a fellow jockey when her horse suddenly collapsed at the end of a race, trapping her beneath it. For many people in the horse world, events like these are “just another day at work,” but RTCA wishes to recognize these heroic acts of love. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.” John 15:13

More about the Race Track Chaplaincy of America - The overall mission of the RTCA, through its Councils and Chaplains, is to make disciples for Jesus Christ through teaching, preaching, and ministering to the spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and educational needs of those persons involved in all aspects of the horse racing industry. For more about the support RTCA provides to chaplains at race tracks across the United States please click here, “Follow” us on Facebook at “Race Track Chaplaincy of America.”

31st Annual TOBA National Awards Dinner Winners Announced

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s 31st annual National Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, September 10 at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington, Ky. The National Awards Dinner honors the achievements of Thoroughbred owners and breeders in the four major North American racing regions and breeders in 25 states and Canada.

The following regional owners will be honored:

*Eastern Region Owner of the Year: Stonestreet Stables LLC
*Midwestern Region Owner of the Year: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey
*Southern Region Owner of the Year: Zayat Stables, LLC
*Western Region Owner of the Year: Reddam Racing LLC

A National Owner of the Year will be selected from these regional owners. The National Owner of the Year will be announced at the Awards Dinner.

The state and Canadian breeders of the year are:

Arizona: Triple AAA Ranch
Arkansas: McDowell Farm
California: Reddam Racing LLC
Canada: Tall Oaks Farm
Florida: Jacks or Better Farm
Illinois: Richard & Karen Papiese
Indiana: Justice Farms
Iowa: Poindexter Thoroughbreds
Kentucky: Godolphin
Louisiana: Set – Hut, LLC
Maryland: Dance Forth Farm
Massachusetts: Langdon Wilby & Mary Beth Reis
Michigan: Campbell Stable LLC
Kansas: Pam M. Davis
Minnesota: Curtis A. Sampson
New Jersey: Holly Crest Farm
New Mexico: A & A Horse Farm, LLC
New York: Eklektikos Stable LLC
North Carolina: Chandley Farm LLC
North Dakota: Backhaus & Sons
Ohio: 3 Clovers Farm & Blazing Meadows Farm
Oregon: Oakhurst Thoroughbreds
South Carolina: Franklin G. Smith, Sr.
Texas: Runaway Farm
Virginia: Keswick Stables
Washington: Coal Creek Farm

TOBA’s National Breeder and National Small Breeder of the Year will be announced at the Awards Dinner.

TOBA will also honor the Robert N. Clay Award winner. In partnership with the Equine Land Conservation Resource, this award recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use. Additionally, TOBA will honor Littleprincessemma as the National Broodmare of the Year. This award offers catalog designation from the North American International Cataloguing Standards Committee.

In conjunction with Rood & Riddle a Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year will be decorated. This award is presented to the owner of the ex-Thoroughbred racehorse that has excelled in sport horse competitions as tracked by the United States Equestrian Federation. With the National HBPA, TOBA will recognize the Claiming Crown Horse of the Year.

“This year’s National Award winners are all very deserving recipients who represent the highest levels of excellence from every racing and breeding region across the United States and Canada,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “We are honored to recognize each and every one of them on what promises to be a spectacular celebration at Stonestreet Farm.”

Tickets for the National Awards Dinner may be purchased at www.toba.org.