29 Dec TCA to Honor Roytz and Our Mims Retirement Haven

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Jen Roytz with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and Our Mims Retirement Haven with the Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award at the 32nd Annual Stallion Season Auction’s ‘Tis the Season Celebration on Sunday, January 9, 2022, at Grand Reserve in Lexington, Ky.

The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA’s mission. Past award winners include LNJ Foxwoods, Dan Rosenberg, Barbara Banke, Bourbon Lane Stable, Graham and Anita Motion, Frank Stronach, Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, and Madeline Auerbach.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jen Roytz is a marketing and communications specialist based in Central Kentucky with a professional background in Thoroughbred racing, breeding and aftercare. Over the past 10 years, Roytz served in the capacities of board member, marketing consultant, and executive director of the Retired Racehorse Project. Roytz is a partner in Topline Communications and was previously marketing director for Three Chimneys Farm. Roytz is a passionate advocate for Thoroughbred aftercare and regularly speaks on the topic at both the national and local levels. She and her husband, Dr. Stuart Brown, own and operate Brownstead Farm, a breeding, sales, racing and sport horse facility in Versailles, KY. Her dedication to the well-being of Thoroughbreds during and after their racing careers exemplify the spirit of the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award.

The Ellen and Herb Moelis Industry Service Award is presented annually to an organization that works to uphold TCA’s mission. Past award winners include the TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.), The Jockey Club’s Thoroughbred Incentive Program, CANTER USA, Retired Racehorse Project, Belmont Child Care Association, Old Friends, and New York Race Track Chaplaincy.

Founded in 2007 by Jeanne Mirabito, Our Mims Retirement Haven is the only Thoroughbred aftercare organization in the U.S. dedicated solely to caring for retired broodmares. The organization’s namesake is the 1977 Champion Three-Year Old filly who Mirabito adopted in 1997. As a tribute to the mare, Our Mims Retirement Haven was created to help many more broodmares at the conclusion of their breeding careers. Sadly, in 2020, Mirabito passed away however her husband, Pete Mirabito, and the organization’s board of directors proudly carry on the organization’s vision and mission.

The Stallion Season Auction opens with an online auction of stallion seasons at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5 and continues through 4:30 p.m. EST on Friday, January 7. Over 150 seasons will be available in the online auction including Audible, Basin, Candy Ride, McKinzie, More Than Ready, Speightstown, and Volatile. A full list of seasons is available here.

Most of the seasons will sell during the online auction however select seasons to Bolt d’Oro, Charlatan, City of Light, Constitution, Liam’s Map, Maxfield (with 2023 breed back), Nyquist (with 2023 breed back), Quality Road, and Yaupon (with 2023 breed back) will be sold at the ‘Tis the Seasons Celebration on Sunday, January 9. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on select seasons by attending the event in-person or they may email ecrady@tca.org to register to bid online.  Non-season items including a John Deere Gator, accommodations at the Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa “tree house”, a wall box and stall webbing from Charlie Whittingham’s barn, and more will also be offered in the live auction.  Tickets can be purchased here.

An online silent auction of non-season items including halters worn by Life is Good, Curlin, Charlatan, Tapit, Knicks Go and more will be offered.  A list of silent auction items is available here. More items will be added.

The auction is generously sponsored by Limestone Bank, Coolmore America, Equine Medical Associates, Bourbon Lane Stable, L.V. Harkness & Co., BloodHorse, Paulick Report, and Thoroughbred Daily News. For further information regarding the TCA Stallion Season Auction please visit tca.org or call (859) 276-4989.

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds to approved charities in the Thoroughbred industry. TCA’s mission is to fund and facilitate the support of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. In 2021, TCA granted over $775,000 to 69 approved charities working within Thoroughbred retraining, rehoming and retirement; backstretch and farm worker services, research and equine-assisted therapy. During the last three decades, TCA has granted over $25 million to more than 200 charities that successfully meet the criteria set forth in its annual grant application. TCA administers the Horses First Fund, founded by LNJ Foxwoods in 2016, to assist Thoroughbreds in need of emergency aid. TCA manages Cómo, a mobile app founded by Godolphin, that connects racing industry employees to the vital services they need through a network of racetrack chaplains and Thoroughbred industry organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).