Groom Elite Program looking to re-structure organization

Several Groom Elite Program board members met with a number of

horse racing industry representatives in Lexington, Kentucky, on January 7-8 to

explore opportunities to re-structure the organization.

Groom Elite, the only

national horse racing workforce education program, has been in existence since

2001 when the program was started by the Texas Horsemen's Partnership and the

Texas A&M University Agriculture Extension Service. Over the past 14 years,

1,854 grooms have been certified by Groom Elite from more than 2,800 attending

on-site classes at 30 racetracks, farms, high schools and training centers in 14

states and two foreign countries.

In cooperation with the Thoroughbred

Retirement Foundation (TRF) and several of its local affiliates, Groom Elite has

coordinated the placement of hands-on groom education programs at seven prisons

in seven states utilizing retired racehorses.

Responding to the invitation to provide input in early January were

representatives from the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective

Association (NHBPA), National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), The Jockey

Club, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), Race Track Chaplaincy

of America (RTCA), North American Racing Academy (NARA), Blue Grass Community &

Technical College (BCTC), Women in Racing, Virginia HBPA, and the Racing

Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP).

Groom Elite interim committee members

will consider the industry input in preparing a final strategic plan scheduled

for presentation to the Groom Elite board of directors in March.

"This meeting was necessary to revitalize

Groom Elite," explained Dr. Reid McLellan, executive director and lead

instructor of the Groom Elite Program. "The increasing demand for Groom Elite programs at racetracks,

prisons, horse farms, community colleges, high schools and equine centers across

the country has pushed this organization beyond its current funding and

administrative limits."

McLellan is the only full-time Groom Elite staff

member with part-time volunteer and in-kind administrative support from the

NHBPA and NTRA.

"This is a terrific program that the horse

industry can ill afford to lose," Groom Elite Vice-President and Virginia HBPA

Executive Director Frank Petramalo acknowledged. "Reid needs an expanded board, increased

industry financial support and an administrative base of operations to take

Groom Elite to the next level. We want to meet the horse industry needs by

providing a broader-based and enhanced method of delivering workforce education

programs."

As the Groom Elite board of directors moves forward with

the re-organization process during the first quarter of 2015, individuals and

organizations interested in providing financial and administrative support

and/or wanting to serve on the board of directors and/or standing committees --

fundraising, marketing and educational programming -- should contact McLellan at

creid@gmail.com and 859-321-4377 or Dan Fick

at dfick711@windstream.net and 817-845-2917.

Groom Elite is a 501(c)(3)

educational non-profit corporation registered in good standing in Texas as The

Elite Program Inc. More information is available at

www.groomelite.com.

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