Stronach, BCCA to be honored for charity work

Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) will honor Frank Stronach with the

TCA Leadership Award and Belmont Child Care Association with the TCA Industry

Service Award at the 23rd Annual Select Stallion Season Auction to be held

January 5, 2013 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Kentucky.

"Mr. Stronach and the Belmont Child Care Association personify the spirit of

these awards," said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA. "We are extremely grateful

for their contributions and dedication to our industry."

The TCA Leadership Award is presented annually to an organization or

individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA's mission. Past

award winners include Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen

Jackson and Bill Casner.

Frank Stronach is a five-time Eclipse award winning breeder and four-time

Eclipse Award winning owner. In 2005, Stronach developed the first in-house

retirement program, Adena Springs Retirement Program, to ensure a healthy and

safe retirement for Adena Spring's horses. In 2011, Stronach created the

Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred Aftercare Program with matching funds donated by

the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. He also recently

formed the Santa Anita Aftercare Program and has pledged to match the funds

currently deducted from purses in support of aftercare.

"To be recognized by Thoroughbred Charities of America, which for more than

20 years has provided support and love for Thoroughbreds and the people who work

for them, is a great honor," Stronach siad. "We must always remember to care for

those who work in our industry, and we must make it our business to ensure every

Thoroughbred during and after its racing career is afforded a safe and loving

environment to prosper throughout its life."

The TCA Industry Service Award is presented annually to a current TCA grantee

that exemplifies TCA's mission. Past award winners include Old Friends, Kentucky

Equine Humane Center, Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, New Vocations and Tranquility

Farms.

Formed in 1998, the Belmont Child Care Association (BCCA) was created for the

benefit of working families at New York area racetracks. In 2002, Anna House was

built and donated to the BCCA to serve families of the backstretch by providing

a high quality child care designed to enhance the emotional, social and

education development of their children. The center provides scholarship funds

to those unable to afford the cost of care.

"The Belmont Child Care Association subscribes to the philosophy that if you

change the first five years and then you change everything. We want our children

to become America's productive citizens of tomorrow," said Donna Chenkin,

executive director of BCCA. "Anna House opened its doors on the Belmont Race

Track to address the complicated challenge of the children of backstretch

families who are at risk of failing school. Thanks to the education the children

receive at Anna House and the support of the racing industry, when our graduates

enter kindergarten they are engaged, healthy and eager to learn and ready to

succeed."

The TCA Stallion Season Auction is the charity's largest annual fundraiser.

Approximately 200 seasons will be auctioned with the majority of the seasons

offered during the two-day telephone auction. Telephone bids will be accepted

January 3-4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST). Interested bidders may register for a bidder

number by visiting www.tca.org.

Approximately 25-30 seasons will be sold in a live Select Season Auction on

January 5. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on the select seasons by

attending the live auction in-person or they may bid on the select seasons

during the telephone phase with the highest bidders earning the right to bid by

phone during the live auction. In addition to the seasons, the live auction will

feature non-season lots such as a Triple Crown package and a trip to Cabo San

Lucas, Mexico. A silent auction will also be offered.

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