Lesson Three: Acronyms and Associations: Groups to Know, Join and Enjoy
May 20, 2007
Every sport and industry has its own secret language, and acronyms are a big part of these "insiders-only" language.
One of the goals of this series of lessons is to help you hit the ground running, that you may feel an insider in the Sport from the get-go. Learning the language of racing is important in your goal of feeling like an old pro.
Acronyms, according to www.m-w.com (Merriam-Webster's online dictionary), are: "…a word (as NATO, radar, or laser) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major parts of a compound term; also: an abbreviation (as FBI) formed from initial letters."
Many racing organizations are known by their acronyms. Several racing groups are not known thus, but all are important for you to know about, if not actually join. Read through the list; learn the names and goals of the associations and consider joining those that can play a role in your growth as a woman in Thoroughbred racing. And don't read this list thinking, "I'm just a fan…" because there's no such thing as "just a fan." Without the fans, millions of us—racing wouldn't exist. Fans of this Sport are every bit as important as owners, trainers, grooms, jockeys and the horses, themselves. Your involvement in these groups is important. Your voice is essential.
Personally, I'd love to hear that millions of you women call or email these organizations and tell them that Alpha Mare Media sent you. That action, alone, will give the mainstream racing groups a Big Clue—that women are organizing, and coming together to become a major force in racing. And that the involvement of women in every facet of the Sport is essential to bringing racing fully into the 21st Century; to growing the fanbase; and to assuring that the Sport will thrive in this and future generations.
Sans further ado, here are the groups, their goals and reasons why you may want to join:
AMHA: It was inevitable, that a major component of our Master Plan—to found a formal, members-only organization for women around the world—would foal sooner rather than later. Wonderfully enough, the Alpha Mare Herd Association has been foaled sooner than we expected, in response to myriad phone calls, emails and in-person requests. Women have told me that they want an organization that's tailored to our needs as females in this Sport. AMHA is the only association that hears the ideas, gripes and needs of women in racing, whether you're a professional, aspiring pro or a fan. So AMHA is your group! Membership in AMHA is just $30, yearly for the first 2,000 women who call or email us. (Yearly membership for those joining after the first 2,000 members will be $40.) We want to make membership accessible to all potential members, while covering our costs for membership benefits and the great Perks in the Works. All members will receive a beautiful enameled pin with the Alpha Mare colors and a membership card, designating the member as a card-carrying Alpha Mare. Other bennies and perks will be announced shortly, but now's the time to join the Alpha Mare Herd Association. Our worldwide community of women in racing will grow together, as we take our rightful places in the sport. We'll show our menfolk colleagues the truths that women have always known: that there's strength in numbers; in community; and in the free and open exchange of ideas and dreams among those who share and encourage us onward. The Alpha Mare Herd Association is in the starting gate: join us now, and run with all your heart toward our mutual goals.*
AMRH: Alpha Mare Regional Herds is the grassroots movement designed to encourage women who live near each other to meet, talk, handicap, nosh, learn and grow new friendships. Regional Herds are being established all over America, even as I write this. There's absolutely no charge for membership in a Regional Herd, but regional members are certainly welcome and encouraged to join AMHA and receive the benefits thereof. Regional Herds meet in local restaurants, race tracks, backstretches, coffeehouses—wherever the regional Lead Mare chooses. We encourage monthly get-togethers, to build community and keep abreast of racing news and upcoming races. And we encourage you to start your own Regional Herd! There's no cost to start your Herd, just a little time and initiative to set a first-meeting date, decide on a location and talk it up! We'll gladly help you publicize your Herd's first meeting, with a press release on Alpha Mare Media letterhead. Email the press release to your local media, with your contact, time/date and location information plugged-in. If you love Thoroughbreds, and this Sport—starting your own regional Herd is a Logical Next Step.
(The Capital/Saratoga/Adirondack Regional Herd is nurtured by Nancy Dix, our Lead Mare and In-House Handicapper. The first meeting of our Herd is Tuesday, June 5th at 7PM, on the lovely patio of the Saratoga Raceway (harness track/racino). Call or email Nancy for more details, and please do join us for this exciting first meeting of the country's first Regional Herd: (518) 226-0456/saratogand@earthlink.net.)
NYTB: New York Thoroughbred Breeders is one of the most wonderful organizations in this entire Sport. Wonderful not because they're located right here in Saratoga Springs, but because they actually care, deeply, for every single member and every Thoroughbred here in the Empire State. NYTB is the organization that represents breeders in New York State; lobbies on behalf of the breeders and encourages the continued growth of breeding and racing at its highest levels here in New York. Lest you think that membership is NYTB is restricted to only those who are involved in breeding right now, or those who live in New York—this is not the case. We encourage you to join NYTB if you're a fan, pro in the sport, or just want to learn about breeding Thoroughbreds and the potential benefits of breeding. NYTB members come from all over the US, scores of enlightened individuals who realize the benefits of membership in this extraordinary organization.
Benefits of membership are crazy-good, staggering, actually: for the cost of membership, you'll receive, among many other goodies, a free subscription to Thoroughbred Times (a $99 value); the beautiful NYTB pin, with which you'll sail through admission gates at NYRA tracks and Finger Lakes (even the Clubhouse); a membership card, which you can use for great discounts, including 20% off at NYRA stores; the monthly newsletter and invitations to fabulous NYTB events. Individual Membership is $150—and for another $50, you can give the gift of membership to your sister, mother, daughter, best friend, etc.
NYTB is a valuable organization—its merit cannot be overstated. Your membership in New York Thoroughbred Breeders gives you a voice, and advocates who love the Sport, the horses and the breeding as much as you do. For more information, go to: www.nytbreeders.org, or call (518) 587-0777, and tell Cathi, Jane or Chris that Alpha Mare Media sent you!
TOBA: TOBA is the acronym for Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders of America. TOBA's stated mission: "…aims to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." TOBA has been around for a half-century, advocating, educating, marketing and serving their constituency in myriad, often behind-the-scenes activities, events and initiatives. TOBA is the only national organization that coordinates educational programs for new and prospective Thoroughbred owners. For this program, alone, they should receive a big pat on the back. TOBA's also a founding member of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, and has a great working relationship with Thoroughbred Charities of America. Membership in TOBA is not restricted to owners and breeders: they help newbies learn the ropes, and help you figure out how to buy a horse, and why. Believe me, ownership isn't as hard as you think: if you're already a fan of the Sport, you're one step away from ownership. Contact TOBA with your questions, and to apply for membership:
(859) 276-2291/toba@toba.org.
NTRA: Next on our list of acronyms is NTRA, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. Think of NTRA as the NFL of horse racing. NTRA is a relatively new organization, but that doesn't mean a thing. NTRA is the official marketing and communications group in the sport, and they've got all the bases covered. Their stated mission, "…to increase the popularity of Thoroughbred racing and improve economic conditions in the industry" is just the tip of the iceberg. Together with Breeders' Cup Ltd., NTRA administers the yearly Breeders' Cup, one of the richest series of races in the world. Fret not, readers: lest you believe that NTRA is an anonymous group of horse marketing geeks, with no attachment to Real People—rest assured. Go Baby, Go!, NTRA's individual membership program is available for women like you and me. Great rewards await: for $25, you get a "slew," as they say, of terrific bennies, and become a member of the NTRA family. Go directly to the "Go Baby, Go!" page for more information and the membership form: https://www.ntra.com/gobabygo_process.aspx
This Lesson is fast becoming a monster, too long to qualify as a mere Lesson. So for now, we'll end Lesson Three with this list of other racing organizations that are all worthy of your interest. We'll expand our descriptions of these groups in a later issue, but for now, check them out and see if perhaps these terrific associations meet your needs, or can become part of your racing experience. Every one of them aims to serve, and to help you become part of the Family of Thoroughbred:
KTA-KTOB:
Kentucky Thoroughbred Association/Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders
www.kta-ktob.com
(859) 381-1414
FTBOA:
Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' & Owners' Association
www.ftboa.com
(352) 629-2160
info@ftboa.com
Maryland Thoroughbred
www.marylandthoroughbred.com
(410) 252-2100
info@ftboa.com
TOC:
Thoroughbred Owners of California
www.toc.calracing.com
(626) 574-6620
toc@toconline.com
DTHA:
Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Inc.
www.dtha.com
(302) 994-2521
info@dtha.com
SCTOBA:
South Carolina Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association
www.sctoba.org
lchristian@sctoba.org
ATBA:
Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders' Association
www.atba.net
(602) 942-1310
atba@worldnet.att.net
TTA:
Texas Thoroughbred Association
www.texasthoroughbred.com
(512) 458-6133
davidh@texasthoroughbred.com
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