Baltimore, MD: The Thoroughbred Alliance Show Series (TASS) Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Laurel Park at 11 a.m. The event will be emceed by Md. Horse Radio Show’s Stan Salter. The awards will be given on behalf of the 8 TASS thoroughbred only shows that were held last summer in the Maryland and Virginia area. The points from each show were tallied and the Series Winners plus 6 finishers will be rewarded at the banquet.

The guest speaker at the Banquet will be Stacie Clark Rogers, manager of Adena Springs Thoroughbred Retirement in Ontario, Canada. Rogers will receive an Eclipse award on January 18 for “Saratoga War Horse” a 30 minute documentary about how thoroughbreds provide therapy for war veterans. In addition, Rogers is a jockey who finished second in the 2013 Lady Legends race and showed in the 2013 Totally TB Horse Show both held at Pimlico Race Course.

The winning divisions include: High Point Thoroughbred, Gelding/Mare, Jumper sponsored by Maryland Jockey Club, Md. Bred sponsored by MHBA, Md. Million Sired sponsored by MHBA, PA bred sponsored by PHBA, Virginia Bred sponsored by VTA, New York bred sponsored by NY TB Development Corporation, New Jersey Bred, Green Horse, War Horse (horse with 50 starts or 100k in earnings), Listing Service Horse (Canter, Finger Lakes, etc.) Adopted Horse (rescue contract required), Child Rider, Junior Rider, Masters Rider, Professional Rider, Amateur Adult Rider, The Equiery Overall Maryland Resident Owner /Rider Award and the Richard Bennett Memorial Sportsmanship Award.

TASS was founded in early 2013. The mission of the organization is to provide thoroughbred race horses with second careers after their racing careers are over. Each prize list is composed of hunter and jumper classes for all levels of ability. The following shows were a part of the 2013 Series: Thoroughbred Celebration Show Series (3 shows in Lexington, Va.),Thoroughbred Festival at Winterplace Park, MidAtlantic Horse Rescue Show, Totally TB Show, Loch Moy TB Show, MAHR and Canter/Pa. Benefit Show. Each thoroughbred exclusive show donated part of the show proceeds to a thoroughbred rescue and retraining 501c3 organization. A total of over $30,000 was donated to these organizations from the 2013 show series. The coordinators of TASS include Georganne Hale, Md. Jockey Club, Sue Smith, Canter/ Pa., Bev Strauss, MidAtlantic Horse Rescue and Fran Burns. In addition, The Equiery Magazine is the presenting sponsor for TASS. Jennifer Sponsellor Webster is the TASS representative from The Equiery.Awards for the banquet were provided by Bosley Brangier Apparel, Five Star Bridle, Canter/Pa., MidAtlantic Horse Rescue and Jane and Ferris Allen. For more info go to www.thoroughbredalliance.org. Media contact: Fran Burns, fran@boxwoodfarm.com 410 340 7676