Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation Names New CEO

Lexington, Kentucky (May 10, 2011) -- The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) today announced the appointment of Rob Hinkle as Chief Executive Officer.  Hinkle will be based in Lexington, Kentucky and his appointment is effective immediately.

Hinkle has nearly 20 years of experience managing equine operations at large organizations.  Prior to TRF, he served as Chief Operations Officer at The World Games 2010 Foundation, which produced and managed the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games - the quadrennial world championships for eight equestrian sports.  Previously, he was Director of Operations at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, and Director of Equine Operations for The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida.  He received a degree in equine administration from the University of Louisville.

“Rob has a proven track record in this industry and we’re excited for him to join us in providing much-needed care and services for retired racehorses.  Adding Rob to the organization is another important step in ensuring we meet our long-term administrative and fundraising goals for caring for these deserving animals,” said George Grayson, President of TRF.

“Like all non-profits, TRF has faced significant hurdles in fundraising during this difficult economic climate, but we are proud to say that we have weathered the storm and are hopeful about our future.  The recent completion of the independent evaluation of the entire TRF herd also confirms that while there are still administrative gaps that need to be addressed, the horses overall are doing very well,” said Tom Ludt, Chairman of the Board of TRF.                                                                                             

Grayson and Ludt recently wrote an op/ed for The Huffington Post on the challenges facing the industry in caring for retired racehorses.  On behalf of the TRF Board, they called for industry wide funding for retired racehorses, and an industry wide meeting to identify and generate significant and stable revenue streams for the cause.  Initial steps have been taken to engage other foundations, business leaders, institutions, and Congressional members to help organize the event.