How the NTRA Is Building Trust and Growing the Equine Industry

Keeping one of America's oldest – and most decorated – sports alive in a fast-changing day and age is no easy task. It requires vision, leadership and stakeholder input to modernize the industry and ensure future growth. Partners Kayla Pragid and William Shepherd welcome Tom Rooney, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), on this episode of "The Tack Room" to unpack how thoroughbred racing is transforming amid larger cultural shifts. Mr. Rooney shares his personal roots in the sport, then lays out the NTRA's mission and the industry's biggest pressure points: creating uniform safety standards nationwide through the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, using emerging technology to prevent breakdowns before they happen and reshaping wagering so racing can live alongside mainstream sports betting. This conversation also looks beyond the finish line with the emphasis of global competition, rise of influencer-driven fan engagement, and growing focus on aftercare and veteran therapy programs. Through describing what the NTRA and other organizations are doing now, Mr. Rooney offers a clear road map for horseracing's next chapter.