Toba Awards Week: Foreman Recognized for Service

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will honor national prize winners during the 40th Anniversary Awards Dinner 6 September in Fasig-TipTon Kentucky in Lexington. Four national winners have been announced in advance and Bloodhorse offers profiles of these winners during the week.

Today we present Alan Foreman, winner of the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award.

Fortunately for racing, Alan Foreman has always been willing to take the deep dive.

Because racing has made paths on important issues such as marketing, advocacy, safety and medication rules, Foreman has often had the first in offering ideas, considering options and providing thoughts about long -term results.

He is one of the race leaders who efforts a way in Maryland behind a new one Pimlico Race Course That will bring both a modern house for the preakness stakes (G1) and a training center for the daily racing. It is the kind of plan that foreman can support, because it regards both the largest days and everyday riders, with whom he is closely coordinated during his 45 years.

Toba Foreman saw that dedication choosing as the winner of Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award.

“When I was told about it, you could have overthrown me with a spring. It means a lot to receive a prize like that from Toba,” said Foreman. “I was blown away; you just don’t expect anything like that.”

Foreman said that the price is extra special because it bears the name of Richardson. Richardson died in 2021 after leading many industrial initiatives.

“Doc was a friend of mine and we crossed paths on many fronts in the company,” said Foreman. “So that makes this prize ambiguous. I was lucky to have my work recognized a few times, but this one is above that.”

Foreman, a prominent horse lawyer, is chairman and CEO of the thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The organization based in Maryland represents more than 20,000 owners and trainers. In terms of marketing and advocacy, Foreman is a founder of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association that continues to serve on the board.

About safety, Foreman was the driving force in creating the first employee compensation program of the nation for Jockeys in 1984 in Maryland. He helped in guiding the racing medication and test consortium, has challenged the mid-atlantic strategic plan to reduce horse deaths and was co-author of the generally respected New York Task Force report on the health and safety of the Renpaard. He serves as an ombudsman for the integrity and security authority of horse races.

He forms the Race Completion of Maryland via the Morderland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority.

Foreman, who graduated with distinctions from American University and once worked for the attorney general of Maryland, could have chosen many career paths, but chose to work within the industry because of the good people involved and the opportunity to make a difference.

“I am not someone who had Skin in the game as a breeder or owner when I started racing. My first involvement was as a counselor of the Maryland Racing Commission in the (1980) Codex-Genuine Risk Interference Case,” said Foreman. “I feel that I have moved the needle on some things.”