Joe Osborne is a director of Darley, Sheikh Mohammed’s thoroughbred stud company. In addition to being Managing Director of Darley’s Irish operation he is director of Darley Flying Start the management training course launched in 2003. Darley Flying Start selects twelve trainees each year and provides a two-year training syllabus which places the trainees in Ireland, England, United States, Australia and United Arab Emirates. The most recent intake included two RTIP graduates: Jordyn Brand and Ian Tapp.
Joe is a director of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, the Irish Farriery Authority and a council member of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. Prior to joining Darley in 1994 Joe managed Pin Oak Stud in Kentucky, U.S.A. for eight years. He graduated from University of Kentucky with a degree in Advertising. He has successfully completed the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program in 1982/83 and The Irish National Stud’s Trainee Stud Manager’s Course.
Joe is certainly deserving of the John K. Goodman Award as his career has made an impact on racing across the globe.
Stan Bergstein, Executive VP of Harness Tracks of America, has been involved in almost every facet of the racing industry. The complete list of his accomplishments is far too large to list here, but one area deserves special attention.
The HTA under Stan’s direction, has developed more industry leaders than any other racing organization. While Stan’s contributions to racing have been many, maybe his greatest contribution is providing the industry with the leaders of tomorrow.
The HTA has, in support of the education of the leaders, published over 75 reports/projects completed in association with RTIP students. This opportunity has given a great number of students the experience of working on a real world project while still in school—and that is invaluable.
Jon came to the RTIP with a few college credits under his belt but has spent the majority of his college career at the RTIP. He came to the program with a very clear idea of what he wanted to do in racing—become a professional reporter.
Early in Jon Forbes’ high school years, horse racing seemed as unlikely a career path as training elephants. However, after dabbling in sports writing and learning about the Race Track Industry Program, Jon decided that he could make a living writing about his favorite sport.
Last year, Jon won The Horseplayer Magazine’s inaugural “Blog Yourself to a Job” contest, earning the privilege to write a feature story for all six issues of Horseplayer in 2007. In addition, Jon was The Blood-Horse’s editorial intern this summer. He has also done freelance work for California Thoroughbred, Standardbredcanada.com, the AQHA’s Racing Journal, and other organizations. He hopes this experience will help him become a full-time professional reporter upon graduation this December.
California Thoroughbred Racing Industry, "Tattoo"
ATG, Sweden, "Born to Run"
River Downs, "Fast Filly-Wiener Dog"