34th Annual Darley Award Categories to be Presented by Noted International Horse Racing Broadcasters

The ARC Board of Stewards has organized a team of presenters in four different continents who have broadcasted horse racing’s biggest events – from the Kentucky Derby to the Epsom Derby to the Dubai World Cup to the Amir Sword Festival to the Darley Award Stakes – to recognize the best in Arabian horse racing in the United States through the 34th Annual Darley Awards. Below is the list of presenters:

• 3 Year Old Colts/Geldings: Mark Johnson, commentator of five Kentucky Derbies, five Epsom Derbies, and five The Amir Sword Festivals
• 3 Year Old Fillies: Jim Byers, track announcer at Lone Star Park
• 4 Year Old Colts/Geldings: Chris Griffin, track announcer at Sam Houston Race Park
• 4 Year Old Fillies: Laura King, presenter for the Dubai Racing Channel and previous Sheikha Fatima Award recipient
• Older Horses: Michael Wrona, race caller at Los Alamitos Race Course and previously called the Darley Award Stakes at Santa Anita Park
• Older Mares: Victoria Shaw, race caller in Australia and previous Sheikha Fatima Award recipient
• Owners: Greg Thompson, broadcaster for StallioneSearch and TABA
• Breeders: Evie Tubbs Sweeney, Darley Awards event coordinator, Arabian Jockey Club Marketing Director, and previous Sheikha Fatima Award recipient
• Trainers: The ARC Chief Steward has elected not to award a 2020 Trainer of the Year, and instead produce a special video compilation recognizing the accomplishments of each trainer who won races in 2020.
• Jockeys: Joe Nevills, analyst for AJC TV and Eclipse Award-winning journalist for the Paulick Report
• HORSE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES: Your Darley Award hosts, Jonathan & Ashley Horowitz

Darley Awards In-Person Event

The ARC will be offering a casual, in-person dinner and viewing of the Darley Award Virtual Broadcast at Sam Houston Race Park on Friday evening, March 19th.

This event is free of charge and will follow all health and safety precautions as outlined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). However, it is strictly limited to the connections (owners, trainers, and grooms) of the horses running the Darley Distaff and/or Darley Sprint.

Additionally, those planning to attend must RSVP by Thursday, March 11th (no exceptions).

RSVP for the Darley Awards In-Person Dinner

Darley Awards Virtual Broadcast
and Darley Race Coverage
Sponsored by the
Texas Arabian Breeders Association

Special thanks to the Texas Arabian Breeders Association (TABA) for generously sponsoring the 34th Annual Darley Awards Virtual Broadcast & Race Coverage.

Since the State of Texas offers pari-mutuel wagering on Arabian races with racetracks around the state hosting races for our breed, the Arabian horse is written into the Texas Racing Act as a racing breed along with the Thoroughbred, Quarter horse, Appaloosa, and Paint. TABA is the organization mandated by the Texas Racing Commission to oversee the Accredited Texas Bred Program (ATB) for Arabian racehorses, a breeder incentive program.

Even in challenging conditions of the horse industry over the last decade, Texas Arabian racing has performed quite well. We have continued to strengthen both the Arabian breed's position in the racing industry and the popularity of the racing discipline within the Purebred Arabian market.

We are optimistic about increasing purse monies for the Arabian breed at the racetracks and will continue to make good progress for more racing opportunities. With a solid platform for growth, Arabian racing´s innovative leaders are on track to attract more Arabian racing participants and fans of the sport.

To learn more about why it pays to race in Texas, visit TexasArabianRacing.com.