Former U.S. Congressman Thomas J (Tom) Rooney was last week named as successor to Alex Waldrop as the president and chief executive of America’s National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Waldrop stands down at the end of 2021.
Rooney, 50, is an owner-breeder who has taken an active role for several years in his family’s Shamrock Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding and lay-up operation in Woodbine, Maryland, founded by his grandfather. He has served on the board of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association since 2020.
“It is a great privilege for me to join the NTRA and serve as the organisation’s next leader,” said Rooney. “Having been immersed in horseracing my entire life, I know the issues and have a solid understanding of the needs of the industry.
“Coupled with my ten years serving as a Member of Congress, I know how to get things done in Washington DC and look forward to increasing our advocacy efforts with our nation’s lawmakers. I’m excited to join the team and look forward to working with all our member organisations to move our agenda forward.”
Rooney has a deep background in racing and other sports. Led by his grandfather, Art Rooney Sr, the Rooney family have been the majority owners and operators of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers since 1933. Rooney family members also own the Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida, owned Yonkers Raceway in New York until 2019, and owned former racetracks Green Mountain in Vermont and Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania. Rooney is a cousin of the Hollywood actors Rooney and Kate Mara.
Rooney, who lives on Palm Beach, served in the U.S. Army before becoming a member of the Florida Bar in 1999. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida (Republican) from 2009 to 2019; as a Congressman, Rooney focused on economic, agricultural, national security and military issues.
The NTRA plans to open an office in Washington DC to focus primarily on federal legislative and policy issues.
Who do you believe is the most important figure in the history of racing around the world?
Dale Romans! Because he is currently training my 2-year-old filly Eleanor Grace at Churchill Downs. Well, maybe Dale and Queen Elizabeth …
Which is your favourite venue and race anywhere in the world?
Keeneland is the nicest racetrack I’ve ever visited. I was just there a week or so ago. The Florida Derby is my favorite race, partly because it was where I took my wife, Tara, on our first date and also because I usually play the winner in the Kentucky Derby, though that hasn't worked out in a few years.
What is your fondest memory in racing?
That was when American Pharoah came down the stretch in the Belmont Stakes (see video above). I was at the race with Tara and cousin Kathleen Mara. The roar of that crowd, the excitement, the way the whole building rose for the moment was something I’ve never experienced before or after.
What do you see as the biggest challenge racing faces today?
Our biggest challenge is how we position the sport to succeed in an increasingly crowded marketplace of sports, entertainment and gambling content. I was at Saratoga this summer and Keeneland this fall. Both venues were packed with people who clearly enjoyed the live, on-track experience. Ratings for the [Kentucky] Derby continue to be strong compared to other sports. We need to keep these people engaged and give them reasons to engage. The growth of sports betting is an opportunity for us – provided we can integrate our premier content into those platforms.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
Racing has gone through huge changes in safety and welfare over the last decade and now we have HISA on top of all the advancements. We need to keep up the progress in these areas and we need to reassure the public and government leaders that we're doing everything we can to protect the athletes.