LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor Graham & Anita Motion with the Allaire du Pont Leadership Award and the Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER) with the TCA Industry Service Award at the 25th Annual Select Stallion Season Auction on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington, Ky.

“We are pleased to honor Graham and Anita and CANTER for their tremendous work on behalf of Thoroughbreds,” said Dan Rosenberg, president of TCA. “Their efforts are at the heart of the mission of Thoroughbred Charities of America and for that we thank them.”

The Allaire du Pont Leadership Award, named for one of TCA’s founders, is presented annually to an organization or individual whose philanthropic endeavors are consistent with TCA’s mission. Past award winners include Frank Stronach, Fasig-Tipton, Darley, Todd Pletcher, Roy and Gretchen Jackson, Bill Casner and John and Debby Oxley.

Graham and Anita Motion are tremendous advocates of Thoroughbred aftercare and work to bring awareness to the success Thoroughbreds can find in second careers. Last year they purchased former trainee, Icabad Crane, and sent him to Olympian Phillip Dutton for retraining as a three-day event horse. Icabad Crane has shown great promise to be top level eventer and was recently named America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred at the recent Retired Racehorse Project Thoroughbred Makeover. The Motion’s are long-time supporters of TCA as well as other aftercare groups.

“We are both extremely humbled to be considered for this honor,” said Graham and Anita Motion. “Like so many of our contemporaries who are dedicating similar levels of effort to Thoroughbred placement and aftercare, we feel we play a very small part in a large group of advocates for these equine athletes.”

The TCA Industry Service Award is presented annually to a current TCA grantee that exemplifies TCA’s mission. Past award winners include Belmont Child Care Association, Old Friends, Kentucky Equine Humane Center, Mid-Atlantic Horse Rescue, New Vocations, Tranquility Farms and the Retired Racehorse Project.

Founded in 1997, CANTER USA was created as a solution to help retiring racehorses find new homes by connecting buyers and sellers via the internet. CANTER currently has 13 affiliate organizations throughout the country whose volunteers canvass racetracks educating owners and trainers about their options for Thoroughbreds’ post-race track careers. Over the last 17 years, due to CANTER’s collective efforts, over 20,000 Thoroughbreds have been rehomed.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Nancy Koch, executive director of CANTER USA. “On behalf of all our dedicated volunteers, we thank TCA for their continued support and recognition.”

The TCA Stallion Season Auction is the charity’s largest annual fundraiser. The majority of TCA’s seasons will be offered during a telephone and online auction. Online bidding will open at 9 a.m. on January 5 and continue through 5 p.m. EST on Friday, January 9. Telephone bids will be accepted January 9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. EST. Interested bidders may register to bid by visiting www.tca.org.

Approximately 10-15 seasons will be sold in the live Select Season Auction on Saturday, January 10. Bidders or their authorized agents may bid on the select seasons by attending the live auction in-person or they may bid on the select seasons during the telephone phase with the highest bidders earning the right to bid by phone during the live auction. In addition to the seasons, the live auction will feature non-season lots such as a Triple Crown ticket package, a John Deere utility vehicle, equine air travel aboard an H.E. “Tex” Sutton flight, trips, exciting experiences and much more. A silent auction will also be offered. All non-season items will also be available for bidding during the online auction with absentee bidding available at the live auction event.

TCA Stallion Season Auction sponsors include Brushwood Stable, Rosenberg Thoroughbred Consulting, PBI Bank, Candyland Farm, John Deere, Bourbon Lane Stable, Starquine.com, Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland and Blood-Horse Publications.

For further information regarding the 25th annual TCA Stallion Season Auction including season donations, sponsorships and advertising please visit www.tca.org or call (859) 276-4989.

TCA was formed in 1990 to raise and distribute funds for charities in the Thoroughbred industry which provide a better life for Thoroughbreds both during and after their racing careers by supporting retirement, rescue, research and by helping the people who work with them. During the last 24 years, TCA has distributed over $20 million in grants to more than 200 Thoroughbred-related organizations. TCA is the charitable arm of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA).