Our outstanding alumni grew up outside Saratoga and was very interested in racing but had no connection or “in” in the business. After earning a degree at Tufts, Bill Knauf heard about the RTIP and came out to Arizona to start a career in the racing industry although, at the time, he wasn’t sure what direction in racing he would take.
An internship at Del Mar TB Club helped him find that he was passionate about getting people to the track to enjoy live racing.
He graduated from the RTIP in 1998 and began his career as a marketing assistant at Monmouth Park and has stayed with them and worked his way up to his current position of Assistant General Manager, with the responsibility of overseeing the entire facility and all departments.
Bill gives back to the RTIP by returning as a guest professor for the RTIP classes as well as a participating as a mentor during the annual mentor lunch during the Symposium on Racing & Gaming. He also allowed RTIP students to see a major national event from “the inside” by creating an opportunity for them to “work” the Breeders Cup when it was hosted at Monmouth Park.
Bill has just been elected as a VP of the Turf Publicists of America.
The Clay Puett Award – for service and in the case, dedication to the racing industry.
Richard Duchossios – where do we start? And how much time do we have? The answer is not nearly enough so we’ll have to focus on just a couple of areas. The first is the vision that Mr. Duchossois had for an international (or maybe more correctly) intercontinental racing and the bold step he took to offer that race with a purse of a million dollars – the first TB race to carry a million dollar purse. It was a risk that paid off – one that is memorialized by the life size bronze entitled “Against all Odds” depicting Bill Shoemaker and long shot John Henry winning the inaugural event and a fixture that still brings horses from all countries to race in Chicago every summer.
This race paved the way for successful international competition at the highest level.
There was the tragic fire....the event that could easily have marked the end of Arlington. But the commitment to racing never wavered. Even with the total devastation of the grandstand, the Miracle Million was run that very same summer, under tents and on bleachers – after working around the clock with only a month to accomplish the impossible – Great Britain’s Teleprompter won 1985’s Miracle Million.
That year Arlington won an Eclipse Award to the feat. The only racetrack to do so.
Racing continued at Arlington as an international festival. But what was next?
There was still no grandstand. Mr. Duchosoiss had a vision – he bought out his partners in the track and set out to build his showcase of racing, and he certainly succeeded. The track was, and still is, second to none. But just as important as the new brick and mortar, was the dedication to quality entertainment and customer service. 1989 saw the beginning of the new era of Arlington.
This track has a very special feel – every detail is attended to. When you go for a day of racing at Arlington – it must be the same feel that people enjoyed during the glory days of old. Thank you, Mr. Duchosois, for all you have done to keep a day of racing a very special event.
Not awarded in 2009.
Like many of our students, Steve just “happened” to hear about the RTIP one day – it was not long after that that he came to Arizona to see the program and made plans to move and establish residency in the state.
I’m not sure if we’ve ever had anyone in the program more involved in so many aspects of racing. He is a true fan of racing, thoroughbred racing, harness racing and Quarter Horses. You name the breed and Steve can carry the conversation. He’s not just about the horses themselves; he’s also very involved the regulation and administration of racing.
Steve never misses a chance to promote racing or the RTIP. He attends many of the major races as well as conferences and meetings while still managing to be a full-time gradate student, and until very recently a demanding job as an operating room technician.
Steve May will be graduating with his Masters degree in May, but if you can’t wait to talk to him about getting him signed on with your organization, you’re too late. He has already accepted a position with HTA and Stan Bergstein – who has a solid track record of finding great talent in this industry.
Some of the projects that Steve has worked on include issues surrounding Ohio’s racino legislation creating the website and working in various departments at Tucson’s historic Rillito Park.