Speaker Series: Will Alempijevic

Will Alempijevic of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) joined the Joe Hirsch Speaker Series to share his industry experiences and discuss his current role. NYTHA is a non-profit organization that represents the owners and trainers of New York Racing Association tracks. Alempijevic is the Executive Director of the organization, a position he has held for three years.

He shared with students the various ways in which NYTHA benefits New York horse men and women. Whether it is through backside worker benevolence, childcare, chaplaincy, or education programs, Alempijevic emphasized how much goes in to supporting New York’s backstretch community. He also shared with students the funding mechanisms behind NYTHA and the logistics of working with their members.

The Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) was a point of discussion, in which Alempijevic told students that NYTHA invited representatives in from HISA to help foster a collaborative relationship between the two organizations. This, in turn, helped HISA by improving regulations and standards, according to Alempijevic.