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Race Track Chaplaincy of America Fact Sheet
Chartered as a 501c 3 nonprofit Corporation in 1971, RTCA is dedicated to providing with excellence for the spiritual, emotional, physical and social/educational needs of horse racing's vast workforce.
The RTCA sanctions and oversees 58 chaplains who serve at over 100 tracks and training centers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Chaplains hold church services, Bible studies, perform marriages, memorial services, council troubled workers and visit sick and injured workers in hospitals. They provide food, blankets, bedding and emergency funds to track workers. They also provide a wealth of social services to backstretch workers that include hosting AA meetings, ESL and computer learning classes. They advocate for workers to the INS, IRS, SS, DMV and the criminal and civil court systems. They also act as a liaison between community and racing related helping organization and authorities, including track stewards, track executives and horsemen’s associations.
The RTCA home office at Hollywood Park California supplies to it local chaplaincies equipment, materials, direct assistance in communications, administration and fund raising, industry-wide advocacy, continuing education and for those in need, financial support. It also implements new chaplaincy programs and in the last three years has opened new outreach ministries to the farm workers in Central Kentucky and Ocala, Florida and tracks that include Woodbine, Fort Erie, Finger Lakes, Mountaineer Park and Laurel/Pimlico.
Our nationally recognized White Horse Award, given in conjunction with the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, is racing only national award given to racing farm and backstretch workers. It is specifically designed to honor and draw attention to the contribution our unheralded workforce makes to the racing industry.
In April 2004, the RTCA was given the William H. May Award, awarded to racing organizations by the Association of Racing Commissioners International for meritorious service to the racing industry.
Each track chaplaincy has a local council/board. At least 80% of those who serve on councils that oversee our local chaplaincy affiliates, as well as our national directors and Executive Board members, are persons who either have a vested interest in the horse racing industry or work within it. Hall of Fame Jockey Pat Day is our Industry Spokesperson.
We are the only national organization whose sole purpose is to enrich the lives of racing's workforce, particularly those 150,000 persons who live on our nation's backstretches. Many racing leaders consider RTCA a vital part of the social fabric and moral character that colors horse racing. We have served those who serve horse racing for 34-years. We are the people who take care of the people who take care of the horses.