Master of Ceremonies Coach D Robinson greeted 145 guests November 3 at the 9th annual RTCA White Horse Award ceremony at Churchill Downs.

The auction and luncheon raise funds in support of racetrack ministry and chaplain training.

Two outstanding individuals and one organization were honored for their contribution to horse racing and for their benefit to mankind.

The award recipients were:

White Horse Award – Remington’s Jeremy Best

Tribute to Excellence – the late Pimlico legend Chick Lang

Community Service Award – National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association

Bill Casner, owner of Well Armed and winner of the 2009 Dubai World Cup, gave a moving keynote address about the story of Well Armed, born the same day as his late daughter Karri.

“Well Armed carried Susan and me to the highest mountain top we’ve ever been on,” Casner said. “He had what my dear mother referred to as gumption.”

This year’s White Horse Award recipient was Jeremy Best, who was recognized for his heroics both on and off the track (see sidebar story in Nov. e-newsletter).

Special tribute went to the late Charles John “Chick” Lang, the longtime general manager of Pimlico Race Course and an industry legend who became known as “Mr. Preakness” for his promotion and transformation of the Preakness Stakes into a premier spectacle.

“Chick Lang was the champion of the little guy,” said racing executive Corey Johnsen. “He would work tirelessly for those less fortunate.”

The RTCA Community Service Award was presented to the national Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, an organization with over 35,000 owner and trainer members throughout the United States and Canada, for their positive impact on the horse racing industry — specifically to the backstretch community.

“Their heart runs deep,” said Chaplain John Shumaker, chaplain at Turf Paradise Race Track in AZ. “They (HBPA) are there to support the horsemen on every level… they plant seeds of hope and love.”

A special thanks to these members of the White Horse Awards committee: Lee Alphen, Ken Boehm, Gary Cartwright, Mike Crayton, Diana Elam, Arnie Frazee, Carolyn Linder, Waverly Parsons, Patsy Payne, Suzanne Ransdell, Paul Ransdell, Pam Sears, Susan Watkins, and Marty Way.