Jill Byrne is new leader of Virginia Thoroughbred Association
Jill Byrne will take over as the Virginia Thoroughbred Association's executive director. Debbie Easter will remain an integral part of the VTA but will now focus more time and energy on a wider range of industry initiatives with the Virginia Equine Alliance, of which she is nresident. Byrne will also continue to serve in her role as vice president of marketing and strategic planning for the VEA.
Byrne is a Virginia native and graduate of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and has come full circle in a sense. After spending several decades in various roles around the country, as on-air host and handicapper with TVG, senior director of industry relations with the Breeders' Cup and director of broadcast operations with Churchill Downs, she returned to Virginia to serve as vice president of racing operations at Colonial Downs during the 2019 season and remained in that capacity for three more years before joining the VEA in 2023. With her combined VEA and VTA responsibilities, Byrne is once again based in Charlottesville, where she works and resides.
"I look forward to continue to represent the Virginia horsemen and women, and work with all stakeholders as our racing and breeding programs in the state are growing and prospering," Byrne said. "Virginia has a renowned history in the thoroughbred industry and our future is brighter than ever."
"Our Virginia Equine Alliance team has accomplished so much over the last seven years, but we need to continue to keep our foot on the gas if we are going to see continued growth for our Thoroughbred and standardbred industries," Easter said. " Jill has done a fantastic job heading up marketing for the VEA and I am so pleased that she is willing to also take on a roll with the VTA. With her marketing knowledge and passion for Virginia’s Thoroughbred industry, the VTA will be in very good hands. This move will allow me to enhance my role as President of the Virginia Equine Alliance. I can work even closer with Jeb Hannum (VEA executive director) to concentrate on the larger industry initiatives that will keep us moving forward into the future."
The Virginia Thoroughbred Association was organized in 1941 to cultivate the development of the commonwealth’s heritage as a producer of quality Thoroughbred horses. More than 80 years later, the VTA has a membership base of about 700 members and is responsible for implementing a number of successful bonus programs including the Virginia breeders fund and the Virginia certified residency program, which was instrumental in keeping the native industry afloat after Colonial Downs initially ceased Thoroughbred operations after the 2013 season.
The certified residency program, which started in 2017, requires horses to spend at least six consecutive months at a registered Virginia farm or training center before they turn 3. Since the program began, a total of 5,031 horses have participated and on average, each horse has stayed eight months in Virginia. Between 2018 and 2023, the program paid out a total of $14.6 million in bonuses and has had a total economic impact of $86.2 million, supporting 825 jobs in the commonwealth.