NYRA Photo

Finley and Dominguez to serve in new roles for NY Racetrack Chaplaincy

by Bob Curran Jr.

Sent as a courtesy on behalf of the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America, New York Division

(With files provided by the New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America)

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America announced Monday that Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds has been named chairman and retired Hall of Fame jockey Ramón Dominguez has been named president of the organization.

Finley has been an active supporter of the NY Chaplaincy for several years and he and his wife Debbie were honored for their continued devotion to the backstretch community and the chaplaincy in particular at its annual fund-raising brunch in Saratoga Springs, NY last August.

Dominguez has served on the Chaplaincy's board of directors since 2012.

"Terry and Ramón both maintain a deep appreciation for the importance of our work," said Humberto Chavez, the chaplain in New York. "They are universally respected and we are thrilled to have them at the helm as we continue to pursue activities and programs designed to improve the quality of life for our backstretch community."

Finley and his wife founded West Point Thoroughbreds in 1991 and have built the company from an operation with one claiming horse into one of the largest Thoroughbred horse racing partnership companies in the world. 

Dominguez won nearly 5,000 races and three Eclipse Awards as the nation's leading rider before announcing his retirement in June 2013 due to a head injury suffered in a spill at Aqueduct Race Track five months earlier. In addition to his frequent involvement with the programs of the NY Chaplaincy, he has spent the last 10 years developing the new 360 Gentle Touch (360 GT) cushioned riding crop.

The entire board of directors is comprised of Finley (chairman), Dominguez (president), Nancy C. Kelly (vice president) Dorothy Bagnato (treasurer), John Andrew Kay (secretary), Bob Curran Jr., Will Phipps, Vincent Pisani, Kathy Theroux-Reynolds, Johnny Velazquez and John Young.

The New York Race Track Chaplaincy of America ministers to the backstretch community with children's enrichment, social service, and recreational programs, as well as educational opportunities and non-denominational religious services.