The Jockey Club announced today that it will be awarding $21,000 in college scholarships for the academic year that begins in the fall of 2017.

A new scholarship, known as The Jockey Club Scholarship, will provide $15,000 ($7,500 per semester) to a student who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher at any university and has demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the Thoroughbred racing industry.

That scholarship complements The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship, which was created in 2007 and is awarded annually to a student or students at the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP). The annual $6,000 ($3,000 per semester) Jack Goodman Scholarship is based on academic achievement, a proposed career path in the Thoroughbred racing industry, and previous industry involvement.

Goodman, a resident of Tucson, is a longtime member of The Jockey Club and is one of three founders of the RTIP. To date, there have been 17 recipients of The Jockey Club Jack Goodman Scholarship and 15 of them are working in the equine industry.

“The Jockey Club, in a variety of ways, is always trying to encourage the participation of young people in our sport and not just as fans,” said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. “With these scholarships, we are aiming to attract students who have demonstrated a passion for Thoroughbred racing and may want to make it their livelihood.”

For The Jockey Club Scholarship, the following criteria will be considered: career aspirations, activities involving the equine or Thoroughbred industry, and high academic achievement.

Applications and other pertinent information about both scholarships are available at jockeyclub.com under Advocacy/Promotion, Education. Applications for each scholarship must be completed by Sunday, April 30, 2017, and the recipients will be announced this summer.

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for North American Thoroughbreds. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club, directly or through subsidiaries, provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and it serves the information and technology needs of owners, breeders, media, fans and farms. It is the sole funding source for America’s Best Racing, the broad-based fan development initiative for Thoroughbred racing. You can follow America’s Best Racing at americasbestracing.net. Additional information is available at jockeyclub.com.