New post for Joe Morris

Mark Simon, president of Thoroughbred Times Company, which publishes an array of widely-read periodicals for Thoroughbred racing and breeding professionals and enthusiasts, announced today that Joe Morris, who grew up on a Standardbred farm in Maine, has been named publisher of the Lexington-based company.

Morris, previously president of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Group Purchasing, will be responsible for overseeing the advertising and business operations of Thoroughbred Times Company, which publishes the weekly Thoroughbred Times magazine, the daily newsletter Thoroughbred Times TODAY, a comprehensive website (http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com), the Stallion Directory, plus books.

Born in Falmouth, Maine, Morris, 46, grew up on Norton Farms, a Standardbred operation that is the oldest, continually run farm by the same family in the state. After graduating with a business finance degree from the University of Maine, he went to work for Joe Sullivan III, who operated Hinsdale Racetrack. During his 18 years working for Hinsdale, Morris worked his way up through the ranks to eventually assume the responsibilities of vice president and general manager. While working for Sullivan, Morris also helped run Foxboro racetrack, a dog racing track, and was involved in the operation of Sullivan Brothers Printing, which produced track programs for a number of racetracks. At Hinsdale, Morris helped implement the simulcasting model in 1989-’90, one of the first tracks in the country to offer full-card simulcasting, plus established telephone wagering at the track in 1998-’99.

After a stint selling life insurance for Bankers Life and Trust, and as one of their top salesmen, in 2001 Morris went to work in Louisville, Kentucky, for Equisource, the predecessor of NTRA Purchasing. He was named executive director of NTRA Purchasing in 2002 and named president in 2003. Under Morris’s leadership sales grew from $10-million in annual sales in 2002 to $86-million in annual sales in 2006.

Morris, a cousin of Standardbred horseman Bruce Ranger, has a small farm near Keeneland Race Course where he and his wife, Debbi, have a couple of Standardbred broodmares, plus they race several Thoroughbreds. They have two sons, Brett, 19, and John, 17.

“It was hard for me to leave the NTRA, because it is such a great organization and I’m proud of the business I helped build, and I treasure the relationships I have made while working there,” Morris said. “But this opportunity was so attractive that I could not pass it up. I have worked with advertising and publications for years and this is a great fit for me, both professionally and personally. This position will enable me to stay in touch with all the people I know in racing, and I look forward to working with clients to help them grow their business." (Thoroughbred Times press release)

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