Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Welcomes Dr. Dionne Benson to Board of Directors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Welcomes Dr. Dionne Benson to Board of Directors

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico — March 2026 — Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), the only Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization in the Caribbean, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Dionne Benson to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Benson brings a wealth of experience in equine veterinary medicine, regulatory leadership, and industry oversight. She currently serves as the Chief Veterinary Officer for 1/ST RACING, where she oversees veterinary safety, welfare, and integrity practices and protocols, as well as equine research initiatives across 1/ST’s racing and training operations, including Santa Anita Park, San Luis Rey Downs, Gulfstream Park, Palm Meadows, and the Preakness.

From 2013 to 2019, Dr. Benson served as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota, her Juris Doctor (JD) from the William Mitchell College of Law, and a Master of Science in Animal Welfare from the University of Pennsylvania.

“We are incredibly honored to welcome Dr. Benson to our Board of Directors,” said Kelley Stobie, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare. “Her depth of knowledge, leadership, and commitment to equine welfare will be invaluable as we continue to grow our programs and advocate for the lifelong care and protection of Thoroughbred racehorses. Having someone of her caliber and respect within the United States racing industry strengthens our mission and expands our ability to create meaningful change for horses in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.”

“I am looking forward to working with the Board of Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Inc.,” said Dr. Benson. “Horse welfare and safety are initiatives that have been central throughout my career, and this role provides an additional opportunity to further those efforts.”

Founded in 2016, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare provides a safe haven for Thoroughbred racehorses retiring from racing, focusing on rehabilitation, retraining, rehoming, and public education on equine welfare and management. As the organization celebrates its 10-year anniversary, CTA continues to lead efforts in promoting accountability and aftercare as an essential part of the racing industry’s responsibility.

Dr. Benson’s appointment reflects CTA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening industry collaboration and advancing best practices in equine welfare. For more information about Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, visit www.ctahorse.com or follow CTA on social media.

Media Contact:
Lauren Guerrera - Program Manager - info@ctahorse.com 

PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA

Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare da la bienvenida a la Dra. Dionne Benson a su Junta de Directores

Río Grande, Puerto Rico — marzo de 2026 — Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), la única organización acreditada por la Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance en el Caribe, anuncia el nombramiento de la Dra. Dionne Benson a su Junta de Directores.

La Dra. Benson aporta una amplia experiencia en medicina veterinaria equina, liderazgo regulatorio y supervisión de la industria. Actualmente se desempeña como Chief Veterinary Officer de 1/ST RACING, donde supervisa la seguridad veterinaria, el bienestar y los protocolos de integridad, así como iniciativas de investigación equina en sus operaciones de carreras y entrenamiento, incluyendo Santa Anita Park, San Luis Rey Downs, Gulfstream Park, Palm Meadows y el Preakness.

De 2013 a 2019, la Dra. Benson fue Directora Ejecutiva y Directora de Operaciones del Racing Medication and Testing Consortium (RMTC). Obtuvo su Doctorado en Medicina Veterinaria en la Universidad de Minnesota, su Juris Doctor (JD) y una Maestría en Ciencias en Bienestar Animal en la Universidad de Pensilvania.

“Estamos honrados de dar la bienvenida a la Dra. Benson a nuestra Junta de Directores”, expresó Kelley Stobie, Directora Ejecutiva y cofundadora de Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare. “Su conocimiento, liderazgo y compromiso con el bienestar equino serán clave para continuar fortaleciendo nuestra misión y ampliar nuestro impacto en Puerto Rico y el Caribe.”

“Espero con entusiasmo trabajar junto a la Junta de Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare, Inc.,” indicó la Dra. Benson. “El bienestar y la seguridad de los caballos han sido pilares fundamentales en mi carrera, y este rol representa una oportunidad adicional para continuar promoviendo estos esfuerzos.”

Fundada en 2016, Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare ofrece un refugio seguro para caballos Pura Sangre retirados de las carreras, enfocándose en su rehabilitación, reentrenamiento, adopción y educación en bienestar equino.

El nombramiento de la Dra. Benson refleja el compromiso de CTA con la colaboración en la industria y las mejores prácticas en bienestar equino.

Para más información, visite www.ctahorse.com o siga a CTA en redes sociales.

Contacto de prensa:
Lauren Guerrera - Program Manager - info@ctahorse.com