Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association

What Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association does

The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (DTHA) is a private nonprofit trade association founded in 2014 (with program operations dating to 2002) that represents thoroughbred horse owners, trainers, and backstretch workers at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton, Delaware. Its operational headquarters is at 777 Delaware Park Blvd, Wilmington, DE, with a staff of 11-50 employees. The organization's flagship initiative is the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP), a certification regime established in 2002 that provides a 25% purse bonus for 1st-3rd place finishes (up to $10,000 per race) to horses bred or trained at Delaware farms, plus access to four restricted $100,000 stakes races (Small Wonder, First State Dash, Tax Free Shopping Distaff, New Castle). DCTP is supported by an annual budget of $1.5 million — $750,000 contributed from DTHA's horsemen's purse fund, matched by $500,000 from the State of Delaware and $250,000 from Delaware Park — and has paid out over $20 million in awards across 80+ certified farms spanning 4,200 acres of Delaware farmland since 2003.

DTHA's technology stack centers on operational systems rather than data science: an online horse registration portal for weanlings ($100) and yearlings ($200), a digital certificate management system integrated with The Jockey Club Registry (replacing paper certificates), and an Equibase Virtual Stable integration providing automated notifications on workouts, entries, and results. Beyond racing administration, the organization runs the Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF) — a charitable program providing medical, dental, eye care, and counseling services to backstretch workers — and operates on-site facilities including a Backstretch Wellness Clinic, a state-of-the-art Dry Salt Therapy chamber with three-tier pricing ($25-$35/session and $1,200 monthly unlimited), and a Kraft six-stall horse exerciser ($10/session, $100 for 12 sessions). Revenue derives from a hybrid mix: one-time DCTP registration fees, transaction-based fees for therapeutic and training services, ongoing purse-fund contributions, and external grants (notably a 2025 Thoroughbred Charities of America grant). Distribution is direct via the in-person Horsemen's Office (open six days/week) and on-site facilities, while marketing runs through the dtha.com website, email newsletter, and racing industry referral networks.

Name

Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association

Legal name

Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association

Website

https://dtha.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (DTHA) is a private nonprofit trade association representing thoroughbred horse owners, trainers, and backstretch workers at Delaware Park Racetrack, administering the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) purse-bonus certification, the Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF) welfare program, and on-site therapeutic and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equine Racing Association Services

NAICS

Horses and Other Equine Production (11292), Racetracks (711212), Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Racehorse Training & Conditioning Operations (AFAEAGAE), Horse Boarding, Livery & Stable Operations (AFAEAGAG), Racehorse Ownership, Syndication & Investment Platforms (MPAEADAG)

Keywords

• Thoroughbred racing services
• Horse certification program
• Purse bonus administration
• Equine welfare services
• Backstretch worker support

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. DCTP Registration Fees: One-time registration fees for weanlings ($100) and yearlings ($200) entering the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program, which provides purse bonuses and racing advantages at Delaware Park
2. Horsemen Services Fees: Fees for additional services including dry salt therapy sessions and horse exerciser tickets
3. Horsemen's Purse Fund Contribution: DTHA contributes $750,000 per year to DCTP from horsemen's purse fund, supplemented by matching funds from State of Delaware ($500,000) and Delaware Park ($250,000)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association operates a trade association for thoroughbred horse owners and trainers at Delaware Park, administering the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) — a horse certification program that provides purse bonuses, racing preference, and access to restricted stakes for Delaware-bred or -trained horses. The organization also operates the Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF) for backstretch worker welfare, runs the Backstretch Wellness Clinic, and provides on-site equine services including Dry Salt Therapy and a Horse Exerciser facility.

Product overview

The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association operates a membership-based organization serving thoroughbred horse owners, trainers, and backstretch workers at Delaware Park. Its core offerings include the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) for horse certification and purse bonuses, and the Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF) for member welfare services. Supporting services include Digital Certificate Management, a Backstretch Wellness Clinic, Horse Exerciser facility, and Dry Salt Therapy. The organization also provides the Horsemen's Office for administrative services, all coordinated through its main website portal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP): Program that provides purse bonuses to thoroughbred horses certified at Delaware farms that race at Delaware Park
• Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF)
• Backstretch Wellness Clinic
• Dry Salt Therapy

Products and services

• Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) A certification program for thoroughbred horses bred or trained at Delaware farms, providing purse bonuses (25% for owners and certifiers for 1st-3rd place finishes), preference at Delaware Park entries, and access to restricted stakes races worth $100,000 each. Targeted at owners, trainers, and farms.
• Delaware Horsemen's Assistance Fund (DHAF) Charitable fund providing medical services, dental care, eye care, counseling, and backstretch social services to grooms, hotwalkers, exercise riders, trainers, and other backstretch licensees at Delaware Park.
• Digital Certificate Management Online system for managing digital thoroughbred certificates through the Jockey Club Registry, replacing paper certificates.
• Backstretch Wellness Clinic On-site medical facility providing diagnosis, treatment of minor illnesses and injuries, preventive immunizations, screenings, and health education services to licensed Delaware Park horsemen, employees, and their dependents.
• Horse Exerciser (Horse Walker) Kraft-manufactured ground standing horse walker operating 7 days a week, allowing up to six horses to train independently on crushed rubber surface for $10 per 12-minute session.
• Dry Salt Therapy Halotherapy service using micronized salt particles to treat airway inflammation, improve lung function, and boost immune system in horses. Located near barn 22 at Delaware Park.
• Horsemen's Office Services Comprehensive in-person services including coffee, faxing, copies, computer reports, overnight race information, condition books, sales catalogs, WIFI, notary service, and bills of sale. Open Monday-Saturday 8am-2pm.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $20 million in DCTP awards paid to horse owners and certifiers since 2003
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered moderate and core.

• Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA)moderateGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025DHAF is a 2025 TCA Grantee, receiving grant funding and association recognition
• EquibasecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Integration with Equibase Virtual Stable for DCTP notifications including workouts, entries, and results of Delaware Certified horses
• Jockey Club RegistrycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020Digital certificate management integrated with Jockey Club's official thoroughbred registry system
• State of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002State of Delaware provides $500,000 annual matching funds to the DCTP program, administered alongside DTHA and Delaware Park
• Delaware ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Delaware Park contributes $250,000 annually to DCTP funding and provides the racing venue where DCTP-certified horses compete for enhanced purse bonuses
• Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) Advisory BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002Advisory board sets policies for DCTP including eligibility rules, preference dates, and program updates for Delaware certified/bred horses

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Maryland Horse Breeders Association: Maryland-based breeders organization that runs the Maryland Million and state-bred incentive program; comparable in mission (breeder certification and purse enhancement) and constituency to DCTP.
• Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey: New Jersey breeders association operating the New Jersey-Bred program with state-track purse bonuses for certified thoroughbreds, directly parallel to DCTP's role in Delaware.
• Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association: State-level trade association representing thoroughbred owners and trainers at Maryland tracks (Pimlico, Laurel). Directly comparable to DTHA in mission, structure, and constituency, operating a similar purse-incentive and member services model in an adjacent Mid-Atlantic jurisdiction.
• Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association: State breeders association that administers the Pennsylvania-Bred program with purse bonuses for certified horses, mirroring DCTP's certification-and-bonus structure for thoroughbreds racing at Parx and Penn National.
• Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association: Florida state breeders and owners association administering the Florida-bred incentive program; similar trade-association structure and purse-bonus mechanic as DTHA/DCTP, though operating at much larger scale.
• New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. New York state breeders and owners association running the New York-Bred program with awards and purse incentives for state-certified thoroughbreds—a structurally analogous certification model to DCTP.

Others

• Equibase Company: Racing data and Virtual Stable platform integrated with DTHA's DCTP notifications; an enabling technology partner rather than a competitor, but reflective of the racing-services ecosystem DTHA participates in.
• The Jockey Club: National thoroughbred registry operator with which DTHA integrates its Digital Certificate Management; not a competitor but a strategic infrastructure partner whose rules and registry standards shape DCTP eligibility.
• Thoroughbred Charities of America: Industry-wide charity that granted DHAF funding in 2025; thematically aligned with DTHA's backstretch welfare mission though operating as a grantmaking body rather than a horsemen's association.

Broad incumbents

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Large multi-track operator including ownership stakes in regional racing; comparable as a racetrack industry counterpart though broader in scope than the nonprofit horsemen's association model DTHA operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dtha_bessie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association