Tom Aronson named Galbreath Award Winner

The University of Louisville Equine Industry Program has named Tom Aronson the 32nd recipient of the John W. Galbreath Award for Outstanding Entrepreneurship in the Equine Industry.

Aronson is an original business architect of two of the most successful companies in the history of horse racing, the Television Games Network (TVG) and Exacta Systems, both of which have become billion-dollar wagering companies since their creation.

“Tom Aronson is a true ‘horse enterprise architect,’ as defined by the criteria governing this award,” said Ted Nicholson, senior vice president of Kentucky Downs, in nominating him. “He turned a youthful fascination with horses and horse racing into what has been a remarkable career highlighted by repeated innovation, business building, and cutting-edge thinking for the industry.”

“Horseracing in Kentucky is only as strong as the health of the game. Many of Tom’s initiatives have been significant in building the industry and helping it become more mainstream and available to people,” said Karl Schmitt, president, and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission. “He is passionate about horseracing. He also is very analytical – he understands how to analyze an issue from a theoretical perspective, and he has practical experience, so that is the best of both worlds.”

“I am privileged to have had the opportunity to help build two of the horse industry’s greatest start-ups from the ground up,” Aronson said of his TVG and Exacta experiences. “Helping to make horse sports more economically viable in a challenging world has been an exciting and rewarding career for me, and the honor accorded to me here by the University of Louisville is truly gratifying. The list of previous winners is breathtaking, and I am deeply appreciative of the inclusion and recognition.”

Watch the full ceremony below: