The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF) announced May 10 the appointment of Rob Hinkle as chief executive officer. Hinkle will be based in Lexington, Ky., and his appointment is effective immediately.

Hinkle has nearly 20 years of experience managing equine operations at large organizations. Prior to TRF, he served as chief operations officer at The World Games 2010 Foundation, which produced and managed the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Previously, he was director of operations at The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and director of equine operations for The Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Fla. He received a degree in equine administration from the University of Louisville.

"Rob has a proven track record in this industry, and we’re excited for him to join us in providing much-needed care and services for retired racehorses," said TRF President George Grayson. "Adding Rob to the organization is another important step in ensuring we meet our long-term administrative and fundraising goals for caring for these great and aging animals."

"TRF has faced significant hurdles in fundraising during this difficult economic climate, but we are proud to say that we have weathered the storm and are hopeful about our future," said Tom Ludt, chairman of the TRF Board. "The recent completion of the independent evaluation of the entire TRF herd also confirms that while there are still administrative gaps that need to be addressed, the horses overall are doing very well