Insurance Office of America (IOA) is expanding its portfolio into equine insurance as it announced its partnership with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), according to a statement from the two organizations.

The independent agencies will also serve as the official insurance provider of NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance and the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).

Under the agreement, IOA will provide exclusive insurance offerings to accredited race tracks and serve as a broker for NHC insurance placements. It has also committed to a sponsorship agreement for the 47th Annual Eclipse Awards, according to a report by specialist publication Blood Horse.

“We thank IOA for its support of Thoroughbred racing and the NTRA, particularly the Safety & Integrity Alliance, which plays a vital role in driving uniform implementation of important industry-established safety and integrity standards,” said Alex Waldrop, president and chief executive of the NTRA, in the report.

IOA, which has more than 1,200 associates, added its equine insurance capability to its portfolio with the arrival of John Patrick Unick in October. He is recognized as an expert in the field with more than 20 years’ experience to back him up. 

“Throughout my insurance career I have taken an entrepreneurial approach and IOA fosters that mentality,” he said. “IOA’s model, which focuses on major league sports, will allow my team to reward our longstanding clients with more resources while providing us with a national platform to introduce new insurance programs.”


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