from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — The U.S. Trotting Association announced Friday (May 4) that Kim French, who currently serves as an internet newsroom editor and writer for the organization’s website, has been named interim editor of Hoof Beats magazine. In addition, former editor Dean Hoffman has been hired as a consultant for the magazine.

They replace TJ Burkett who recently resigned to pursue another career opportunity outside of the harness racing industry.

USTA photo

Kim French has been named interim editor of Hoof Beats magazine.

French joined the USTA staff in April 2016 but had been a contributor to both Hoof Beats and the website as a writer for a decade prior to that. She has written for about 20 equine magazines during her career and was the recipient of a Hervey Award for a Hoof Beats story that appeared in 2016.

A graduate of Northern Kentucky University, French also has extensive television experience that includes serving as associate producer, field producer, production assistant and stage manager for ESPN and NBC Sports Thoroughbred national broadcasts, program editor for the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup from 2007 through 2015, and has produced the national newsfeed for both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup since 2013.

USTA photo

Former editor Dean Hoffman has been hired as a consultant for the magazine.

Hoffman most recently taught a Race Track Marketing and Media Relations course as well as provided support for the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program’s marketing efforts and its annual Global Symposium on Racing & Gaming.

Previously, he worked in public relations and advertising agencies in varying capacities before being named Executive Editor of Hoof Beats magazine, a position that he held for almost 25 years, longer than any other editor since the magazine was established in 1933.

In 2007, Hoffman was inducted into the Communicators Hall of Fame.

Two years earlier, he was awarded Harness Tracks of America’s Stanley F. Bergstein Messenger Award for contributions to the literature of harness racing and he was president of American Horse Publications and served on its board for 15 years.