Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners today announced that Joel Cunningham has joined the organization as Vice President of Communications, bringing more than two decades of experience in marketing, brand strategy, and communications within the Thoroughbred industry.
"Joel brings a unique combination of strategic vision, creative leadership, and deep industry understanding," said Aron Wellman, President and Founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. "His experience building and leading high-level communications and brand strategy will be invaluable to the team and our partners. We're excited to welcome him."
Cunningham spent the last seven and a half years as Director of Marketing & Communications at Spendthrift Farm, where he helped transition the organization to an in-house marketing model. During his tenure, he led a brand refresh and repositioning and oversaw the development of one of the most comprehensive marketing and communications teams in the commercial breeding industry during a period of sustained market-share growth and brand expansion at Spendthrift.
"Eclipse has established itself as one of the most respected and successful partnership groups in the sport, and it's an exciting time with such a vibrant stable," said Cunningham. "There's a clear vision, a winning culture, and a standard of excellence driven by Aron's leadership and the team he has built. I look forward to further strengthening the brand and ownership experience for our partners in a way that reflects the quality of the operation and the caliber of horses competing at the highest level."
In his new role, Cunningham will oversee Eclipse's client and external communications strategy, media relations, and content development, with a focus on enhancing the ownership experience and further strengthening the organization's brand presence across all platforms.
Cunningham's work has been recognized with multiple industry honors, including recognition in five consecutive years by the Central Kentucky American Advertising Awards, highlighted by Best of Show in 2020, as well as a win at the Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Awards in the Commercial category in 2021 after being named a finalist in 2020.
