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Benoit & Associates, Inc. was the brainchild of Bob Benoit, who, along with his wife Calvine, and partner Rayetta Burr, started a publicity/public relations firm in 1981 ... in addition to several horse racing clients (among the first was Oak Tree Racing Association), the firm has had quite a diversified clientele list over the years including a cable TV company, local political campaigns, chambers of commerce, municipalities, racing conventions and awards dinners, horse solicitation trips, publicity duties for two major northern California racetracks, major event photo coverage for Daily Racing Form, not to mention a very hot (at the time) rap star's thoroughbred stable which was led by the amazing Jerry Hollendorfer the grand filly Lite Light .

To say the partners enjoyed their travels and the ongoing contact with thoroughbred racing greatest locales, people and horses would be a gross understatement. Along with some lovely publishing awards for Oak Tree's PADDOCK Magazine, which Benoit & Associates continues to publish for Oak Tree and a couple of Eclipse Awards for photography, the firm seemed destined to add track photography to it's menu of services.

In the early '90s, Santa Anita's Alan Balch and Jane Goldstein graciously invited Benoit & Associates to bid on the Santa Anita and Oak Tree track photography contracts and when Tom Abahazy and his wife Sabrina (of the Tibor Abahazy photo dynasty in the midwest) agreed to manage the operation --- the bid was made and a new division (Benoit Photo) of the company was born. in the mid-90's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (1996) and Hollywood Park (1997) extended invitations as well, and when Bill Scherlis, after 54 years of service, retired from Fairplex, he passed the baton on the Benoit to complete the southern California circuit.

By all accounts, the benefits of having consistant first class photography services for the horsemen, the tracks and the media has been invaluable to all, including the those who serve you at Benoit Photo.