TOBA Breakaway Rail Talk | October Member of the Month: Murray Valene
Presented by Rail Talk in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) Hosted by Jon Green & Joe Bianca
In this episode of TOBA Breakaway Rail Talk, Jon Green sits down with Murray Valene, TOBA’s October Member of the Month, whose Valene Farms operation has long been a force in Louisiana racing.
Valene shares the story behind Smoken Wicked, his Louisiana-bred standout who clinched the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga this summer. From spotting him in sales prep to celebrating his success as a juvenile champion, Valene’s approach to horse selection and development comes through in every story.
With roots in polo and a racing journey that traces back to the 1960s, Valene reflects on his family’s legacy, the strength of the Louisiana-bred program, and how patience, perseverance, and smart partnerships have defined his stable’s success on both local and national stages.
November Member of the Month:
Ron Perry and Barbara Ranck-Perry
Racegoers might have to be forgiven if, on August 23, they thought they were experiencing déjà vu. Just as in 2018, the winner of the 2025 Ballerina Stakes (G1) was a four-year-old bay filly with a Bob Marley-related name; she’d gone off as the favorite and ran off the pace before closing to win by daylight. In this case, the winners of this year’s Ballerina and the 2018 edition have something further in common: They’re daughter and dam, racing for Ron Perry and Barbara Ranck-Perry’s Cicero Farms.
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