FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Saturday, September 7, 2024

TOBA

 

Winners Announced for TOBA National Awards

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced today winners for the 39th annual TOBA National Awards. The TOBA National Awards were presented across two days of ceremonies. The National Awards Luncheon was held on September 6 at the Thoroughbred Club of America, honoring State and Canadian Breeders of 2023. The National Awards Dinner was held on September 7 at Fasig-Tipton honoring all award winners and emceed by FanDuel TV’s Scott Hazelton.

Godolphin was announced as the winner for 2023 National Owner of the Year and 2023 National Breeder of the Year. Finalists for both categories were also honored Saturday night. National Owner of the Year finalists were Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables, George Krikorian and Zedan Racing Stables. National Breeder of the Year finalists were Juddmonte and Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC.  Elizabeth Merryman was announced as the winner for 2023 National Small Breeder of the Year. National Small Breeder of the Year finalists also honored Saturday were Joe Fafone and Amy Moore.

The Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year was presented to Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables.  Other Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year finalists recognized for their achievements were Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Little Red Feather Racing, Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, and SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.

Frank Taylor was honored with the Dr. J. David Richardson TOBA Industry Service Award. Dance Card was named National Broodmare of the Year.

Time for Trouble was honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA. The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year went to A Lil Evil. The Robert N. Clay Award, presented by Equine Land Conservation Resource, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use, was awarded to Peter Giangiulio, Stephanie Giangiulio and Barbara Geraghty of Castle Rock Farm.

2023 State and Canadian Breeders of the Year were:

  • Arizona Breeder of the Year – Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC (Marvin Fleming and Gerald Fleming)
  • Arkansas Breeder of the Year – McDowell Farms (Bill and Mary McDowell)
  • California Breeder of the Year – Richard Barton Enterprises (Richard Barton)
  • Canada Breeder of the Year – Adena Springs
  • Canada Small Breeder of the Year – Sean Fitzhenry
  • Florida Breeder of the Year – Stonehedge LLC (Marilyn Campbell)
  • Indiana Breeder of the Year – Justice Farms, Inc. (Greg Justice)
  • Iowa Breeder of the Year – Poindexter Thoroughbreds, LLC (Allen Poindexter)
  • Kentucky Breeder of the Year – Godolphin
  • Louisiana Breeder of the Year – Thomas M. Galvin
  • Maryland Breeder of the Year – Dance Forth Farm (Tom and Chris Bowman)
  • New Jersey Breeder of the Year – Bright View Farm (Christine Connelly) and Greg Kilka
  • New Mexico Breeder of the Year – Fred A. Alexander
  • New York Breeder of the Year – Barry K. Schwartz
  • North Carolina Breeder of the Year – Art Bauer
  • Oregon Breeder of the Year – Connie Erickson
  • Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year – Forgotten Land Investments, Inc. and Black Diamond Equine (Christian Black)
  • South Carolina Breeder of the Year – Franklin G. Smith Sr.
  • Texas Breeder of the Year – Carolyn R. Barnett
  • Virginia Breeder of the Year – Ann Mudge Backer
  • Washington Breeder of the Year – Sheridan Jones and Ken W. Miles

“,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “”

TOBA National Awards sponsors were Platinum level sponsors FanDuel Racing as Owner of the Year sponsor and Wilson Plant Co. as Breeder of the Year sponsor.  Gold level sponsors were Claiborne Farm as State and Canadian Breeder of the Year sponsor, WinStar Farm as Broodmare of the Year sponsor, BloodHorse and The Jockey Club as Small Breeder of the Year sponsors, NTRA as Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award sponsor, and Castle & Key Distillery as Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year sponsor. Silver level sponsors were Big Ass Fans, Daily Racing Form, Darley, Fasig-Tipton, National HBPA, Robert Clark Artist, Paris Valley Road Estate Winery, and White Birch Farm, Inc. (Peter M. Brant).

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