APRIL 2017
Official Newsletter of the Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association

In This Issue:

MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Bill Betz

2017 is coming up roses for Bill Betz. This year alone, the Kentucky horseman has co-bred three graded stakes winners, including J Boys Echo, a three-year-old son of Mineshaft who registered a 3 ½ length victory in the March 4 Gotham Stakes (G3). In the process, J Boys Echo stamped himself as a Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (G1) contender. Betz consigned the colt to the 2015 Keeneland September sale, where he sold for $485,000 to current owners Albaugh Family Stable.
 
“This business is a rollercoaster, you know,” Betz mused of J Boys Echo, whom he co-bred with James Blackburn, J. Betz, Ramsby, and CNHHNK. “It has a lot of ups and downs. Right now, we’re on one of the crests, so hopefully it will continue a little while longer.” Along with former partner Phil Needham (the pair bred and raced under the name Needham/Betz Thoroughbreds), Peter Lamantia, and Blackburn, Betz also bred 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird, a 50-1 shot. “So, to have that horse have that kind of day, it was surprising to say the least,” he recalled. “And you never count on that really. You hope that it’s your time to get lucky, but you don’t really expect it–at least I don’t. But, when it happens, it sure is a thrill.”
 
Occupying just under 300 acres in Lexington, Kentucky, Betz’s nursery is currently home to about 25 broodmares, including a number of Mine That Bird’s family members, like his pensioned 27-year-old granddam. Betz also still owns J Boys Echo’s dam, the Menifee mare Letgomyecho, who has a Broken Vow yearling filly; she foaled a “very lovely” Speightstown colt this year, and is booked to Candy Ride. Over the years, Betz and his partners have gotten lucky with the progeny their broodmares have produced, the likes of which include grade 1 winners Madcap Escapade, Dubai Escapade, El Corredor, and Roman Ruler. Silvery Swan, dam of the last two named horses, also foaled Maimonides, who fetched $4.6 million at the 2006 Keeneland September sale; one year prior, a full sister to El Corredor went under the hammer to Bob and Beverly Lewis at Keeneland September for $2.7 million. In 2011, Silvery Swan’s yearling filly by Unbridled’s Song sold for $1 million at that same sale.
 
One of Betz’s best broodmares has been Refugee, dam of Hoppertunity and Executiveprivilege. Needham/Betz acquired the Unaccounted For mare, in foal to Not For Love, for $65,000 at the 2006 Keeneland January sale. “Refugee, first off, is a beautiful mare physically. She had a lot of talent at the track,” Betz recalled, also making note of her pedigree–her second dam was the great racemare Davona Dale. He added, “And as a commercial breeder, you look for those attributes in a broodmare and hope that they pass that onto their offspring, so she had a lot of things going for her in my mind that I’m not surprised that she’s turned out as good as she has.”
 
Betz sold Refugee,
in foal to Cowboy Cal, at $480,000 at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton November sale. “Being a commercial breeder, you have to clip coupons occasionally to keep the whole program operational,” he said. “When you’re able to get lightning strike like that sometimes, you have to take advantage of it.”
 

TOBA’s 2017 CLINIC AND SEMINAR SCHEDULE


The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced the 2017 schedule for its seminars and clinics. These educational events feature various topics for prospective, new and established Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Contact: Aly Kirchner at akirchner@toba.org or 859 – 276 – 3897 for more information or go to:
www.tobamain.kinsta.cloud for details and registration.

OPEN HOUSE

MAY 16th
  –  SAGAMORE FARM


Date: May 16, 2017

Location: 
Sagamore Farm; Reistertown, Maryland

TOBA Members: 
$90

Non-TOBA Members: 
$90
 

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Please welcome our newest TOBA members & welcome back our renewing members!
Sierra Escoffier                                                        
Alicia McQuilkin                                                                  
Ten Strike Racing                                                                  
Isabelle de Burgh                                                
Mary Grum                                                                    
Sandy Horner                                                                     
Larkin Armstrong
Carl Asmus
Ann Atkin
Danzel Brendemuehl
Jonathan Drake
John Ebbert
Omar Trevino
David Johnson
Robert Krangel
Jerry & Ann Moss
John Snapp 
Joe Thomson
Andy Havens                                                                 
Sally Fleet Johnson                                                      
Richard Meister                                                        
Brian Sanfratello                                                                
Beverly Steinman                                                            

Equine Disease Report

The Animal Health Trust fights disease and injury in animals. Find out more
  –  www.aht.org.uk


USA
Strangles
The Nevada Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the spread of strangles in the state has slowed significantly within the past two weeks.  There are reports however, that the disease continues to occur principally in the western parts of the state.  No further information is currently available on the number of premises that have been affected since the disease was first notified to the state’s animal regulatory authorities. 

Canada
Equine Herpes Virus-1 (EHV-1) Abortion and Neurological Disease
A significant outbreak of EHV-1 abortion and neurological disease has been reported by the Manitoba Horse Council.  The disease was first noted three weeks earlier on a premises in south western part of the Province at which time the attending veterinarian(s) imposed strict quarantine restrictions on the 105 horses on the property.  To this point, there have been eight fatalities from neurological disease with an additional two horses currently showing neurological signs.  There has been no movement onto or off the premises since the start of the outbreak and strict biosecurity measures have been enforced.

American Horse Council News

On March 30, 2017 Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) re-introduced the Race Horse Cost Recovery Act (H.R. 1804) and the Equine Tax Parity Act (H.R. 1805). The Race Horse Cost Recovery Act would permanently place all race horses in the three-year category for tax depreciation purposes. A 2008 provision that temporarily put race horses in the three year category expired at the end of 2016. The Equine Tax Parity Act would make horses eligible for capital gains treatment after 12 months, rather than 24, similar to other business assets. The American Horse Council supports both of these bills.

Read More

News

All About Alfalfa
How much do you really know about this legume?


By Heather Smith Thomas
 
In some areas of the country, alfalfa is a regular part of life. It’s readily available and commonly fed, so it’s a logical foundation for many horses’ diets. In other areas, alfalfa is a delicacy of sorts, shipped in from different regions and bought a bale at a time on a vet’s recommendation to help certain horses that need nutritional support. For some types of horses-in either of those areas-alfalfa simply isn’t a great choice. And, so, that fragrant green bale comes loaded with nutrients and, for some horse owners, a multitude of misconceptions.
 
Whatever your alfalfa experience, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about this forage, starting with a little bit of history, and clear up any confusion about it.
 
Check out your April 2017 issue of The Horse (a TOBA member benefit) to read more from this article. To login use TOBAMember as your username and password.
 
TheHorse.com/TOBAMember.

Congrats Corner

LET US BE GLAD won the Dixie Poker Ace Stakes at Fair Grounds on March 4 for breeder Coteau Grove Farms (Keith Myers).
HER LOVE FOR PAPPY won an allowance race at Oaklawn Park on March 10 for breeder Dixiana Farms LLC (Bill Shively).
GOODYEARFORROSES (IRE) won the Santa Ana Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park on March 12 for owner Bing Bush, Jr. (Abbondanza Racing, LLC).
HEAT DOME won MSW at Penn National on March 18 for owner Matthew Schera.
SINGMEALOVESONG won an allowance race at Charles Town on March 22 for owners and breeders Dr. Stephen and Debbie Jackson.
COSI BELLA won MSW at Aqueduct on March 31 for owner W.S. Farish.

*This list is randomly selected and is not all-inclusive. 
If you are a TOBA member and own or bred a recent winner, please email akirchner@toba.org and we will include you in the next eNewsletter!

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Thank you to our long standing members:

William Beatson, Jr.
Elkins Stable
Paul Bialk
Mark Matika
Richlyn Farm 

TOP OWNERS & BREEDERS 
 Congratulations to the leading owners and breeders by race earnings through April 4, 2017. The names in bold and italics depict TOBA members. 
Top Owners by North American Race Earnings Top Breeders by North American Race Earnings

1. Juddmonte
2. Stronach Stables
3. Calumet Farm
4. Starlight Racing

5. Reddam Racing
6. Ramsey Farm
7. Brad Grady

8. Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc.

9. Sumaya U.S. Stable
10. Judge Lanier Racing

1. Clearsky Farm
2. Adena Springs
3. Brereton C. Jones
4. Calumet Farm
5. WinStar Farm
6. Kenneth & Sarah Ramsey
7. Edwin Anthony
8. Stonestreet Stables
9. Dixiana Farm
10. Godolphin 

Click here for complete stats, compliments of Equibase.com Click here for complete stats, compliments of Equineline.com 

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Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau Integrity Hotline
Help protect our sport’s integrity. Anonymously contact the TRPB’s Integrity Hotline at:
 1-866-TIP-TRPB

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Your support ensures the voices of owners and breeders are heard!