Please welcome our newest TOBA members!
Robert C. Brooks
Deborah Dyckman
Mike & Taryn Heinrich
B.G. Hughes
Joseph & Gayle Ioia
Austin Musselman
Terry Nickell
Paul Riggs
As of August 25, 2014
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Thank you to our long-standing members
TOBA recognizes some of its loyal members who have been with the association for 20 years!
Leland Ackerley
Gary Biszantz
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Burns
John Coleman
David Dizney
Samuel Engle
Gayle Fogelson
Clifford Grum
Gregory Hawkins
Timothy Heinrichs, MD
Richard Violette, Jr.
Check back in next month’s eNewsletter for more 20-year members.
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Member Benefits |
These are just some of TOBA’s membership benefits that all members can enjoy:
$25 discount on National Racing License
$10 Sam’s Club gift card when you join or renew your Sam’s Club membership
Free clubhouse admission at various racetracks throughout the country
Check out all of our membership benefits.
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Continue your education
with TOBA’s Ownership Seminar videos
Experts from all aspects of the Thoroughbred industry discuss how to build a racing stable, the owner and trainer relationship, common veterinary concerns, accounting and insurance issues, understanding racing partnerships, Thoroughbred retirement and much more.
Purchase your videos today!
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Welcome to our monthly eNewsletter featuring our TOBA Member of the Month. Each month, we profile a TOBA member, describe their involvement in the Thoroughbred industry and explain how TOBA has assisted them along the way. |
Member of the Month
Pat Pavlish
This year, Patricia Pavlish has been on “fire” – literally. Pavlish bred Fire with Fire, who has been a dominant presence on the turf. For owner David Heerensperger and trainer Neil Drysdale, the gelded son of Distorted Humor has posted two major wins at Santa Anita: a hard-fought triumph in the San Luis Rey Stakes (gr. IIT) on March 22, and a neck victory in the Charles Whittingham Handicap (gr. IIT) on May 24. Read more.
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President’s Message
Earlier this month at its annual meeting in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., the TOBA Board of Trustees endorsed the new uniform model medication guidelines, which are currently being championed on a state-by-state basis by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. While the TOBA board strongly supported these reforms, it did not endorse the use of race-day medication.
Clearly, the pro-Lasix supporters are contending the uniform national rules were a compromise on Lasix and the debate is settled. Nothing could be further from the truth. From a TOBA perspective, we believe it is strategically critical the entire industry supports these reform efforts and that the use of race-day Lasix is a separate discussion not addressed in our board statement. If uniform national rules are not implemented, the landscape would look something like this: 1) Private vets would be in the stall on race-day. Is that something we want? 2) Instead of 26 controlled therapeutic medications (the only one permitted on race day is Lasix), we may be dealing with more than 50. Is that something we want? 3) Drug testing standards would be lower at our labs. Is that something we want? 4) Multiple violators of medication rules would not receive severe penalties and in many cases, would continue to conduct business as usual. Is that something we want? To TOBA, the answers are obvious.
TOBA supported a ban on race-day medication in two-year-old graded stakes in 2011. Due to numerous obstacles faced by the American Graded Stakes Committee, the proposed ban was never implemented. Also, TOBA spearheaded a 2-year-old no race-day medication program in 2012-13, which was supported by nearly 70 owners. Any suggestion that TOBA supports the use of race-day medication is simply unfounded and not true.
The new uniform national rules offer the regulatory uniformity this industry has been clamoring for, enhances the integrity of our sport, provides a level playing field for participants and, most importantly, improves the health and welfare of the horse. These goals and objectives should not be held hostage by the race-day use of Lasix debate. We believe that important policy discussion should be held separately and not in lieu of other significant improvements to our sport.
Sincerely yours,
Dan Metzger
TOBA President
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TOBA News
TOBA Supports RMTC Uniform Medication Program
Earlier this month at the TOBA board of trustees meeting, held in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dr. Dionne Benson gave a status report on the implementation of the RMTC uniform medication program. Based on Dr. Benson’s report, TOBA has released the following statement:
“To see that the momentum of this reform program continues, TOBA and its board of trustees pledge to commit resources in order to ensure all Thoroughbred racing jurisdictions implement the entire
RMTC uniform medication program.” Read more.
Record Attendance at Clinics in Saratoga Springs
TOBA held two educational clinics the first week in August in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – Pedigree & Conformation Clinic at Fasig-Tipton on August 4 and Thoroughbred Ownership Seminar at the Saratoga Race Course on August 7. Each of these events produced record attendance over the past five years. Learn more and register for our upcoming clinics.
American Graded Stakes Committee
The American Graded Stakes Committee met on August 5 for its annual August administrative meeting. At the meeting Dr. J. David Richardson was re-elected chair of the committee. The TOBA Members of the committee appointed Ben Huffman of Churchill Downs and Keeneland, Martin Panza of NYRA and Tom Robbins of Del Mar to their first three-year terms on the committee, replacing Rogers Beasley of Keeneland, P.J. Campo of Gulfstream Park and Michael Dempsey of Monmouth Park. Each had reached his term limit on the committee. At the conclusion of the meeting, the term of TOBA Member Seth Hancock expired and TOBA Chairman Peter Willmott appointed Craig Bernick to his first three-year term to fill the vacancy.
The 2014-2015 committee will be TOBA Members Dr. J. David Richardson, chair, Reynolds Bell, Jr., Craig Bernick, Michael Levy, J. Michael O’Farrell and Peter Willmott and Racing Officials Allison DeLuca (Tampa Bay Downs), Rick Hammerle (Santa Anita Park), Ben Huffman (Churchill Downs and Keeneland), Martin Panza (NYRA) and Tom Robbins (Del Mar).
The committee received an update on the implementation by state racing commissions of the new uniform medication rules and discussed the issue of too many Grade/Group I races on the international calendar, mainly in South America. The committee will meet again on December 3 in Lexington for its annual grading session.
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Please Join Us
29th Annual National Awards Dinner
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Each year, TOBA honors owners and breeders from 23 states and Canada. Also honored are four Regional Owners of the Year, National Owner of the Year, National Breeder of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year, and, new for 2014, the Robert N. Clay Award. Click here for our 2014 award winners!
The 29th annual National Awards Dinner is Friday, September 5, 2014 at the Lexington Convention Center in downtown Lexington, Ky. Click here to RSVP online. RSVP deadline is Friday, August 29.
Did you know that we’re auctioning off two exciting items at the TOBA National Awards Dinner? Reserve your dinner ticket today to recognize our breeder and owner award winners, and for the chance to win these auction items!
H.E. “Tex” Sutton Equine Air Transportation
One single-stall one-way trip, redeemable on any of their scheduled flights
John Deere Equipment
Your choice of a Z445 Zero Turn Mower, X304 Riding Mower or CX 4×2 Gator
Thank you to our dinner sponsors!

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Official Wine Sponsor of the
2014 National Awards Dinner
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Congrats Corner
Congratulations to the following TOBA members who own or bred a recent winner!
Speightsland won an allowance race at Woodbine for owner John C. Oxley and breeder Eugene Melnyk on 8/1/14.
Newly Fashioned broke her maiden at Parx Racing for breeder Town & Country Farms Corp. on 8/5/14.
Seek Again won the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga for owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms on 8/9/14.
Declan’s Fast Cat won an allowance race at Evangeline Downs for owner Whispering Oaks Farm and breeder Dixiana Farms on 8/14/14.
Star King broke his maiden at Indiana Downs for breeder Tracy Farmer on 8/19/14.
Shared Belief won the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar for breeders Pam & Martin Wygod on 8/24/14.
*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 toba@toba.org and we will include you in the next eNewsletter!
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Pedigree & Conformation Clinic
October 18-19 in Lexington, Ky.
Registration is open for the October 18-19 Pedigree & Conformation Clinic. Join us in Lexington, Ky. for an overview of conformation, evaluate conformation of sales yearlings at Fasig-Tipton, learn about pedigree theories and planning matings from experts in the industry, and more.
Click here to register online or call 888-606-TOBA to register over the phone. Check out what attendees are saying about TOBA’s seminars and clinics!
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Thoroughbred Owner Conference
October 13-16 in Lexington, Ky.
Free iPad Mini deadline extended!
Register for the Thoroughbred Owner Conference by Monday, September 15 to receive a FREE iPad Mini when you arrive at the conference (conference space and iPad supply are limited).
Click here to register.
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FLAIR Strips make breathing easier, reduce EIPH lung-bleeding and fatigue during exercise, and quicken exercise recovery in the equine athlete. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
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News
TCA and Retired Racehorse Project Team up to Present a Thoroughbred Marketplace at Pimlico
TCA and Retired Racehorse Project (RRP) have teamed up to create the TCA Thoroughbred Marketplace on October 4 and 5 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. The event is built into the RRP’s second annual Thoroughbred Makeover, a national gathering of the farms, organizations and individuals who transition racehorses into second careers. The weekend includes educational seminars, demonstrations and the America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred Contest. Read more.
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Pedigree Binder
Equineline Pedigree Binder is a complimentary value added feature which provides a revolutionary new way to manage, store and view your equineline pedigrees online!
- Quickly and easily put equineline pedigrees (as well as race records and produce records) into your own personal online binders.
- View your binder as an electronic flipbook or as a pdf document
- Personalize your online binders with your own photos and binder covers
- Add a horse’s pedigree to multiple binders
- Share your binder via email, Facebook and Twitter
Learn more: equineline.com/PedigreeBinder and news release
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2014 Seminar & Clinic Schedule
Date |
Location |
Topic |
October 13-16 |
Lexington, Ky. Register at OwnerView.com |
OwnerView Thoroughbred Owner Conference |
October 18-19 |
Lexington, Ky. |
Pedigree & Conformation Clinic |
December 6 |
Hallandale Beach, Fla. |
Thoroughbred Ownership Seminar |
Click here for clinic details and agendas. Schedule is subject to change without notice.
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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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Thank you for your continued membership in TOBA. Your membership ensures the voices of owners and breeders are heard!
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