Bronwyn Watts to Receive 2025 Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award
Contact:
Lauren Biddle
Director of Marketing and Education
lauren@toba.org
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 13, 2026) — The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) announced today that Bronwyn Watts, founder of ColdSpring Mares Inc. has been named the recipient of the prestigious Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award. Watts will be honored by TOBA at the 2026 TOBA National Awards on September 10 at The Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Ky.
The Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award recognizes individuals whose dedication, leadership, and service have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the Thoroughbred industry. Watts is being recognized for her pioneering work in equine welfare and her unwavering commitment to both orphan foals and the nurse mares that help save their lives.
“This award is an incredible honor, but it truly belongs to every one of our nurse mares that quietly stepped up to save an orphan foal, and to every person who believed those mares deserved to be protected too,” said Watts, “I’ve always believed the true heroes are the mares. If this recognition helps shine a brighter light on their quiet sacrifice and inspires others to see that compassion, horsemanship, and excellence can and should go hand-in-hand, then it means more to me than I can put into words.”
As the founder of ColdSpring Mares Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Watts established a program dedicated to providing experienced nurse mares to orphan foals in emergency situations. Under her leadership, the organization has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted and respected nurse mare programs, delivering 24-hour emergency support to breeders and veterinarians when the loss of a broodmare threatens the survival of a foal.
Since its inception, ColdSpring Mares has successfully matched nearly 500 orphan foals with nurse mares, helping save countless equine lives while setting a new standard for care and accountability within the industry. Nurse mares are carefully selected for their maternal instincts, receive exceptional care throughout their service, and are guaranteed lifelong care and retirement after their time in the program.
Her work has earned widespread respect throughout the Thoroughbred community, where she is recognized for her professionalism, integrity, and dedication to doing what is right for both mares and foals. In addition to providing critical emergency services, Watts has become a resource for veterinarians, breeders, and equine professionals across the country and around the world who seek to learn from the innovative practices and welfare-centered principles that guide the ColdSpring Mares program.
Through vision, compassion, and leadership, Watts has created a lasting legacy that benefits horses, breeders, and the broader Thoroughbred community. Her work embodies the spirit of the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award and reflects a profound commitment to service within the industry.
Recent winners of the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award include Alan Foreman for his legal work in protecting the horse industry, Frank Taylor for his work with Stable Recovery and Michael Blowen of Old Friends.
The Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award was previously called the TOBA Industry Service Award. The award was renamed in 2023 in honor of the late Dr. J. David Richardson, a breeder/owner for more than a half century, who served on numerous industry boards, including as chairman of TOBA and the American Graded Stakes Committee.
Tickets to the 2026 TOBA National Awards are now available and can be purchased at https://toba.org/awards-2026/.
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA’s mission is to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, Claiming Crown, Ownership Seminars, Breeding, Conformation & Pedigree Clinics, US-Bred, OwnerView and the Sales Integrity Program. TOBA provides international representation for U.S. owners and breeders on the International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee, International Cataloguing Standards Committee and International Thoroughbred Breeders Federation. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is the charitable arm of TOBA. TOBA Media Properties, a subsidiary of TOBA, is the co-owner of BloodHorse LLC. TOBA is represented on the board of directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium as founding members.