FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, August 21, 2017

Contact: Meredith Downey
Director of Marketing & Education
(859) 276-6793
mdowney@toba.org

Jill Byrne to Emcee TOBA National Awards Dinner

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced today that Jill Byrne will emcee the 32nd annual TOBA National Awards Dinner on September 9 at Calumet Farm in Lexington, Ky.

Byrne was recently named senior director of industry relations at Breeders’ Cup Limited. Previously, she was the director of broadcast and programming at Churchill Downs for the past nine years where she spent time between production and on air as the senior racing analyst and host of the “Churchill Downs Today” show.

“It’s an honor to host the TOBA awards dinner and to recognize those for their outstanding accomplishments, continued support and passion for Thoroughbred racing and breeding. To have this event take place this year at beautiful Calumet Farm, with all its history and prestige, is a testament to the honorees, patrons and all members of the Thoroughbred industry,” said Byrne.

The TOBA National Awards Dinner is sponsored by Calumet Farm, Stoll Keenon Ogden, The Stronach Group and Adena Springs, H.E. “Tex” Sutton Forwarding Company, Jackson Family Wines (Official Wine Sponsor of the 2017 TOBA National Awards Dinner), Tito’s Handmade Vodka, West 6th Brewing (Official Beer Sponsor of the 2017 TOBA National Awards Dinner), National HBPA, FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips, NTRA Advantage and John Deere, The Horse and Blood-Horse.

Tickets for the National Awards Dinner may be purchased at www.toba.org.

About TOBA
TOBA, based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred breeders and owners. 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, TOBA Owners Concierge, 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 Breeders Federation. Thoroughbred Charities of America (TCA) is the charitable arm of TOBA. TOBA Media Properties, a subsidiary of TOBA, owns The Horse magazine, Eclipse Press and is co-owner of The Blood-Horse 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.