Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Announces Location for 2026 National Awards

Contact: Lauren Biddle
Director of Marketing and Education
lauren@toba.org

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) today announced that the 2026 TOBA National Awards will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at The Kentucky Castle in Versailles, Ky.

The TOBA National Awards Dinner is the organization’s premier annual event, recognizing excellence and achievement among Thoroughbred owners and breeders from across the United States and Canada. The celebration honors leaders and standouts in the sport, including recipients and finalists for National Owner of the Year, National Breeder of the Year, National Small Breeder of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, and several distinguished industry, sport horse, and service awards.

Located in the heart of Kentucky horse country, The Kentucky Castle offers a distinctive and fitting setting for the national celebration of the Thoroughbred industry. One of Central Kentucky’s most iconic landmarks, the castle blends historic architecture with modern luxury, providing an elegant backdrop just minutes from Lexington. Set along scenic Pisgah Pike, the venue reflects th

e heritage, beauty, and tradition that define the Bluegrass region and the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

“The Kentucky Castle provides a truly special atmosphere for honoring the owners and breeders who make our sport possible,” said Lauren Biddle, Director of Marketing and Education for TOBA,  “We look forward to welcoming guests from across the country to a venue that captures the spirit of Kentucky and the excellence celebrated at the TOBA National Awards.”

Additional details regarding ticket sales, award finalists, sponsorship opportunities, and event programming will be announced at a later date.

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.