Godolphin Named National Owner, Breeder of the Year For 2021

Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin was named 2021 National Owner of the Year, presented by 1/ST, and also Breeder of the Year during the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA)'s National Awards Dinner held Sept. 10 at Keeneland. The event was emcee'd by TVG's Gabby Gaudet.

Horses carrying the Godolphin blue won 84 races from 479 starts in America in 2021, for a strike rate of 18% and purse money of better than $17 million, led by champion Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf. Godolphin also won the GI Breeders' Cup Mile with Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). 'TDN Rising Star' and multiple Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality (Tapit) won the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S., while the operation's other U.S. Grade I winners included Maxfield (Street Sense) and Althiqa (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

National Owner of the Year finalists also included Klaravich Stables, Juddmonte, Hronis Racing and CHC Inc./WinStar Farm. National Breeder of the Year finalists includes Stonestreet, and Fred W. Hertrich III and John D. Fielding. Angie and Sabrina Moore were announced as National Small Breeder of the Year. National Small Breeder of the Year finalists that were also honored were Gail Rice and J&J Stables.

The2021 State and Canadian Breeders of the Year, sponsored by Coolmore, included:

• Arkansas Breeder of the Year–McDowell Farms (Bill and Mary McDowell)
• California Breeder of the Year–Lovacres Ranch (Terry Lovingier)
• Canada Breeder of the Year–Sam-Son Farm
• Canada Small Breeder of the Year–Terrance Greer and Brandon Greer
• Florida Breeder of the Year–Live Oak Stud (Charlotte C. Weber)
• Iowa Breeder of the Year–Allen Poindexter
• Kentucky Breeder of the Year–Godolphin
• Louisiana Breeder of the Year–P. Dale Ladner & Brett Brinkman
• Maryland Breeder of the Year–Robert Manfuso and Katharine Voss
• Minnesota Breeder of the Year–Lothenbach Stables
• New Jersey Breeder of the Year–Law Legacy Stables (Joel Weiner)
• New Mexico Breeder of the Year–Crystal Springs (Estate of R.D. Hubbard)
• New York Breeder of the Year–Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman
• North Carolina Breeder of the Year–Elizabeth Muirhead
• Oregon Breeder of the Year–Nirvana Farm (Andria Mengucci)
• Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year–Joe-Dan Farm and George Chestnut
• South Carolina Breeder of the Year–Franklin Smith Sr.
• Texas Breeder of the Year–Lisa Kuhlmann
• Virginia Breeder of the Year–Morgan's Ford Farm (Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor)
• Washington Breeder of the Year–Rainbow Meadows Farm (Petra Lewin)

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the TOBA national and state awards,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “Keeneland provided a magnificent setting to celebrate the outstanding achievements of 2021 and we were honored to recognize all of tonight's winners, including the amazing success of Godolphin as both National Owner and Breeder of the Year.”