David O'Farrell

David O'Farrell, General Manager of Ocala Stud, has been appointed to Keeneland's Advisory Board of Directors, according to a release Thursday. "David brings a wealth of expertise and a deep-rooted commitment to the Thoroughbred industry," Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin said. "His leadership at Ocala Stud, coupled with his involvement in numerous industry organizations, makes him a valuable addition to the board and to Keeneland's continued success. We are grateful for David's service in advancing the sport we all love." O'Farrell, who serves as General Manager of his family's...

The Jockey Club has elected new stewards and members to its rolls, the organization said in a release on Thursday morning. The new stewards are Gary Fenton, David O'Farrell, Everrett R. Dobson and Vincent Viola. William S. Farish Jr. (vice chair) was re-elected. The remaining stewards are Stuart S. Janney III (chair), Ian D. Highet (treasurer), William M. Lear (secretary), Barbara Banke, Louis A. Cella, Terry Finley and R. Alex Rankin. The new members who were added include, Joseph Appelbaum, John Ballantyne Ph.D., Rick Gold, Marshall Gramm Ph.D., M.V. Magnier,...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association elected David O'Farrell as chairman and new Board of Trustees members who will be serving three-year terms are Jake Ballis, Ben Bernhard, Tina Marie Bond and Brook Smith, the organization said in a release Wednesday. Also, re-elected to three-year terms were current trustees Carrie Brogden and Tim Cohen. Following its annual members meeting, the TOBA Board of Trustees met to elect officers for the association.  Officers named for 2024-2025 are: O'Farrell, chairman, Everett Dobson, vice-chairman, Dan Metzger, president; Doug Cauthen, secretary; and Garrett O'Rourke,...

Nineteen individuals have been elected Breeders' Cup Members by 2023 Breeders' Cup foal and stallion nominators in voting that concluded Monday evening. Each Member will serve a four-year term. The following individuals, listed alphabetically, received the most votes from the Breeders' Cup nominators to fill 19 Member seats: Conrad Bandoroff, Maria Niarchos-Gouaze, Barbara Banke, David O'Farrell, Boyd Browning, Bernie Sams, Doug Cauthen, Alex Solis II, Matt Dorman, Edward (Ned) Toffey, Craig Fravel, Elliott Walden, Eric Gustavson, Barry Weisbord, Bret Jones, Aron Wellman, Gray Lyster, Jacob West, and Clem Murphy. The...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - With a $1-million Authentic colt early in the session and a $1.8-million Win Win Win filly late in the day, the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds matched its 2023 number of five seven-figure juveniles and the auction concluded its three-day run Thursday with another strong renewal. "Overall, it was a terrific sale and we are looking forward to April," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. Through three sessions, 446 horses sold for $66,437,600. The average of $148,963...

The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, the first of the spring's juvenile auctions, kicks off Tuesday with bidding on the first of 853 catalogued lots beginning at 11 a.m. The OBS March sale, which transitioned from a select to an open sale in 2015, was held over three days for the first time since 2014 in 2023 and again returns in that expanded format in 2024 after a power-packed renewal a year ago. "I was really impressed by the number of people who were here watching...

An Ocala Stud-bred and -consigned filly from the first crop of GI Forego S. winner Win Win Win (Hat Trick {Jpn}) equaled the record time for a quarter-mile breeze over the SafeTrack surface at the OBS sales grounds, covering the distance in :20 1/5 during the fourth and final preview for next week's OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds In Training. "It wasn't a real surprise," said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. "She prepped very well last week, did it very easily and she's just a really, really good filly. She's got...

Ocala Stud celebrated a significant achievement when Fierceness (City of Light) became the second GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner in a row to graduate from their breaking and training program, following hot on the heels of fellow Repole Stable standout Forte (Violence) in 2022. Newly crowned as champion 2-year-old male, Fierceness makes his much-anticipated sophomore debut on Saturday in the GIII Holy Bull S., but he won't be the only starter representing Ocala Stud. Hades (Awesome Slew), who is two for two for trainer Joe Orseno, was bred and raised...

David O'Farrell has been elected as chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Board of Trustees. Also joining O'Farrell on the Board of Trustees to serve three-year terms as new members are Joe Appelbaum, Michael Banahan, Everett Dobson, Mandy Pope and R. Glenn Sikura. Re-elected to three-year terms were current trustees Shannon Arvin, Jeffrey Bloom, Marette Farrell, Brant Laue, Garrett O'Rourke, and Stephen Screnci. "It's an honor and a privilege to lead an organization that deeply cares about the economics and integrity of horse racing on behalf of owners...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - TDN Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of leading GI Kentucky Derby contenders to get their 'Early Impressions.' Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's champion 2-year-old colt and 'TDN Rising Star' Forte (Violence) will look to join Street Sense and Nyquist as GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winners to capture the roses the following spring. The dark bay heads to the Kentucky Derby as the one to beat following impressive victories in this term's GII Fountain of Youth S. and GI Curlin Florida Derby...

During the TDN's visit to Ocala last spring to scope out which first-crop sires were earning favor with the 2-year-old consignors, the response was fairly conclusive. Bolt d'Oro was a common prediction for leading freshman sire, and the consignors who believed in him before his first juveniles reached the starting gate certainly hit the nail on the head. Interestingly, of the seven Bolt d'Oro progeny that were featured in our 'Thoughts from Ocala' video series (see here and here), five of those went on to break their maiden on debut....

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a Pedigree & Conformation Clinic Sunday and Monday, Mar. 19-20 in Ocala. The clinic will be held at the Ocala Breeders' Sales and Ocala Stud and will be held in conjunction with the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Speakers at the clinic include: Tammy Gantt and George Isaacs; Dr. Johnny Mac Smith, DVM; Marette Farrell (bloodstock agent); Tod Wojciechowski, director of sales for Ocala Breeders' Sales Company; David O'Farrell from Ocala Stud. To register, visit toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics.