Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club

Spendthrift Farm's Ned Toffey has been named the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC) 2024 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year. Toffey has been at Spendthrift since 2004, when he worked with the late B. Wayne Hughes to rebuild the historic farm to a leading modern-day institution in the sport. KTFMC will host its annual Dinner Dance to honor Toffey at the Carrick House in Lexington on Friday, Dec. 6. A silent auction will be held with all proceeds benefitting a charity of Toffey's choosing. "Ned's management of Spendthrift,...

Needless to say, all four tried to reject their billing. Between them, after all, they have spent the better part of three centuries dealing with that vehicle of humility, the Thoroughbred. To everyone else present, however, the opportunity to tap into the experience of four such sages as Bill Landes, Frank Penn, Tom Thornbury and John Williams fully justified the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club in promoting their latest meeting in Lexington as "An Evening with Legends." Each, moreover, could be consoled that one of the first tasks addressed--an acknowledgement...

Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Farm has been selected as the 2023 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year, The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC) announced on Tuesday. His father, Joe Taylor, was honored with the award in 1976. Taylor has served in many roles at Taylor Made Farm, including General Farm Manager, Vice President of Boarding, and Vice President of Sales. He became a partner in the organization in 1982. "I am so grateful that the KTFMC has honored my father with such a prestigious award," Katie Taylor...

Attendees of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC)'s monthly meeting, held Tuesday evening at Limestone Hall, were treated to "A Discussion with North America's Leading Trainers," featuring a panel that included Brad Cox, Bill Mott, Todd Pletcher and Brendan Walsh. FanDuel/TVG host and reporter Scott Hazelton moderated the discussion, as the trainers, who all have GI Kentucky Derby and/or GI Kentucky Oaks contenders in their stables, shared stories about their beginnings and how it all led to where they are today. "I was born in South Dakota and when...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC) has chosen Shawhan Place's Matthew Koch as the 2022 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year. The honor is given annually to a farm manager "who has demonstrated quality and success in their management role; service to the community; involvement in the KTFMC; and industry leadership and dedication." "I am thrilled to hear Matthew has won this prestigious award," said Teddy Kuster, co-owner of Shawhan Place and the 1986 KTFMC Farm Manager of the Year. "The club has meant a lot to Matt's...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers' Club (KTFMC) has announced Lane's End Farm's Mike Cline will be honored as the 2020 Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year. Cline has been part of Lane's End since 1979, when Will Farish hired him to manage the then-new farm in Woodford County near Versailles. Cline grew up in Versailles as the son of a farm manager and attended the University of Kentucky. He worked on the racetrack with Hall of Fame trainer Mack Miller, then returned to the Versailles area to manage Big...