KTA

Bill Robbins, who served as a bid spotter at Fasig-Tipton for 50 years among other industry roles, passed away peacefully at his home in Lexington on Monday, June 17. He was 88 years old. Robbins was born in Maysville, Kentucky on Tuesday, August 13, 1935. His family moved to Lexington in 1936 where he called home for the next 87 years. He went to Ashland Elementary School, Morton Middle School, Henry Clay High School and graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Kentucky in 1956. Upon his graduation,...

Tickets are still available for the annual Kentucky Thoroughbred Association's Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner, a popular event featuring all of the Kentucky Derby trainers in an atmosphere of a good-natured roast. The event is scheduled to be held Tuesday, April 30 at the First Turn Club at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Cocktails begin at 5 p.m. with the dinner slated for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available by clicking here. "Our sponsors, directors and Churchill Downs are working to make something special befitting the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby...

Michael Blowen had no money, no farm, no horses and no backers. But he did have an idea. He wanted to open a farm that would be a sanctuary for some of the sport's biggest names who were either gelded or no longer being used as sires or broodmares. Somehow moving mountains, he pulled it off and his Old Friends Farm became home to hundreds of Thoroughbreds and a popular tourist attraction. But now he has decided to retire, 20 years after he opened Old Friends, and turn the reins...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) awards dinner Apr. 5 in Lexington named Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), dam of Grade I winner Malathaat (Curlin) and Grade II winner Julia Shining (Curlin), the 2022 Broodmare of the Year. Summer Wind Equine was awarded a bronze mare and foal as the breeder of Flightline (Tapit), who was crowned Champion Kentucky-Bred Horse of the Year and Champion Kentucky-Bred Older Dirt Male. Godolphin received multiple bronzes as the recipient of the P.A.B. Widener Trophy, best known...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association's annual Kentucky Derby Trainers' Dinner, always a popular event in the lead-up to the GI Kentucky Derby, has been set for Tuesday, May 3 at The Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Ky. Cocktails will start at 6 p.m. with dinner service beginning at 6:45 p.m. Attendees will enjoy an evening of cocktails and dinner, as well as reviews of important Kentucky prep races and will include interviews with the trainers of this year's Kentucky Derby contenders. Net proceeds of the event go to support backside charities...

A special legislative committee charged with studying the taxes and rates paid by Kentucky racetracks, including the tax rates on profits from Historical Horse Racing (HHR) machines, seems set on recommending the status quo rather than a tax increase. That's good news for the state's racing and breeding industries, which have flourished since HHR machines were introduced in the state some ten years ago. The Pari-Mutuel Wagering Taxation Task Force met Monday and the meeting turned into something of a cheerleading session for the sport, its economic impact and the...

The Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders (KTOB) elected officers and members of the Board of Directors. The officers of KTA/KTOB serve two-year terms and are voted on by members of the KTA/KTOB Board of Directors. Members of the KTA/KTOB Board of Directors serve three-year terms and are elected by the full membership of the organization. Elected KTA/KTOB Officers for 2021: President, KTA/KTOB: Joseph Seitz, Director of Sales, Brookdale Farm Vice-President, KTA: Walker Hancock, President, Claiborne Farm. Vice-President, KTOB: Natanya Nieman, D.V.M., Resident Veterinarian, WinStar Farm...

(Editor's note: the following is a response to the letter to the editor sent to the TDN by Jason Litt) The KTA is run by a volunteer board of industry professionals. To become a director of the KTA you have to be chosen by your peers and voted in by the likes of those same peers. Obviously Jason Litt did just that, and we are all thankful for his time served on the KTA Board of Directors. Jason's 'why' has never been in question. He is a tremendous judge of...

It's no secret the horse industry is struggling. But like any good optimist, I'm always open to new ideas. I recently read Simon Sinek's book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. The oversimplified concept of the book is how understanding your 'why' can contribute to your success. This is my 'why' I chose a career in horse racing. I love horses. From the unbelievable softness of a newborn foal to the rippling musculature of a stallion, they are majestic. As an agent, breeder and owner,...

With an eye on bolstering the available pool of labor, several Kentucky horse farms, along with other industry organizations, have come together and donated $322,000 to the Fayette County Public Schools, which will be creating an all-encompassing equine training program for middle school students and high school students attending the Locust Trace AgriScience Center in Lexington. While Fayette County might seem like a natural breeding ground for future farm employees that wasn't necessarily the case, said Chauncey Morris, the executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, which spearheaded the effort...

Breeders' Cup in conjunction with The Jockey Club announced Thursday a new national advertising campaign called 'Still. Running. Strong.' to promote Thoroughbred racing as spectator-free racing resumes in various markets around the country during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. KTA and TOBA issued the following joint statement late Thursday evening. "KTA and TOBA have made contributions to support to a newly created national advertising campaign titled "Still. Running. Strong." The campaign was announced [Thursday] by The Jockey Club and Breeders' Cup Limited. As representatives of Thoroughbred owners and breeders...

Breeders' Cup in conjunction with The Jockey Club are launching a new national advertising campaign called 'Still. Running. Strong." to promote Thoroughbred racing as spectator-free racing resumes in various markets around the country during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic. "As more of our major venues get back to live racing and with people at home seeking diversion and entertainment, we wanted to be proactive about promoting the sport to a broader audience," said Drew Fleming, President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup. "Horse racing has a unique opportunity to...