Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association

A total of 90 horses spread over eight races were entered Saturday for next Saturday's 25th Claiming Crown, to be held for the first time since 2011 at New Orleans' Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Trainer Mike Maker--whose all-time record 21 Claiming Crown victories include two last year at Churchill Downs--and Robertino Diodoro lead the way with seven entries apiece. For Maker, that includes four in the 12-horse $150,000 Claiming Crown Emerald at 1 1/16 miles on turf, headed by GI United Nations winner Therapist (Freud). Diodoro's trio in...

Funeral services were held Saturday for Peter Sherman Willmott, an owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds who served for nearly two decades as a trustee and chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and as a steward of The Jockey Club. Willmott was 86 and died at his home in Williamstown, Massachusetts, Nov. 11 while surrounded by family, according to his obituary in the Chicago Sun-Times. Among the top horses that Willmott raced either in his own name, in partnerships, or as Willmott Stables, were Eddington, the winner of...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting a claiming seminar Saturday, Dec. 2 at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana, the organization said in a release Thursday. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of claiming Thoroughbreds from industry professionals like Jason M. Boulet, Senior Director of Racing at Fair Grounds to trainer Bret Calhoun. The clinic is open to the general public, with a special discount for TOBA members. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Nov. 28. Click here for more information.

West Point's Terry Finley, leading trainer Kenny McPeek and others have been announced as speakers for the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's Pedigree & Conformation Clinic on Monday, Oct. 23 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. The day-long clinic will take place on the first day of Fasig Tipton's Kentucky October Yearling sale. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of Thoroughbred auctions, bloodstock, pedigree, and conformation analysis, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoy a day at the sales. The topics and speakers at the clinic include: •...

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...

West Point Thoroughbreds President and Chief Executive Terry Finley has been elected to the board of stewards of The Jockey Club, it was announced Monday. He fills the expired position of Vinnie Viola. Ian D. Highet, a steward of The Jockey Club, was reelected to the board. Finley, who has been a member of The Jockey Club since 2019, at the helm of West Point campaigned either solely or in partnership Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit), GI Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (Bodemeister), and a number of other Grade...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association is hosting an Owner Clinic on Friday, July 28 in Del Mar, California. Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of Thoroughbred ownership, partnerships, legal aspects, racing office policy & procedures, veterinary perspectives, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoy a day at the races, compliments of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. The topics and speakers at the clinic include: • Overview of the California Thoroughbred Industry, presented by Bill Nader (Thoroughbred Owners of California, President & CEO) • Horse Owner or...

The 38th annual TOBA National Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association said in a release Friday. The evening honors owners and breeders from 22 states and Canada. Also recognized are the National Owner of the Year, National Owner Finalists, National Breeder of the Year, National Breeder of the Year Finalists, Small Breeder of the Year, Broodmare of the Year, Cot Campbell Racing Partnership of the Year, Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award, Rood & Riddle...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, which founded and manages the American Graded Stakes Committee, will accept the testing protocols and criteria administered by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit for graded and listed stakes races conducted in jurisdictions governed by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. HIWU will assign TCO2 and Post-Race testing for these races at quantities and rates specific to each race. Racetracks will not be at risk of losing graded or listed status for their races if the HIWU testing protocols for these races differ from...

Samantha Smith has been named the new director of marketing and communications for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, effective Monday. A graduate of the University of Kentucky's animal science program, Smith has marketing and communications experience with a variety of equine associations, including TOBA, The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, and the Horse Racing Women's Summit. Smith will be responsible for leading and overseeing all marketing initiatives at the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She will work closely with the executive team, the communications committee, and TAA's accredited organizations to develop and implement...

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.

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) has scheduled educational seminars for 2023. Specific topics, speakers, and sponsors for each seminar will be announced closer to the events with each seminar covering topics pertaining to both Thoroughbred owners and breeders. The 2023 schedule includes: Mar. 19-20 - Ocala, Florida June 23-24 - Toronto, Canada July 27-28 - Del Mar, California Aug. 10-11 - Saratoga Springs, New York* Oct. 23 - Lexington, Kentucky *Tentative dates for Saratoga; all others confirmed. "We are excited to announce some great venues for the 2023...