The 2023 National Award winners–humans and horses–which will be honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) were announced by that organization Tuesday afternoon. TOBA, which will hold the awards for the 39th year, will host the National Awards Luncheon to honor the winning breeders Friday, Sept. 6 at the Thoroughbred Club of America and the National Awards Dinner Saturday, Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton. Tickets are available for both events with registration due by Aug. 22. Click here for more information.
“TOBA is honored to recognize the outstanding achievements of the state breeders, three remarkable horses, and two individuals who have given unselfishly back to our sport,” said TOBA President Dan Metzger. “We look forward to a special weekend of celebrating the very best of Thoroughbred racing.”
Three horses will be honored: Dance Card (by Tapit, dam of 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish {Curlin}) as National Broodmare of the Year, Time for Trouble (English Channel) as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, and A Lil Evil (Hear No Evil) as the Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year.
The Robert N. Clay Conservation Award, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use, will go to Peter Giangiulio, while Frank Taylor will be honored with the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service for his work in founding Stable Recovery.
In addition, a number of U.S. state and Canadian breeders will be recognized:
- Arizona Breeder of the Year – Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC (Marvin and Gerald Fleming)
- Arkansas Breeder of the Year – McDowell Farms (Bill McDowell)
- California Breeder of the Year – Richard Barton Enterprises (Richard Barton)
- Canada Breeder of the Year – Adena Springs (Frank and Elfriede Stronach)
- Canada Small Breeder of the Year – Sean Fitzhenry
- Florida Breeder of the Year – Stonehedge, LLC (Marilyn Campbell)
- Indiana Breeder of the Year – Justice Farms, Inc. (Greg Justice)
- Iowa Breeder of the Year – Poindexter Thoroughbreds, LLC (Allen Poindexter)
- Kentucky Breeder of the Year – Godolphin
- Louisiana Breeder of the Year – Thomas M. Galvin
- Maryland Breeder of the Year – Dance Forth Farm (Tom and Chris Bowman)
- New Jersey Breeder of the Year – Bright View Farm (Christine Connelly) and Greg Kilka
- New Mexico Breeder of the Year – Fred A. Alexander
- New York Breeder of the Year – Barry K. Schwartz
- North Carolina Breeder of the Year – Art Bauer
- Oregon Breeder of the Year – Connie Erickson
- Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year – Forgotten Land Investments Inc. and Black Diamond Equine (Christian Black)
- South Carolina Breeder of the Year – Franklin G. Smith Sr.
- Texas Breeder of the Year – Carolyn R. Barnett
- Virginia Breeder of the Year – Ann Mudge Backer
- Washington Breeder of the Year – Sheridan Jones and Ken W. Miles
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