Clear your social calendar for October

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has announced the schedule for its annual Ocala Week. Activities begin with a presentation by The Jockey Club Information Systems delegation on Oct. 5 and conclude with the opening session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales fall mixed sale, which runs Oct. 9-13.

The Jockey Club seminar will be held at the Ocala Hilton Hotel. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch. Topics for the seminar include The Jockey Club's equineline.com reports and portfolio service, horse farm management, and The Jockey Club's interactive program.

Those wishing to attend this co-sponsored Florida breeders and Jockey Club seminar should contact Nancy Chaffey (352) 237-3585 no later than Oct. 2.

* The Florida breeders will sponsor its 16th annual Charity Golf Classic at the Golden Hill Golf and Turf Club on Oct 6. This event is usually a sell-out.

Registration, at $125 per player or $450 per foursome, is at 7 a.m. for the 8 a.m. shotgun start and 11 a.m. for the 1 p.m. shotgun start. The format is a four-man scramble, and if you want to play and do not have a team the Florida breeders will assist in team formation; the same holds true for two players who need two more golfers to make up a team. Entries will close on Sept 29. Those interested in participating should contact Renee Downs at (352) 629-2160.

* The Florida breeders' annual membership meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club. Following a continental breakfast, the board of directors for 2006-2007 will be introduced.

The Florida breeders' nominating committee selected five members of the group to fill the five open slots on the board; thus, there is no need for balloting. They are incumbents Charlotte C. Weber of Live Oak Stud and Mark Roberts of Adena Springs South, along with Jessica Steinbrenner of Kinsman Stud, Eddie Martin of Martin Stables Inc., and Mike Mulligan of Leprechaun Racing Managemen, Inc.

Don Dizney, the president of the Florida breeders, will give his report on the state of the industry in Florida and what he sees down the road, including, no doubt, the impact of slot machine revenues on purses and breeders' awards.

Two guest speakers are scheduled. Dr. Paul Romanelli will talk about the growing relationship between Florida-breds and Italian racing. Johnathan Miller, president of the National Thoroughbred Retirement Program, will discuss the programs relevant to his organization.

* On Oct. 8, beginning at 6 p.m., the Florida breeders will entertain its membership and invited guests with a cocktail party at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. This is a new site for the party. Its location is on the southwest side of U.S. Highway 27, across from the Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club.

Live Oak wins three more stakes

Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Stud - racing under the name of Live Oak Plantation - had another big stakes weekend. The familiar white and red polka dot silks were conspicuous at Monmouth Park with the success of the two millionaire half-brothers, Revved Up and Miesque's Approval.

Revved Up won the Bob Harding Stakes and a short while later Miesque's Approval won the Grade 3 Red Bank. Miesque's Approval's victory in the Red Bank came at the expense of the graded stakes winner Hotstufanthensome, a 6-year-old gelded son of Awesome Again who was also bred by Live Oak Stud.

Meanwhile in Canada, the Live Oak homebred Hide and Seek added another stakes victory to her portfolio. A 4-year-old daughter of Seeking the Gold, Hide and Seek won the Grade 3, $144,260 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine. Thirteen months earlier, she had finished second in the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga.