Gary Barber, Peter Blum, Angie Moore honored by TOBA
Gary Barber, Peter Blum, Angie Moore, and the broodmare Drumette were among the primary honorees as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association hosted its national awards dinner at Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Ky., on Saturday night.
Barber was named TOBA's National Owner of the Year for 2020. The owner, in considering only his own statistics that do not factor in partnerships, tied with Godolphin in 2020 for the most graded stakes wins for an owner with eight, and also finished fourth by earnings. In partnership, he campaigned Eclipse Award winners Vequist and Channel Maker.
The other finalists for the honor were Godolphin; Klaravich Stables; the partnership of Spendthrift Farm, MyRacehorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing; and Three Diamonds Farm.
Blum, who bred 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Authentic, was honored as National Breeder of the Year, while Moore, who raised Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go, was named National Small Breeder of the Year.
Drumette, dam of two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl, was honored with the Broodmare of the Year title.
The TOBA awards also honored the achievements of Thoroughbred owners and breeders in 18 states and Canada. State breeders of the year were Bill and Mary McDowell (Arkansas), George Krikorian (California), Charlotte Weber (Florida), Greg Baer DVM and Deann Baer (Indiana), Allen Poindexter (Iowa), Godolphin (Kentucky), Tri-Star Racing LLC (Louisiana), Angie Moore (Maryland), Lorie Michaels (Minnesota), John Bowers Jr. (New Jersey), R.D. Hubbard (New Mexico), Twin Creeks Farm (New York), Janet and Patrick Cosgrove (Oregon), Blackstone Farm (Pennsylvania), Franklin Smith Sr. (South Carolina), James Wessel (Texas), Lazy Lane Farm (Virginia), and Darrin L. Paul (Washington). Ivan Dalos and Lawrence P. Cordes were the Canadian honorees.
Frost or Frippery, who won the 2020 Claiming Crown Rapid Transit Stakes, was named the National HBPA Claiming Crown Horse of the Year.
Samantha Siegel was honored with the Industry Service Award, presented to a person or entity who has made exceptional contributions to the industry.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners received the Cot Campbell Racing Partnership of the Year award.
The Rood and Riddle Sport Horse of the Year, presented to an ex-racehorse who has excelled in United States Equestrian Federation competition, went to Kaytee Mountain, owned by Sue Gallagher.
In addition, John and Leslie Malone received the Robert N. Clay Award. In partnership with the Equine Land Conservation Resource, this award recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use.