Godolphin wins TOBA national owner, breeder of the year

Godolphin again swept a series of honors as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association recognized breeders around the country and other various industry participants at its national awards dinner Sept. 7 at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Ky.

Godolphin was named the winner of the 2023 national owner of the year and breeder of the year awards. This is the third consecutive year Godolphin has swept both awards from TOBA, to go along with sweeping the Eclipse Awards for owner and breeder, respectively, in each of the last three years.

Additionally, the operation’s Dance Card was named TOBA’s national broodmare of the year, to go along with her title as Kentucky’s broodmare of the year, considered the highest honor for a mare in this jurisdiction. Dance Card is the dam of Godolphin’s 2023 homebred Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish.

The other national owner of the year finalists, also recognized Saturday evening, were Juddmonte, Klaravich Stables, George Krikorian, and Zedan Racing Stables. The other breeder of the year finalists were Juddmonte and Stonestreet.

Elizabeth Merryman was named the winner of TOBA’s 2023 national small breeder of the year award. Other finalists were Joe Fafone and Amy Moore.

Other honorees Saturday evening were Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables with the Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year Award; Frank Taylor with the Dr. J. David Richardson TOBA Industry Service Award; Time for Trouble as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year; A Lil Evil as the Rood and Riddle Sport Horse of the Year; and Peter Giangiulio, Stephanie Giangiulio, and Barbara Geraghty of Castle Rock Farm with the Robert N. Clay Award.

At a national awards luncheon preceding these honors, on Friday, Sept. 6 at the Thoroughbred Club of America in Lexington, TOBA honored its state and Canadian breeders of the year for 2023. The honorees were Fleming Thoroughbred Farm (Arizona), McDowell Farms (Arkansas), Richard Barton Enterprises (California), Adena Springs (Canada), Sean Fitzhenry (Canadian small breeder), Stonehedge (Florida), Justice Farms (Indiana), Poindexter Thoroughbreds (Iowa), Godolphin (Kentucky), Thomas M. Galvin (Louisiana), Dance Forth Farm (Maryland), Bright View Farm and Greg Kilka (New Jersey), Fred A. Alexander (New Mexico), Barry K. Schwartz (New York), Art Bauer (North Carolina), Connie Erickson (Oregon), Forgotten Land Investments, Inc. and Black Diamond Equine (Pennsylvania), Franklin G. Smith Sr. (South Carolina), Carolyn R. Barnett (Texas), Ann Mudge Backer (Virginia), and Sheridan Jones and Ken W. Miles (Washington).

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