Ramseys honored by TOBA as leading breeders, owners of 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ken and Sarah Ramsey received the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s awards as national breeder and owner of the year for 2011 Friday night at the group’s annual awards dinner in Lexington.

The Ramseys ended 2011 as the second-ranked breeder by earnings, behind Frank Stronach’s vast Adena Springs operation. They bred the winners of 249 races for total earnings of more than $7.3 million. As owners, they also ranked second, behind Midwest Thoroughbreds, with 116 wins and more than $4.9 million in earnings. The Ramseys also received TOBA awards as the Midwestern region’s owner of the year and Kentucky’s breeder of the year.

The awards dinner also recognized Indiana’s partnership of Robert Gorham and Mast Thoroughbreds as small breeder of the year. Other award recipients included Repole Stable, Eastern region owner of the year; Team Valor, Southern region owner of the year; Arnold Zetcher, Western region owner of the year; and Gardiner farms, Canadian breeder of the year.

Among the equine honorees were My MeadowView farm’s Oatsee, Shackelford’s dam who was named Broodmare of the Year in April, and Nicole Oliynyk’s Sea Walker, recipient of the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year award.

Also honored were 23 state breeders of the year. The dinner took place at Keeneland.