TOBA honors Klarman, Gunther

Seth Klarman of Klaravich Stables was named the National Owner of the Year and John D. Gunther of Glennwood Farm was named the National Breeder of the Year as the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association honored industry participants at its annual awards dinner over the weekend in Lexington, Ky.

Gunther’s Glennwood Farm, which bred and sold 2018 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify, continued to pick up hardware after also earning the 2018 Eclipse Award as outstanding breeder. Glennwood broodmare Stage Magic, the dam of Justify, was honored with TOBA’s National Broodmare of the Year title after also earning the prestigious Kentucky Broodmare of the Year award. Meanwhile, WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, and Starlight Racing, which campaigned Justify, received the inaugural Partnership of the Year award.

:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales

Thomas and Lori Fackler of Best A Luck Farm LLC, which bred Eclipse Award champion Shamrock Rose, was named National Small Breeder of the Year.

The finalists for Owner of the Year, coming from major North American racing jurisdictions, were Klaravich, reigning Eclipse Award winner Hronis Racing, Juddmonte Farms, Rockingham Ranch, and Peter M. Brant. TOBA also recognized breeders of the year from 22 states and Canada at an awards luncheon.

In other awards, Aztec Sense, who won the 2018 Claiming Crown Jewel, was honored with Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA; and James E. “Ted” Bassett was honored with the Industry Service Award, given to a person or entity who has made exceptional contributions to the industry. Rood and Riddle Sport Horse of the Year went to Archie Rocks, owned by Maya Simmons. This award was presented to the owner of the ex-racehorse that has accumulated the most points in competition, as tracked by the U.S. Equestrian Federation. Wayne and Susie Chatfield-Taylor 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.