TOBA names finalists for owner of year
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has named eFive Racing, Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms, Rockingham Ranch, and the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm as the finalists for the TOBA National Owner of the Year.
The award, along with National Small Breeder of the Year and state breeder awards, will be presented at TOBA's annual awards dinner, Sept. 8 at the Woodford Reserve Club at Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.
The state breeder of the year honorees are:
Arkansas: Bill McDowell
California: Richard Barton
Canada: K5 Stables
Florida: Charlotte Weber/Live Oak Stud
Illinois: Nancy Vanier
Indiana: Michael E. and Penny S. Lauer
Iowa: Allen Poindexter
Kansas: Lance and Valerie Gabriel
Kentucky: Charles Fipke
Louisiana: Bertram and Richard Klein
Maryland: Howard M. Bender
Massachusetts: Joseph DiRico
Michigan: Lisa Campbell
Minnesota: Curtis Sampson
New Jersey: Isabelle Haskell de Tomaso
New York: Chester and Mary Broman
North Carolina: Nancy Shuford
Ohio: Robin Murphy
Oregon: James and Carol Owens
Pennsylvania: Elizabeth Moran
South Carolina: Franklin Smith Sr.
Texas: Craig Upham
Virginia: Mr. and Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin
Washington: Tim Floyd
Other TOBA national award winners include Win Approval, named the National Broodmare of the Year, and Mended, who will be honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA.
The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year will go to Arglye, owned by Skyeler Voss. Owner-breeder George Strawbridge will receive the Robert N. Clay Award, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use.
“On behalf of our board of trustees and our members, we congratulate all of the winners of the national and state awards,” Dan Metzger, president of TOBA, said in a release. “They represent excellence in Thoroughbred racing and breeding on both the national level, as well as regionally and TOBA is honored to share their successes with them.”