The Mill Ridge family and friends celebrate the life of Audrey (Tolie) Otto, who passed away April 18, 2023 after a lengthy illness.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, she moved to Lexington, Ky., in the late 1980s, as it is the center of the Thoroughbred industry. As a commercial breeder, she registered under JAMM Ltd., which stood for her four children, John, Audie, Michael and Matthew.
Headley Bell, managing partner of Mill Ridge shared, “Tolie, Mom (Alice Chandler), and Dr. Chandler were dear friends, and shared a love of the horse, animal, and the Mill Ridge family and its employees. She was exemplary in gifting a bonus to all the employees twice a year, after sales, and at Christmas for over thirty years.
“As a commercial breeder, she had intuition and good fortune as an initial purchase with partner Shirley Taylor, in the mare Existentialist, for $100,000, yielded over $4 million in sales, and helped establish the Keeneland September Sale as the premier sale when selling a Gone West colt for a record price of $1.4 million in 1996. She also reached the pinnacle of racing as a partner in Keeper Hill, who won the 1998 Kentucky Oaks, and earned over $1.6 million.
“Another highlight was, as partner with Mill Ridge in the mare Hamba, who would produce the 2008 (Grade 1) Toyota Blue Grass winner Monba. On her own as a breeder she also had terrific results with the purchase of Ruby Ransom, who produced Strut The Stage, multiple Grade 2 winner of over $1.5 million.
In 2007 she purchased Shop Again, who has become one of her foundation mares, producing Grade 1 winner Power Broker. Most recently, her purchase in 2012, of Justaroundmidnight who produced Grade 1 winner Duopoly.
“Remarkably, Tolie rarely owned more than six mares on her own, and had tremendous results with her commercial breeding program. Her daughter, Audie has been involved with her since early 2000, and will continue with this love of breeding and the horse that began with her mom.”
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