The conference is hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and presented by Bessemer Trust, Stoll Keenon Ogden, and The Green Group. The panel was sponsored by Equilume and Pleasant Acres Stallions. Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, moderated the panel with guests Scott Carling, general manager, BloodHorse; Tim Leith, senior vice president, The Jockey Club Information Systems; Dan Metzger, president, TOBA; and Rhonda Norby, director of Marketing and Communications, Equibase.

A Q&A was sponsored by West Point Thoroughbreds, and attendees were able to ask questions through a Q&A link.

The replay of Tuesday's Thoroughbred Owner Conference panel is available at bit.ly/OVVideos.

Eight additional Thoroughbred Owner Conference virtual panels are scheduled for 2024.

The next session, “Equine Nutrition: Best Practices from Foals to Racehorses,” will be held May 14 at 2 p.m. ET. A full schedule can be found here: bit.ly/OVSchedule.

There is no registration fee for the 2024 virtual conference series, but registration is required. For more information about the owner conference series, including the schedule of panels and registration, please visit www.ownerview.com/event/ conference or contact Gary Falter at 859.224.2803 or gfalter@jockeyclub.com.

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The post TOBA To Host Two-Day Breeding Clinic In KY appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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“In a year when Churchill Downs celebrates the 150th [GI] Kentucky Derby, we are honored to host the Claiming Crown on center stage in the same historic venue,” said TOBA president Dan Metzger.

The post Churchill Downs To Host 2024 Claiming Crown Event appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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One of Wycoff's wins Dec. 2 was delivered by Money Supply (Practical Joke), who was so keen to score in the featured $200,000 Jewel at nine furlongs that the 2.8-1 shot broke through the gate prior to the start.

After being cleared to reload, the 4-year-old colt was a touch unsettled in the early stages. He got pelted with wet kickback while carving out an inside trip, brushed briefly when seeking room for a rally in mid-stretch, then opened up when cued to quicken between tiring leaders before extending fluidly under hand encouragement through the final sixteenth.

“He broke good and just kind of got shuffled back in there, but he was handling it well the whole time, and when we turned for home, I had a lot of horse,” said jockey Jareth Loveberry after the 1:52.05 win over nine furlongs.

A $400,000 KEESEP buy, Money Supply had never been in for a tag until previous connections Klaravich Stable and Chad Brown risked losing him for $35,000 on Aug. 20 at Saratoga. Money Supply won his N2L condition the day he was claimed by trainer Joe Sharp on behalf of Wycoff, and three subsequent allowance and/or starter races after that yielded one narrow defeat at Saratoga and two victories at Churchill Downs.

Sharp said he and Wycoff had “an epiphany” after the first of those two wins Sept. 27 that reminded them that having run for a $35,000 tag in 2022-23 meant that Money Supply was eligible for the Jewel.

“At that point, we started to target it,” Sharp said.

The result was a 1 3/4-length, going-away win in the premier Claiming Crown race.

The Claiming Crown, which began in 1999 as a way to showcase and reward horses who compete in the types of races that form the backbone of day-to-day American racing, is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

After initially starting at Canterbury Park while occasionally rotating among other tracks in its formative years, Gulfstream Park had evolved into the host track starting early in the 2010s decade.

But for 2022, the Claiming Crown switched sites to Churchill Downs, where a November snow wiped out last year's turf races. When the series got switched to the Fair Grounds (which last hosted in 2011) for the 2023 edition, Mother Nature followed with more nasty weather.

It rained so hard in New Orleans prior to Saturday's first post that track management opted to cancel the days first two (non-Claiming Crown) races, and an abandonment of the grass races was necessary for the second year in a row.

Maintenance crews worked the track to remove standing water, and after an additional 45-minute pushback to post time, Fair Grounds commenced the card with Race 3, the first of eight consecutive Claiming Crown races. The main track was sealed and sloppy throughout according to Equibase charts, although Fair Grounds announced on its broadcast feed that the main track would be rated “good” for the Jewel.

Anatolian | Hodges Photography

Wycoff's other Claiming Crown winner was Anatolian, a 4-year-old filly by Not This Time. She emerged as the strongest in a wall of late bidders (on a day when speed was not holding) to win the $150,000 Tiara for distaffers in a 1 1/16 miles off-the-turfer in 1:46.11.

Anatolian's win by 2 1/4 lengths as the 3-2 favorite was the 22nd lifetime Claiming Crown victory for trainer Mike Maker, who extended his record as the event's winningest conditioner. James Graham rode.

Anatolian met her $25,000 starter condition by only starting once that low, for a $16,000 tag when breaking her maiden back in 2022. Since then she has kept far higher company, and twice won off-the-turfers over 10 furlongs at Saratoga and Churchill as a lead-in to her Claiming Crown engagement.

Trainer Sharp also doubled on the program. The 5-1 Runway Magic (Runhappy) took the $150,000 Emerald, a 1 1/16 miles off-the-turfer, for owner Baron Racing Stables.

The 5-year-old hounded the pacemaker, took over midway on the far turn, then uncorked a long, steady drive to hold off a fresh challenger late to win by 1 1/2 lengths under Jaime Torres in 1:44.71.

Runway Magic was a former stakes competitor at age three but had swapped stables via the claim box four times since.

Claimed for $50,000 out of a 12th-place effort when previously trained by Sharp (but for a different owner) at Oaklawn Jan. 22, the gelding didn't resurface until nine months later for a $20,000 tag at Delta Downs. He ran sixth in that start, but Sharp, reclaiming with the backing of Baron Racing, gambled by taking Runway Magic back for the heavily discounted price.

That move paid off five weeks later with a next-start win in the Claiming Crown.

In the $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial that got washed off the grass at 5 1/2 furlongs, Mischievous Rogue (Into Mischief) closed widest with a well-timed burst to win by 3 1/2 lengths as the 17-10 favorite in 1:04.20 for owner Southern Comfort Stables, trainer William “Doug” Cowans, and jockey Luan Machado.

A 5-year-old gelding, Mischievous Rogue had spent the bulk of career (14 of 17 starts) racing on either turf or synthetic surfaces, and had never before raced on a wet track prior to showing a huge affinity for it with Saturday's convincing tally.

In the $100,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares at one mile, it was Chris Hartman trainees one-two across the wire with 5-year-old mare Xylophone (Tonalist) orchestrating a 3 3/4-length victory at 7-2 odds for owner Joseph Longtin and jockey Mitchell Murrill.

The 5-year-old mare circled the field and drove to the lead unopposed a furlong out, stopping the timer in 1:39.02.

Although a number of familiar names graced the Claiming Crown winner's circle in this year's renewal, the $100,000 Rapid Transit at six furlongs represented a big, breakthrough score for some less-heralded connections shipping in from FanDuel (formerly Fairmount Park).

Richiesonaroll (Gone Astray) prevailed by a neck at 15-1 odds in 1:10.64, lighting up the tote board as the Claiming Crown's highest-odds winner this year. The 3-year-old, three-time-claimed, Illinois-bred races for owner/trainer Jose G. Rodriguez, who has only been a licensed conditioner for 13 months.

The jockey for Richiesonaroll was Emmanuel (Manny) Giles, who had been badly injured in a three-horse spill at Hawthorne Race Course during his rookie season in 2021. Giles had to undergo several surgeries to repair hip and back damage, and missed 14 months of riding before getting back in the saddle earlier this season.

Caramel Chip | Hodges Photography

In the $75,000 Ready's Rocket Express at six furlongs, Caramel Chip (Midshipman) stalked from fourth and picked off the pacemakers with a three-wide swoop at top of lane to win by 3 1/2 lengths as the 2.3-1second choice in a 1:10.25 clocking.

Jose D'Angelo trains for Bianco Stable, with Florent Geroux riding.

It was the 10th lifetime victory for the 5-year-old horse, and his seventh on the season. Caramel Chip was claimed for $8,000 out of a Jan. 8 win at Gulfstream.

In the $75,000 Iron Horse Kent Sterling Memorial at 1 1/16 miles, the 11-10 favorite Time For Trouble (English Channel) wrested control in the final hundred yards and prevailed by a head in 1:46.17.

The 6-year-old gelding had started for an $8,000 claiming tag only once in his life, back in 2021. But that eligibility has enabled him to win back-to-back editions of the Iron Horse, both times over a sloppy surface.

Time For Trouble seemingly enjoyed a class edge on paper from running in Grade II and III stakes in Florida, Kentucky and New York earlier this season. Yet he made his connections, the partnership of Thorndale Stable and owner/trainer Jeff Hiles, sweat out a photo finish that was one of two wins on the day for jockey Graham.

“This is why we do what we do,” said Hiles. “Three-sixteenths pole, we thought we didn't have a shot. And the emotions that you experience that last three-sixteenths of a race, that's exactly why we're in this…The adrenaline that kicks in, the emotions–you can't buy it.”

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Ken Ramsey is back at the Claiming Crown. If he has only three horses (in two races) running in the program designed to showcase American horse racing's blue-collar horses, it's not for a lack of effort.

The 88-year-old Ramsey is the winningest owner in the history of the Claiming Crown, which will be staged for the 25th time this Saturday at the historic Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. But his last starter came with Peru (GB) (Motivator {GB}), whose victory in the 2018 Claiming Crown Tiara at Gulfstream Park extended Ramsey's record in the program to 16.

“I'm trying to pad my resume,” quipped Ramsey, who significantly downsized his once-massive racing operation in recent years. “… I was trying to get a horse for each [Claiming Crown] race. I started looking when they finished up last year. I decided, hey, I'm going to get back in the game. I'd downsized and I had a few health issues and I've not been as active. But I enjoyed it so much and missed it so much that I started claiming some. I probably claimed 20 horses this year–and got out-shook for probably three times that many.

“… I just turned 88. I'm kind of an old fossil. It's like my last hurrah. I'm probably getting pretty close to the finish line, so I'd like to go out with a blaze of glory.”

The Claiming Crown, conceived to be a Breeders' Cup-style event for claiming horses, was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). The program gives Thoroughbred racing's workhorses, their owners and trainers a day in the spotlight in recognition of their importance to filling out race cards across the nation.

Though he and his late wife, Sarah, became major players internationally–earning four Eclipse Awards as outstanding owner and two as outstanding breeder, as well as four Breeders' Cup victories and the Dubai World Cup–Ramsey burst on the scene as a Pick Six bettor and by claiming lots of horses and winning lots of races. Extremely goal-oriented, Ramsey put his mind to setting records for meet titles at wins at Churchill Downs, Keeneland and Kentucky Downs–in the process becoming the winningest owner in Kentucky history.

The Claiming Crown became a major goal as well, one now off hiatus.

In King's Ovation (Not This Time), Ramsey has one of the favorites for the $200,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for horses that have competed for a claiming price of $35,000 in 2023. Ramsey claimed King's Ovation for $62,500 at Keeneland–a race he won impressively–in his last start. The owner also has Shimmer Me Timbers (Eddington) and Cotton (Twirling Candy) in the $150,000 Canterbury Tom Metzen Memorial at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf for horses that have raced for a $25,000 claiming price or less in 2022-2023. All three were claimed out of their last start specifically for the Claiming Crown, he said.

“It gives the little guy a chance to strike a home run,” Ramsey said of the Claiming Crown. “The purses are good and the competition is good. They spread it around. It's been at about four or five different tracks. I used to never miss, would have three, four or five running in it all the time. But I'm back to feeling good. I'm looking forward to Saturday so I can try to add another one.”

King's Ovation and Shimmer Me Timbers are trained by Robertino Diodoro, while Saffie Joseph, Jr. trains Cotton.

Diodoro began training for Ramsey this past spring.

“I'd have loved to have seen this guy when he was about 45 years old,” the trainer said of Ramsey. “I give him a lot of credit. He's full of a lot of energy and I love his attitude. He loves the game–and loves winning.”

The post Ramsey Seeks to Add to his Record 16 Claiming Crown Wins appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The Oct. 7 and 8 renewal of the GIII Jockey Club Derby Invitational S., the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint S., the GIII Futurity S., the GIII Matron S. and the GIII Noble Damsel S., were all taken off the Aqueduct turf course and switched to the main track due to weather. That move automatically downgraded them to Listed status and they were conducted as Listed stakes races.

According to the American Graded Stakes Committee policy, the winners of those races are therefore credited with a Listed win, and the second and third-place finishers are credited with Listed placings.

When a graded turf race is moved to the dirt after the closing of nominations it is automatically downgraded one level for that running only.

The American Graded Stakes Committee will, however, promptly review the running of any race that is automatically downgraded as a result of this policy and may reinstate its former status.

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The day-long clinic will take place on the first day of Fasig Tipton's Kentucky October Yearling sale.

Attendees will learn insights on different aspects of Thoroughbred auctions, bloodstock, pedigree, and conformation analysis, and more from industry professionals as well as enjoy a day at the sales.

The topics and speakers at the clinic include:

• Role of the Auction House & Auction Process, presented by Anna Seitz-Ciannello (Fasig-Tipton, Director of Client Relations)
• Thoroughbred Horse Racing Partnerships, presented by Terry Finley (West Point Thoroughbreds, President & CEO)
• Yearling Prep for the Sales, presented by Katie Taylor (Taylor Made Sales, Vice President of Operations)
• Horse Selection/Conformation/Pedigree, presented by Kenny McPeek (Multiple Graded Stakes Winning Trainer and Leading Thoroughbred Bloodstock Advisor)
• Equine Insurance, presented by Tyler Clarke (Clay Ward Agency)
• Equineline & Pedigree Resources, presented by Susan Martin (The Jockey Club Information Systems, Director of Marketing)
• Grayson-Jockey Club Current Research, presented by Jamie Haydon (Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, President) and Johnny Mac Smith, DVM (Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, Veterinary Advisor)

Registration is available online, until Friday, Oct. 20, at: toba.memberclicks.net/seminars-clinics.

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A luncheon for the winners was held on Friday, Sept. 8 at WinStar Farm, honoring State and Canadian Breeders of the Year for 2022.

Godolphin was announced as the winner of the 2022 National Owner of the Year and 2022 National Breeder of the Year. Finalists for both categories were also honored Saturday night.

National Owner of the Year finalists included: Peter M. Brant, Hronis Racing LLC, Klaravich Stables LLC, and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC. National Breeder of the Year finalists included: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC and Summer Wind Equine.

Elizabeth M. Merryman won the 2022 National Small Breeder of the Year Award. Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), owned by Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Farm, has been named National Broodmare of the Year. The Cot Campbell Partnership of the Year was presented to the owners of Flightline, which included Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing LLC. Michael Blowen was honored with the J. David Richardson Industry Service Award.

Invaluable was honored as Claiming Crown Horse of the Year, presented by the National HBPA. The Rood & Riddle Sport Horse of the Year went to Satins Angel (Queen Satin). The Robert N. Clay Award, presented by Equine Land Conservation Resource, was awarded to Greg Goodman, which recognizes a member of the Thoroughbred community who has made an outstanding contribution to preserving land for equine use.

“Congratulations to all of the winners of the TOBA national and state awards,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “We were honored to recognize the outstanding achievements of all of tonight's winners and finalists, including the amazing success of Godolphin as both National Owner and Breeder of the Year.”

2022 State and Canadian Breeders of the Year, sponsored by WinStar Farm, were:

Arizona Breeder of the Year – Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC (Marvin & Gerald Fleming)

Arkansas Breeder of the Year – Shortleaf Stable (John E. Anthony)

California Breeder of the Year – Nick Alexander

Canada Breeder of the Year – Adena Springs (Frank & Elfriede Stronach)

Canada Small Breeder of the Year – Flying Horse Farm (Russell & Lois Bennett)

Florida Breeder of the Year – Arindel Farm (Alan & Brian Cohen)

Indiana Breeder of the Year – Justice Farms, Inc. (Greg Justice)

Iowa Breeder of the Year – Poindexter Thoroughbreds, LLC (Allen Poindexter)

Kentucky Breeder of the Year – Godolphin

Louisiana Breeder of the Year – Allied Racing Stables LLC (Chester Thomas)

Maryland Breeder of the Year – Dance Forth Farm (Tom & Chris Bowman)

Minnesota Breeder of the Year – Lothenbach Stables (Robert Lothenbach)

New Jersey Breeder of the Year – Bright View Farm (Christine Connelly)

New Mexico Breeder of the Year – Bar Y Equine (Robert M. & DelRae Driggers)

New York Breeder of the Year – Chestertown Farm (Chester & Mary Broman)

North Carolina Breeder of the Year – Rockhouse Farm (Nancy Shuford)

Oregon Breeder of the Year – Lisa Baze

Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year – Elizabeth M. Merryman

South Carolina Breeder of the Year – Franklin G. Smith Sr.

Texas Breeder of the Year – Windy Hill (Ronald & Margaret Ellerbee)

Virginia Breeder of the Year – South Gate Farm (Amy Moore)

Washington Breeder of the Year – John E. Parker

The post Godolphin Among Those Honored At 38th TOBA Awards Saturday Night appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The National Awards Dinner will be held Saturday, Sept. 9 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY and the National Awards Luncheon, which honors breeders from 20 states and Canada, will be held Friday, Sept. 8 at WinStar Farm.

The finalists for the National Owner of the Year are Peter M. Brant, Godolphin, Hronis Racing, Klaravich Stables, and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

The three finalists for the National Breeder of the Year are Godolphin, Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC., and Summer Wind Equine.

The entire list of finalists and winners can be viewed here.

The post TOBA National Awards Announces 2023 Finalists appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Re-elected to three-year terms were current trustees Shannon Arvin, Jeffrey Bloom, Marette Farrell, Brant Laue, Garrett O'Rourke, and Stephen Screnci.

“It's an honor and a privilege to lead an organization that deeply cares about the economics and integrity of horse racing on behalf of owners and breeders,” O'Farrell said.

Following its annual members meeting, the TOBA Board of Trustees met to elect officers for the association.

Officers named for 2023-2024 are: David O'Farrell, chairman, Everett Dobson, vice-chairman, Dan Metzger, president; Doug Cauthen, secretary; and Garrett O'Rourke, treasurer.

The TOBA Board also approved the appointment of Alex Solis II to the American Graded Stakes Committee.

The 2023-2024 committee is comprised of TOBA members Everett Dobson (chair), Barbara Banke, Walker Hancock, Brant Laue, David O'Farrell, and Alex Solis II and racing officials Dan Bork (Churchill Downs and Ellis Park) Frank Gabriel (NYRA), Rick Hammerle (Kentucky Downs), Chris Merz (Santa Anita Park), and Tora Yamaguchi (Del Mar).

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