The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes has been the proving ground for future champions and provided a road to the Breeders' Cup for nearly 40 years.
Started in 1982 as a showcase for 2-year-olds grown in the Sunshine State, the series has expanded under the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association to include both a win bonus program and 3-year-old opportunities at both Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs.
“The rich history of the series has given opportunities to showcase Florida stallions and the talent coming out of the Sunshine state,” said FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell. “Along the way, the Florida Sire Stakes has produced alumni that have won the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup races, and national honors.”
Big Drama swept the Florida Sire Stakes in 2008 before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint in 2010. That same year, Awesome Feather swept the filly division and followed it up with a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies win. Thirteen horses have swept the series.
Not Surprising won the 1992 FSS Dr. Fager and finished out of the money in the next two legs in the FSS Affirmed and FSS In Reality. Three year later, he was named national champion sprinter.
Holy Bull won the In Reality in 1993 before becoming Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt in 1994.
Hollywood Wildcat won the 1993 Breeders' Cup Distaff after finishing sixth the previous year in the FSS Susan's Girl.
Unbridled finished second in the 1989 In Reality and captured the Kentucky Derby the following year. He was also named national champion 3-year-old and has since produced four generations of Breeders' Cup winners.
Not Surprising honored a retirement ceremony on Festival of the Sun day at Calder Race Course.
Brave Raj, who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1986, won the Susan's Girl and the My Dear Girl leading up to the Cup.
Smile swept the colt series in 1984 before winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint and was named champion sprinter in 1986.
The question remains as to whether 2020 will produce yet another historically significant Florida Stallion Stakes performance, a future Breeders' Cup winner or Eclipse Award champion. There may be a star juvenile now training at Gulfstream Park or Palm Meadows or at a training center or farm in Ocala that is just waiting for the opportunity to join the ranks of successful Florida Sire Stakes grads.
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.
The series titled “Florida Thoroughbred History Moment” features an opening and closing image of an old-timey newsreel much like those featured in movie theaters in the 1940s. Along with the sound of the whir of the newsreel, each video is narrated by the distinctive voice of Robert Clotworthy giving an even more nostalgic feel. Clotworthy is the narrator for the History Channel series Ancient Aliens and The Curse of Oak Island and he lends his voice perfectly to the series.
Each 'Florida Thoroughbred History Moment' vignette highlights a significant achievement in Florida-bred history focusing on the people, the horses and the farms that have contributed to its success since the industry kicked off in earnest after Needles' 1956 Kentucky Derby win.
The first history moment on Needles launched the series with the signature line given in Clotworthy's deepest voice, “And now a Florida Thoroughbred History Moment… “
Needles put the state on the map as the first horse born in Florida to win the Kentucky Derby and he later set another milestone winning the first Belmont Stakes. His acclaim led many to visit Central Florida to see for themselves the Thoroughbreds raised on limestone rich soil and drinking from the spring fed aquifers. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, local lore has it that more people bought real estate in Marion County thanks to Needles' fame more than any realtor's effort.
The second video in the series focuses upon the O'Farrells' Ocala Stud, the oldest active stud farm in the state. Still using their original stud barn and training barn, which is the oldest wooden horse barn in the state, Ocala Stud's 1960's slogan 'If you want a runner look to Ocala Stud' is featured prominently.
In 1968, Dr. Fager became the world's fastest miler and still holds the record today. The swift horse is featured in the series with a reminiscence photo of him coming home to Ocala greeted by school children holding signs saying, “Dr. Fager is No. 1” and “Welcome Home Champion.” Also, as part of that welcome back, local police pulled over the trailer with the horse inside on Highway 200. Dr. Fager was issued a speeding ticket for 'reckless speed' for his stellar performance ontrack, and the ticket noted his make and style as 'horse' and 'fast'. Additionally, he was inducted into the local Chamber of Commerce.
The next video in the series features Unbridled and the great television moment between trainer Carl Nafzger and owner Mrs. Francis Genter. The poignant moment was captured by NBC during the horse's legendary Kentucky Derby run. His legacy as a sire of champions for more than four decades is also highlighted.
Winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Silver Charm showcased the talent coming out of the Ocala Breeders' Sales and gave rising stars Bob Baffert and the McKathan Brothers the limelight. The gray gained international fame winning the Dubai World Cup, then later joining the stallion ranks in Japan. The vignette also points out Michael Blowen's love for the horse which led to the creation of Old Friends farm and the moment Blowen's dream came true when Silver Charm came back to the states and retired there.
Of course, no Florida series would be complete without Affirmed, the state's Triple Crown winner and longest title holder at 37 years. His hard fought wins in the classics over Alydar are some of the greatest moments in sports rivalry history.
The videos also feature the FTBOA logo and the Discover Florida Horses logo developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The campaign is an example of the global promotions of thoroughbreds and the thoroughbred industry in state of Florida. The video series is available for use by farms and businesses promoting Florida Thoroughbreds and is also aired regularly on Horse Capital Television.
The series is also part of a newly launching campaign on social media focusing on Facebook groups that have an interest in Thoroughbred history and the sport of horse racing. The series can also be seen on the FTBOA YouTube channel.
The goal is to expand the series into 'Florida Thoroughbred History Profiles' over coming years to include the oral history handed down from horseman to horseman. The first two profiles aired in September and featured 2017 Godolphin award honoree Lugusta “Gus” Gray who has worked more than 50 years on farms, first for Fred Hooper and now Donald Dizney's Double Diamond Farm.
FTBOA's Associate Vice President-Membership Services and Events, Tammy A. Gantt scripts and produces each segment. The series was a brainchild of hers thanks to her love of the history of the sport and her more than 25 years in the Florida industry.
Lonny Powell, CEO of FTBOA said, “The goal of our video series and social media campaign is to showcase the history of success of Florida horses, horsemen and farms. We began this program more than two years ago and have added to the series, expanded it and now rolled it into other platforms like social media which we've seen significantly grow since the pandemic began earlier this year.”
He added, “The series can continue for quite some time as we've had 52 national champions, six Kentucky Derby champions, seven Preakness winners, six Belmonts, 28 Breeders' Cup wins, 66 Eclipse Awards and more than 170 Florida-bred millionaires and growing.”
