Niall Brennan Stables

When the winners of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, which are sponsored by Godolphin, were announced, anyone who knew the story of Julianne Stowell could not have been surprised that she won the "Newcomer Award." It wasn't just that she was thriving as the Client Relations Manager at Niall Brennan Stables, it was how far she had come in such a short time to land that position. Six years earlier, she was locked up at the Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. When it came to her future, she felt...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale opened Tuesday with a solid session, and while the 2-year-old sales are usually all about speed, the day was topped by a colt by Tapit who galloped during last week's under-tack show. From the Lothenbach dispersal, the youngster sold for $1.2 million to the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds and D. J. Stables. He was consigned by Tom McCrocklin. "I think it points to the fact that the under-tack show is one metric," said...

Congratulations to Gregory Smothers, one of three finalists in the Dedication to Racing Award category of the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards (TIEA), presented by Godolphin. Smothers is the head rider at Niall Brennan Stables and has been a part of the operation for more than 30 years. Upon leaving the military, he started on a farm doing maintenance, then learned how to ride on a pony. Brennan was leaving his position at Kinsman Farm as head trainer at the time and going out on his own, and Smothers went with...