Nick de Meric

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has been named the sixth chairman of the board in the history of Ocala Breeders' Sales Company, Inc., succeeding Francis Vanlangendonck, who steps down after 35 years on the OBS board. Vanlangendonck had held the position of chairman since 2022, succeeding Mike O'Farrell, who was elected chairman in 2007 and was an OBS board member for nearly 40 years. George Onett was the first chairman in 1975, followed by Harry T. Mangurian, Jr., Norman E. Casse, O'Farrell and Vanlangendonck. Treasurer Nick de Meric...

Valerie Dailey, a Thoroughbred breeder in Florida since 1985, has been elected President of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association at a board meeting following the annual member meeting, the organization announced Friday. "I'm honored to have been selected to serve as president for a second time," Dailey said. "The industry has definitely changed since my initial term in 2022 and we have a challenging road ahead. My goal is to educate and get the word out about greatness of the Florida-bred Thoroughbred and our significant impact on the...

Edited Press Release The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association (FTBOA) announced Oct. 25 that George Isaacs, general manager of the historic Bridlewood Farm located in Ocala, was re-elected president of the organization at a board meeting following the annual member meeting. "Having served many years on the board of directors for the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, I have witnessed great dedication from the staff, board members and membership in making our organization flourish," Isaacs said. "I am grateful to our entire team for being vital to the...

NEWMARKET, UK -- The two-year-old racing and sales sector has become an increasingly expanding element of the racing world in general, but the practice of training horses at the age of two has been put under the microscope in Germany.  A revision of German animal welfare laws means that it is now illegal to train or compete with horses younger than 30 months of age, though Thoroughbred racing is currently exempt from this law while a behavioural study is undertaken and eventually assessed by parliament. Around 60 delegates from Europe...

The X-Rays Files series, now in its second year and presented in cooperation with the Consignors and Breeders' Association, uses conversations with buyers and sellers to contribute to the discussion on the sales and training process. Nick de Meric and his wife Jaqui have become stalwarts of the pinhooking scene in Ocala over the last four decades and their program has produced success after success both in the sales ring and on the racetrack. Among the graduates of the family's program are Horse of the Year Knicks Go and champion...

"It's a really difficult thing, to let go of something that you've spent your whole life building," acknowledges Nick de Meric. "I don't know if 'letting go' is quite the right way to put it. But to actually cut that umbilical cord, it's a leap of faith." The Ocala horseman, who reflected on a colorful past in yesterday's TDN, now turns his attention to the future. For the evolution of a successor program, parallel to his own, makes the de Meric family a particularly pertinent case study for our series...

The island is still there, nearly 50 years later, which would have surprised Nick de Meric at the time. He'd have assumed that there could be nothing left by now. "Because they were basically mining it off the map," he recalls. "It was made of iron ore. So they had these massive Euclid trucks, wheels high as a building. And all these men on shift work, living in long huts. Not quite a prison environment, but it was all-male, tropical heat, nothing to do but drink beer and play cards....

I read the Jan. 31 article regarding Jeffrey Englehart. While sympathetic to Mr. Englehart's situation, it is apparent there are many misconceptions concerning the two-year-old sale process. As a seller of two-year-olds and an executive member of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Board of Directors, I have intimate knowledge of the efforts made by OBS and the policies created for a healthy auction environment. I would like to shed some light on these efforts. Similar to racing, our medication policies have evolved over time creating a safer environment for horses and...

During the recent holiday season, I had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with my 13-year-old son, Max, about his future aspirations. As he approaches an age where decisions about higher education and career paths come into focus, we've delved into conversations about his collegiate preferences and professional ambitions. It is not uncommon for adolescents at this stage to express a desire to emulate the occupational choices of family members. Max, in particular, has conveyed an interest in following in the footsteps of his father, cousin Norm, uncle Mark,...

After reading Nick de Meric's letter, I felt a strong urge to add my voice to this crucial discussion. His insights inspired me to write "Public Opinion: Mastering Thoroughbred Racing's Media Plan." Like many others, I have a deep passion for this sport and am dedicated to its future. My article takes a deep dive into the powerful role of public opinion in shaping the Thoroughbred racing industry. It's more than just image; it's about how this perception influences everything from policy decisions to consumer and investor confidence. The piece...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - For the third straight day, the team of Bob Baffert and Donato Lanni, acting on behalf of Saudi businessman Amr Zedan, made the highest bid of the session, this time going to $2.2 million--top price of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training sale so far--to acquire a colt by Gun Runner from the de Meric Sales consignment as the Spring sale continued to produce figures largely in line with its record-setting 2022 renewal. Through three of four...

by Jessica Martini & Christina Bossinakis OCALA, FL - The Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training opened Tuesday with a session that produced figures nearly identical to the auction's 2022 opening session. "It was a good start to the sale," said OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski. "A lot of horses sold very well. And I'd like to think the strength will continue through the next three days. I feel pretty good about that. There are a lot of good horses left to sell." During Tuesday's...