TOBA

Outspoken owner Mike Repole announced Monday on his feed on the social media platform X that he has taken the first steps toward launching what he called a "national lawsuit" that he hopes will bring what he feels are vital changes to the horse racing industry. Repole compared his lawsuit to Michael Jordan vs. NASCAR. That case refers to the recent antitrust lawsuit filed by Jordan's 23XI Racing against NASCAR, accusing the organization of monopolistic practices, which culminated in a mid-trial settlement in December 2025. Among the issues brought up...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) released its full 2026 schedule in addition to the opening of registration for the 2026 Pedigree & Conformation Clinic, sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association which takes place Mar. 9-10, 2026, at Ocala Breeders' Sales (OBS) in Ocala, Florida. Registration is now open on the TOBA website, and to view the full clinic schedule, click here. The 2026 clinic will feature Mark Casse, a Hall of Fame trainer, who will be presenting during the clinic and sharing his expertise on...

California racing just got dealt another brutal blow. In a year when this sport should be doing everything possible to stabilize a fragile circuit, the loss of Grade I status for the Frank E. Kilroe Mile and multiple downgrades at Santa Anita and Del Mar is very concerning. When you strip premier events in the middle of a wagering and field-size crisis, you're not "protecting the integrity of the pattern," you're accelerating the decline of one of the game's few remaining flagship jurisdictions. This outcome might look neat on a...

The American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association presented its listing of U.S. Graded and Listed Stakes Races for calendar year 2026, the results of its annual grading session conducted Dec. 17 and 18. The committee reviewed 942 U.S. stakes races with a purse of at least $75,000, and assigned Graded status to 410 of them, five fewer than were graded in 2025, and Listed status to 211 races. Eleven Graded races were upgraded; one new Grade I and 10 new Grade II races were named;...

The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) hosted a regional breeders workshop at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to identify best practices and areas of growth for the industry, the organizations said in a joint press release on Friday. Racing executive Doug Reed presented on his work in Iowa and New Mexico featuring the feasibility of regional programs. Other panels focused on Maryland, New York, and Virginia, and the mare reimbursement practices in California, Indiana, Maryland, and Ontario. In addition, Corey Johnsen, a Thoroughbred breeder,...

For some who breed and race Thoroughbreds, the decreasing foal crop is regarded as a bellwether for a business in decline. Yet, a clear-eyed look that goes beyond numbers--and the efforts to turn them around--offers an important reminder: North American Thoroughbred breeding and racing still has real strengths. But to ensure its future we need strategic, collective action to strengthen the sport and keep it vibrant for generations to come. Industry collaboration is the only path to revitalizing Thoroughbred production.   Understanding the Foal Crop Decline In 1950, arguably the...

The Jockey Club and The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) will host a state breeder organization workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. ET in the Oaks Room at Churchill Downs to share current programs to help identify best practices and areas of growth, according to a press release from the club on Thursday morning. Topics include everything from an overview of national trends to perspectives from various breeder programs. For more information, please contact Jamie Haydon at jhaydon@jockeyclub.com or (859) 224-2750.

Godolphin took home both the National Owner of the Year and National Breeder of the Year prizes at the 40th annual TOBA National Awards in Lexington, Kentucky, which were presented across two days of ceremonies, according to a press release from the organization on Saturday. The National Awards Luncheon honored 2024 state and Canadian breeders at Godolphin Sept. 5, while the 2024 National Awards Dinner was held at Fasig-Tipton Sept. 6. TOBA 2024 award winners included: National Owner of the Year and National Breeder of the Year: Godolphin; National Small...

The silent auction held in tandem with TOBA National Awards Dinner opened Wednesday, Sept. 3 and will continue through the dinner event, which takes place Saturday, Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. Included among this year's auction attractions are signed Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 151 Limited Edition Bourbon signed by Kentucky Derby-winning connections of the past two years, portraits and commissioned work, a signed print of Thorpedo Anna, a Mark Pope signed UK basketball, a John Deere mower, Saratoga, Keeneland and Churchill Downs packages, private tours, halters worn by...

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) has re-elected David O'Farrell as chairman of its board of trustees, along with new members serving three-year terms Jonathan Green, Walker Hancock, Dean Reeves and Adrian Wallace, the organization said via a press release on Wednesday. Re-elected to three-year terms were current trustees Billy Koch, Braxton Lynch, David O'Farrell and Francis Vanlangendonck. Following its annual members meeting, trustees met to elect officers for the association. Officers named for 2025-2026 are: David O'Farrell, chairman, Garrett O'Rourke, vice-chairman, Dan Metzger, president; Brant Laue, secretary; and...

In advance of the 40th anniversary of the TOBA National Awards, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced the State Breeders of the Year and three equine award winners Monday. The TOBA National Awards Luncheon honoring the winning breeders will be held Friday, Sept. 5 at Godolphin, with TOBA's National Awards Dinner the next evening at Fasig-Tipton. "It is a great honor and privilege for TOBA to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of the state breeders, as well as these three amazing horses," said TOBA president Dan Metzger. "They each achieved...

Alan Foreman has been named the recipient of the Dr. J. David Richardson Industry Service Award, according to a Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association release Thursday. Foreman will be honored at the 2025 TOBA National Awards on Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky. "I am immensely honored to receive this award named for my friend Dr. J. David Richardson," said Foreman. "I have been fortunate in my career in racing to have earned the respect and trust of so many owners, trainers, riders, industry stakeholder organizations, regulators and legislators,...