PRESS RELEASE
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Aug. 9 the election of David O’Farrell as chairman of its board of trustees. Also joining O’Farrell on the board to serve three-year terms as new members are Joe Appelbaum, Michael Banahan, Everett Dobson, Mandy Pope and R. Glenn Sikura.
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. O’Farrell serves as manager for his family’s Ocala Stud, the oldest active Thoroughbred farm in Florida and one of the leading stallion, breeding, and training operations in the country.
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 (Canterbury Park), and Tora Yamaguchi (Del Mar).