About FTBOA
A non-profit association representing over 1,300 Thoroughbred breeders and owners in Florida
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association represents Thoroughbred breeders and owners who breed, raise, sell, train and race Florida Thoroughbreds. Since 1945, FTBOA has represented the Thoroughbred industry legislatively, serves as the Florida’s breed registrar and administers lucrative Florida breeding and racing incentives.
Florida annually ranks second or third in annual foal production and is the perennial leading producer of Thoroughbred starters, starts, winners, open stakes wins and graded stakes wins among North American regional markets.
About Us
Florida has produced more Kentucky Derby winners (six) than any other state or province outside of Kentucky including Needles (1956), Carry Back (1961), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Triple Crown winner Affirmed (1978), Unbridled (1990) and Silver Charm (1997). Florida far outdistances other regional markets with 30 Breeders’ Cup winners, 19 winners of Triple Crown races, 66 national champions and 183 millionaire Thoroughbreds.
The FTBOA promotes Florida Thoroughbred breeding and racing through Florida- bred breeder and stallion awards, Florida-bred racing incentives and the Florida Sire Stakes race series.
Breeder awards valued at up to 20% of gross purse are paid to the breeder of a Florida-bred registered with the FTBOA which finishes first, second or third in any race at a licensed Florida Thoroughbred racetrack. Stallion owners earn up to 20% of gross purse for Florida-sired winners in Florida black type stakes.
An annual highlight of the Florida-bred racing calendar, the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, distributes $1.2 million in a six-race series for Florida-sired 2-year-olds. Several Florida-bred or Florida-sired stakes, such as the Sunshine series of stakes at Gulfstream Park in January and the Florida Cup card at Tampa Bay Downs in March, benefit older horses.
The FTBOA incentive programs collectively distribute more than $15 million each year, increasing up to $20 million with the inclusion of Florida-bred Owner Awards (FOA) that are managed by the respective Florida racetracks and Thoroughbred horsemens’ associations. The combined Florida breeder, stallion and open race owner awards outpace all other states’ incentive programs outside of Kentucky.
Florida Equine Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTBOA, produces the award-winning monthly magazine The Florida Horse; the daily Thoroughbred news digest Wire to Wire; and The Florida Horse podcast. FEC also handles the media relations, social media and internet marketing for the Association.
FEC media resides online at FTBOA.com alongside extensive FTBOA services such as real-time Florida-bred race entries and results, the Florida-bred registry search, Florida racing and breeding incentives administration and FTBOA membership services.
The FTBOA administers Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred industry. Since 1990, FTC has strengthened and supported the community by raising more than $4 million for charitable organizations within the Thoroughbred industry, the city of Ocala, Marion County and the state of Florida.
The FTBOA actively represents the Thoroughbred industry in community and legislative affairs, especially at the state and national governments. FTBOA’s significant legislative accomplishments include the repeated beat-back of racetrack gaming decoupling legislation, and the annual $33.5 million state allocations enhancing Florida breeding and racing incentives with attached funding for Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act assessments.
FTBOA, based in Ocala, Fla. holds trademark rights for the Horse Capital of the World® and Ocala, Marion County, Horse Capital of the World®, certifying that the Ocala and Florida equine economies are global leaders in economic value, employment and production. FTBOA maintains up-to-date economic impact estimates for the Florida equine and Florida Thoroughbred economies here.
About Us
Florida has produced more Kentucky Derby winners (six) than any other state or province outside of Kentucky including Needles (1956), Carry Back (1961), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Triple Crown winner Affirmed (1978), Unbridled (1990) and Silver Charm (1997). Florida far outdistances other regional markets with 30 Breeders’ Cup winners, 19 winners of Triple Crown races, 66 national champions and 183 millionaire Thoroughbreds.
The FTBOA promotes Florida Thoroughbred breeding and racing through Florida- bred breeder and stallion awards, Florida-bred racing incentives and the Florida Sire Stakes race series.
Breeder awards valued at up to 20% of gross purse are paid to the breeder of a Florida-bred registered with the FTBOA which finishes first, second or third in any race at a licensed Florida Thoroughbred racetrack. Stallion owners earn up to 20% of gross purse for Florida-sired winners in Florida black type stakes.
An annual highlight of the Florida-bred racing calendar, the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes, distributes $1.2 million in a six-race series for Florida-sired 2-year-olds. Several Florida-bred or Florida-sired stakes, such as the Sunshine series of stakes at Gulfstream Park in January and the Florida Cup card at Tampa Bay Downs in March, benefit older horses. The FTBOA incentive programs collectively distribute more than $15 million each year, increasing up to $20 million with the inclusion of Florida-bred Owner Awards (FOA) that are managed by the respective Florida racetracks and Thoroughbred horsemens’ associations. The combined Florida breeder, stallion and open race owner awards outpace all other states’ incentive programs outside of Kentucky.
Florida Equine Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of FTBOA, produces the award-winning monthly magazine The Florida Horse; the daily Thoroughbred news digest Wire to Wire; and The Florida Horse podcast. FEC also handles the media relations, social media and internet marketing for the Association.
FEC media resides online at FTBOA.com alongside extensive FTBOA services such as real-time Florida-bred race entries and results, the Florida-bred registry search, Florida racing and breeding incentives administration and FTBOA membership services. The FTBOA administers Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the charitable arm of the Florida Thoroughbred industry. Since 1990, FTC has strengthened and supported the community by raising more than $4 million for charitable organizations within the Thoroughbred industry, the city of Ocala, Marion County and the state of Florida.
The FTBOA actively represents the Thoroughbred industry in community and legislative affairs, especially at the state and national governments. FTBOA’s significant legislative accomplishments include the repeated beat-back of racetrack gaming decoupling legislation, and the annual $33.5 million state
allocations enhancing Florida breeding and racing incentives with attached funding for Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act assessments.
FTBOA, based in Ocala, Fla. holds trademark rights for the Horse Capital of the World® and Ocala, Marion County, Horse Capital of the World®, certifying that the Ocala and Florida equine economies are global leaders in economic value, employment and production. FTBOA maintains up-to-date economic impact estimates for the Florida equine and Florida Thoroughbred economies here.
