Championship Legacy

Florida has established itself as the premier Thoroughbred breeding state outside of Kentucky, producing six Kentucky Derby winners—more than any other state or province. These champions include Needles (1956), Carry Back (1961), Foolish Pleasure (1975), Triple Crown winner Affirmed (1978), Unbridled (1990), and Silver Charm (1997).

The state’s breeding excellence extends far beyond the Derby, with Florida-bred horses earning 30 Breeders’ Cup victories, 19 Triple Crown race wins, 66 national championships, and producing 183 millionaire Thoroughbreds – statistics that far exceed other regional markets.

Comprehensive Incentive Programs

The FTBOA promotes Florida Thoroughbred breeding and racing through robust financial incentives that support every level of the industry.

Breeder and Stallion Awards: Breeders of Florida-bred horses registered with the FTBOA earn awards valued at up to 20% of gross purse when their horses finish first, second, or third in any race at licensed Florida Thoroughbred racetracks. Similarly, stallion owners receive up to 20% of gross purse for Florida-sired winners in Florida black-type stakes races.

Florida Sire Stakes Series: The annual FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes represents a premier showcase for young Florida talent, distributing $1.2 million across six races exclusively for Florida-sired 2-year-olds. Additional stakes programs, including the popular Sunshine series at Gulfstream Park each January and the Florida Cup card at Tampa Bay Downs in March, provide competitive opportunities for older horses.

Industry-Leading Financial Support: Florida’s racetracks collectively distribute $15 million annually through Florida-bred purse incentive programs such as the Florida-Bred Incentive Fund (FBIF) and Florida Owner Awards (FOA).

Florida’s combined breeder, stallion, and open-race owner awards surpass all comparable state incentive programs outside of Kentucky.

Communications and Digital Leadership

FTBOA Communications delivers comprehensive industry coverage through multiple channels. The daily Thoroughbred news digest Wire to Wire and The Florida Horse Podcast keep stakeholders informed of the latest Florida racing and industry developments. The communications division also manages media relations, social media, and digital marketing initiatives, all centralized at FTBOA.com.

The organization’s global industry-leading digital platform serves as Florida’s industry hub, averaging over 20,000 monthly views through its news feed and unmatched online services. These include real-time Florida-bred race entries and results, the comprehensive online Florida-bred registry and online registration services, breeding and racing incentives administration, and streamlined membership services.

Community Impact Through Charity

The FTBOA administers Florida Thoroughbred Charities, the industry’s charitable foundation that has strengthened communities since 1990. FTC has raised more than $4 million for charitable organizations throughout the Thoroughbred industry, the city of Ocala, Marion County, and across Florida.

Legislative Leadership

As the industry’s primary advocate, the FTBOA actively represents Thoroughbred interests in community and legislative affairs at state and national levels. Significant legislative achievements include successfully defending against racetrack gaming decoupling legislation and securing annual $33.5 million state allocations that enhance Florida breeding and racing incentives while providing funding for Horseracing Integrity & Safety Act assessments.

Global Recognition

Based in Ocala, Florida, the FTBOA holds trademark rights for “Horse Capital of the World®” and “Ocala, Marion County, Horse Capital of the World®” – designations that recognize the region’s global leadership in equine economic value, employment, and production. The organization maintains current economic impact estimates for both the Florida equine industry and the Florida Thoroughbred sector, available online here.