BY TAMMY GANTT

OCALA, FL—The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association announced today the latest class of 15 industry leaders to be inducted into the FTBOA Hall of Fame on Oct. 24 in a private reception with the board of directors celebrating their achievements.

The FTBOA Hall of Fame began in 1968, with a second induction in 2004. The Hall of Fame was created to acknowledge the outstanding industry stakeholders who have been instrumental to success of Florida Thoroughbreds worldwide. 

The honorees include Arthur I. Appleton, Fred Brei, Gilbert Campbell, Donald Dizney, Jack Dreyfus, John Franks, Joseph LaCroix, Leonard Lavin, J. Michael O’Farrell Jr., Tim Sams, Harold Plumley, Michael Sherman, Peter Vegso, Charlotte Weber and Louis Wolfson.

Arthur I. Appleton was the founder of Bridlewood Farm with his wife Martha. The 1991 Florida Breeder of the Year, Appleton is responsible for 15 Florida-bred champions, including the 2001 Florida-bred Horse of the Year Forbidden Apple and the 2004 Florida-bred Horse of the Year Southern Image. He also produced 6 Florida-bred millionaires.

Fred Brei of Jacks or Better Farm is the all-time leading breeder and owner of Florida Sire Stakes winners with 25 in each category. He swept divisions of the Florida Sire Stakes on three separate occasions and won the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) with Florida Horse of the Year Awesome Feather. Brei is represented by nine Florida-bred champions and was awarded the 2004 Needles Award and 2015 Florida Breeder of the Year. 

Gilbert Campbell of Stonehedge LLC has been the Florida Breeder of the Year four times and has been among the top 10 leading breeders for more than 30 years. Stonehedge is the second-leading owner of Florida Sire Stakes winners with 17 and second leading breeder of Florida Sire Stakes winners with 18. Campbell bred Florida-bred millionaires Marlin and Blazing Sword and seven FTBOA champions. 

Having bred and raised winners at his Double Diamond Farm in Ocala for more than 40 years, Donald Dizney was a three-time president of the FTBOA. He owned and bred Florida-bred millionaires and Florida-bred champions Wekiva Springs and First Dude, both later becoming top Florida stallions. He also bred additional FTBOA champions Flora Dora and Collusion Illusion.

Jack Dreyfus established the noted Hobeau Farm in Ocala in the early 1960s and was honored in 1976 with an Eclipse Award of Merit, Thoroughbred racing’s highest honor. Florida-bred millionaires bred by Hobeau Farm include multiple graded stakes winners Delightful Kiss and Kelly Kip and his FTBOA Champions include Duck Dance, Step Nicely and Kelly Kip.

John Franks of Franks Farm was Florida Breeder of the Year in 1993, 2003 and 2004; Eclipse Award Outstanding Owner in 1983, 1984, 1993 and 1994; and FTBOA leading owner by Florida-bred earnings from 2000 to 2003. His Florida-bred millionaires include Kissin Kris, Soldier’s Dancer, Halo America, Littlebitlively, Lady Tak, Kiss a Native and Silent Eskimo.

Joseph LaCroix of Meadowbrook Farm was Florida Breeder of the Year in 1989 and was breeder and co-owner of Prized, the winner of the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and earner of more than $2 million. Additional Florida-bred millionaires bred by Meadowbrook include Machikane Allegro and Brocco, winner of the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and the 1994 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

Leonard Lavin was a longtime force in Thoroughbred racing. He developed Glen Hill Farm into a prominent national Thoroughbred operation. His Glen Hill Farm won the 1994 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) with homebred One Dreamer. His Florida-bred champions include Effectiveness (2-Year-Old Filly, 1995), One Dreamer (Older Female, 1994), and Coil (Sprinter, 2012).

J. Michael O’Farrell Jr. took over management of the family owned and operated Ocala Stud in 1971. Ocala Stud is the oldest actively working Thoroughbred farm in Florida. Ocala Stud has been Florida breeder of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2018. The farm bred 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)-winner Musical Romance, who was also the 2011 Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter and Florida Horse of the Year. The farm has bred an astounding 23 Florida-bred champions.

Tim Sams of Waldemar Farms Inc. bred Foolish Pleasure, the Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 1974 and Florida Horse of the Year. Foolish Pleasure won the 1975 Kentucky Derby, later being inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame. Sams also bred Honest Pleasure, 1976 Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and Florida Horse of the Year. 

Harold Plumley established Plumley Farms in 1995, later breeding 2010 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1)-winner and Eclipse Champion Female Sprinter Dubai Majesty. She was also named Florida’s Champion Sprinter and 2-time Champion Older Female.

The Florida Breeder of the Year in 1994, 1995 and 1996, Michael Sherman of Farnsworth Farm earned the National Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder in 1996, a year that he was also leading Florida breeder by money earned. He won Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff with Jewel Princess (1996) and Beautiful Pleasure (1999), and he bred eight Florida-bred champions.

Peter Vegso of Vegso Racing Stable was named leading Owner by Florida-bred earnings in 2008. He bred 2017 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies-winner Caledonia Road, later named Eclipse Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. His Florida-bred millionaires include Go Between, Silver Tree and Caledonia Road and he bred four Florida-bred champions.

Charlotte Weber, owner of Live Oak Stud and Live Oak Plantation has been Florida Breeder of the Year five times and leading owner seven times. Miesque’s Approval and World Approval each won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, were named Florida Horses of the Year and Eclipse Award champions. In 2017, Live Oak’s Win Approval became the only mare outside of Kentucky to be honored as the National Broodmare of the Year. Weber has bred 12 FTBOA Champions thus far.

Louis Wolfson of Harbor View farm bred and raced 1978 Triple Crown-winner Affirmed, the Eclipse Award Champion Horse of the Year and 3-Year-Old Colt; the 1977 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt; and 1979 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse; Florida’s Horse of the Year 1977-1979, and inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame.

Return to the October 14 issue of Wire to Wire