Unbelievably, Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard has never saddled a Derby starter
Breeders' Cup and some of the top racetracks in the country have repackaged major stakes for 2007 in the hope of promoting the World Championships. The scheme includes guaranteed berths in the Breeders' Cup for horses that win stakes on six big-event days in the summer and early fall.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006Bill Casner of WinStar Farm has been elected chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, replacing Cobra Farm's Gary Biszantz, who was first elected to a one-year term in 2001 and re-elected three successive years.
Thursday, August 11, 2005The Thoroughbred Championship Tour, introduced in 2002 with a projected launch date of 2006, has been suspended because all of the parties needed to move it forward haven't committed to the project, organizers said.
Friday, July 15, 2005The National Thoroughbred Racing Association took no action June 9 on a proposed contract with the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed series of big-event racing days scheduled to commence in 2006.
Friday, June 10, 2005The Thoroughbred Championship Tour has reached an agreement with the New York Racing Association for its participation as a host track in the TCT beginning in July 2006.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005The Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed series of big-event racing days leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, appears on track for 2006 now that the TCT and Breeders' Cup have signed a contract.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005The amount of money Breeders' Cup contributes to the Thoroughbred Championship Tour beginning in 2006 will hinge on the television contracts negotiated this year by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association for next year and beyond.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005The Breeders' Cup board of directors has approved a committee recommendation that all grade I stakes that receive Breeders' Cup purse supplements be run under weight-for-age conditions effective July 1.
Tuesday, January 11, 2005The Thoroughbred Championship Tour, which calls for a realigned, beefed up series of stakes leading up to the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, is officially a scratch for 2005 but should be ready to go in 2006, an organizer said.
Friday, December 24, 2004The Breeders' Cup board of directors has approved president D.G. Van Clief Jr. as acting commissioner and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Monday, September 13, 2004The task force that will look into issues related to Thoroughbred sales will be inclusive, have 16 to 20 members, and could be in place by the end of August, officials with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association said.
Friday, August 13, 2004The board of directors of the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed owner-driven series of races tied to big-event days, said July 24 it has hired Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association president Dan Metzger to serve as president and chief executive officer.
Monday, July 26, 2004The Breeders' Cup board of directors June 11 approved agreement in principal with the Thoroughbred Championship Tour based upon the joint proposals of Breeders' Cup and TCT subcommittees, which met in New York the week of May 31.
Friday, June 11, 2004An agreement in principle was reached Wednesday for a joint effort between Breeders' Cup and the Thoroughbred Championship Tour.
Friday, June 04, 2004The Breeders' Cup board of directors, given shifts in the number of mares bred, is considering a change in stallion nomination fees and could take action at its meeting in June.
Friday, May 14, 2004The Breeders' Cup and Thoroughbred Championship Tour are discussing a potential joint venture that would have to be in place within 45 days under an agreement reached April 22, a Breeders' Cup official said.
Friday, April 23, 2004Organizers of the Thoroughbred Championship Tour and Breeders' Cup are working on an agreement that would facilitate launch of the proposed high-level stakes series for 2005.
Thursday, January 15, 2004The National Thoroughbred Racing Association has approved a proposal for expanded television coverage and up to $2 million in purse enhancements in the Breeders' Cup Stakes Program as part of a new-look summer racing schedule.
Thursday, December 04, 2003The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's proposed Thoroughbred Championship Tour will proceed with assistance from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Breeders' Cup.
Saturday, October 11, 2003Bill Casner, co-owner of WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky., called for support of video lottery terminals in Kentucky and the Thoroughbred Championship Tour while accepting the 2003 Industry Service Award at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association's National Awards Dinner.
Monday, September 08, 2003The Breeders' Cup board of directors on Monday officially endorsed the proposed Thoroughbred Championship Tour, and also said it would use a new drug-testing protocol being designed by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association for all graded stakes.
Monday, July 14, 2003The Breeders' Cup executive committee and management team is expected to recommend to the full Breeders' Cup board that the organization continue to work with the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to facilitate the proposed Thoroughbred Championship Tour.
Monday, June 30, 2003Thoroughbred innovator John Gaines was part of a panel discussion named "Legends of the Turf" at the Thoroughbred International Exposition & Conference. Never one to shy away from his opinion, Gaines offered up the following adages Saturday afternoon:
Sunday, June 22, 2003Thoroughbred innovator John Gaines was part of a panel discussion named "Legends of the Turf" at the Thoroughbred International Exposition & Conference. Never one to shy away from his opinion, Gaines offered up the following adages Saturday afternoon:
Sunday, June 22, 2003The National Thoroughbred Racing Association continues to examine a vehicle to bring back the Great State Challenge later this year, and also is working with Visa in regard to a policy change that has hindered state-sanctioned account wagering in the United States.
Thursday, June 05, 2003The Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed series of stakes that would bridge the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, will rely heavily on incentives to get owners to commit their horses, officials said June 3.
Wednesday, June 04, 2003Representatives of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association met for the second time May 15 to discuss the future of the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a for-profit racing series that would rely on owners for start-up funds.
Friday, May 16, 2003The proposed Thoroughbred Championship Tour hopes to create a sports franchise for horse owners and a network television package that rivals that of Triple Crown Productions. But the limited liability company that would own the racing series expects to lose an average of $3.7 million in each of its first five formative years because of purse contributions.
Tuesday, April 15, 2003With a business plan in place, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association plans to meet with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup the week of April 14 to discuss plans for the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a proposed for-profit, owner-driven racing series.
Friday, April 11, 2003The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup have formed the framework to look at the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a for-profit, televised racing series the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association hopes to launch.
Monday, February 24, 2003The National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Breeders' Cup have formed the framework to look at the Thoroughbred Championship Tour, a for-profit, televised racing series the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association hopes to launch.
Monday, February 24, 2003