The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced today that Donna Barton Brothers will host the 28th Annual National Awards Dinner to be held on Friday, Sept. 6 at Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, Kentucky.
Brothers, a former jockey, began riding professionally in 1987. She was leading stakes-winning rider in 1995 at Churchill Downs' spring/summer meet and rode Hennessey to a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) that year. After riding for more than 11 years she retired in 1998 as the second leading female jockey in the country by money earned after having won 1,171 races.
In 1998 she began on-air racing coverage with Television Games Network (TVG), ESPN, Churchill Downs, and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. In 2000, she began working for NBC Sports as their on-track reporter and racing analyst on their Thoroughbred racing shows and has since covered the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I), Preakness Stakes (gr. I), Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Breeders' Cup World Championships, and many other top Thoroughbred races across the country.
In addition to her television duties, Brothers is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Starlight Racing and in 2011, Brothers published a book, Inside Track: Insider's Guide to Horse Racing.
"We are honored to have Donna Barton Brothers host the TOBA National Awards Dinner," said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. "Donna is an accomplished broadcaster and horsewoman and we are excited to be teaming up with her on a special evening recognizing our sport's leading owners and breeders."
The TOBA National Awards Dinner honors the achievements of Thoroughbred owners in the four major North American racing regions and Canada, and breeders in 21 states. In addition, the Rood & Riddle Thoroughbred Sport Horse of the Year Award will be presented to the owners of Thomas Edison, an ex-Thoroughbred racehorse that has excelled in sport horse competitions as tracked by the United States Equestrian Federation. TOBA will also honor Lisa Danielle, the National Broodmare of the Year and Gary Biszantz, recipient of the TOBA's Industry Service Award.
National Awards Dinner sponsors include OCD Pellets, Xpressbet, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, Woodford Reserve, John Deere, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC, Flair Nasal Strips, Fasig-Tipton, Daily Racing Form, and Blood-Horse Publications.
