(Edited press release)
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, which facilitated the Sales Integrity Task Force in 2004, has agreed to reconvene the task force to address Kentucky House Bill 388 and other issues relating to the sale of horses in the state.
“We agreed to reconvene and restructure TOBA’s Sales Integrity Task Force at the request of a number of industry stakeholders and to address issues relating to transparency of ownership, medication and the licensing of bloodstock agents,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “It is our goal that the task force will have an open and honest discussion on these industry practices and we hope that an industry consensus can be reached. TOBA’s mission is to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of owners and breeders and we are honored to assist the industry with this important initiative.”
The task force will include representatives from the Thoroughbred industry, as well as the other equine breeds in Kentucky.
TOBA, based in Lexington, Ky., was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred horse breeders and owners. Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Greatest Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the board of directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.