“We’ve got album after album of win photos, and now and then I’ll flip through them and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I forgot all about that horse.’ We met so many wonderful people and owners who stayed with us for years. It was a lot of fun, a lot of hard work, and plenty of heartbreak, too. But the excitement of it all—the people you meet, the friendships that last, the thrill of traveling to different racetracks—it was just such an exciting time in life. Exhausting, yes, but worth it and an unforgettable experience.” - FTBOA Member Spotlight: Ida Paquette READ MORE AT: (fb)

Enjoy Gala 2025! Heartfelt acceptance speeches and interviews by: - Peggy Costanzo for Horse of the Year Mystic Lake (also winner of Needles award, 3YO filly and female sprinter) - Bo Yates for 2YO champ Rated By Merit - David O'Farrell and Joseph O'Farrell of Ocala Stud Farm for 2YO filly champ NOONI ($1.8 million OBS - Ocala Breeders' Sales purchase) - Live Oak Stud's Charlotte Weber's older male and male turf horse champion Forever Souper and Florida OWNER OF THE YEAR Live Oak Plantation (Kimberly Cookson, Frank Gelinas, and Joe Ambrosia. - Dori Morgan Hyatt's horse bred by Freddie - Dancing N Dixie owned in part by Rocky Top Stable (et al) Jackie Ventura. - Barbara Hammon Vanlangendonck's speech and interview with sons Andrew Vanlangendonck and Arthur Vanlangendonck for Summerfield Sales, LLC's honor of the Joseph M. O'Farrell Memorial Award presented by OBS - Ocala Breeders' Sales for Mystic Lake - Leading freshman sire and leading juvenile sire Win Win Win 's honors were accepted by Ocala Stud Farm for ownerships of Live Oak Stud, Bret Jones (Estate of Brereton C. Jones, and Ocala Stud). - Florida Stallion of the Year KHOZAN, stood at Journeyman Bloodstock Services, Inc. before moving to Ocala Stud Farm, property of Al Shaqab Racing and Stonehedge Farm South. - Florida Broodmare of the Year Points of Grace owned by Helen Barbazon and Joe from Pleasant Acres Stallions. - BREEDER OF THE YEAR - Marilyn Campbell's Stonehedge LLC, Larry King accepted the award on the farm's behalf. The fifth time the entity has been honored as Breeder of the Year. -Thank you to dignitaries present including FTBOA president George Isaacs, of Bridlewood Farm, FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell, Commissioner Carl Zalak III and his wife Ann, Michelle Stone and husband Charlie Stone, former Miami mayor Philip Levine, Ocala/Marion County, Florida mayor Ben Marciano, former Ocala mayor Kent Guinn, Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership interim CEO Tamara Fleischhaker and state legislator Stan McClain and wife Jessica McClain. Thank you Sean Kaplan, Kaplan Advertising, Horse Capital Television and Barbara Hooper for preserving the memories. @followers@ (fb)