Serving the Washington Thoroughbred Industry for over 65 years
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About the Association
MISSION STATEMENT:
The Washington
Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association seeks to unite and represent those who are
interested in breeding, owning, racing and improving Thoroughbreds in the state
of Washington and the Northwest. To generate positive growth, interest and
appreciation of Washington Thoroughbreds, the WTBOA is dedicated and committed
to education, communication and collaboration, as well as marketing and
promoting the nobility, history and benefits of Thoroughbreds.
he Washington Thoroughbred
Breeders and Owners Association was founded in 1940 as a nonprofit organization composed
of persons interested in the breeding and improvement of the Thoroughbred.
Through a wide variety of programs the WTBOA strives to foster and preserve the
traditions of the Thoroughbred in the state of Washington and across the
country.
The WTBOA has played a dramatic role in the
growth and prosperity of the Washington Thoroughbred industry. This has been
achieved through the support of its members. Only through continued support by
interested horsemen can the association and its services endure. Support the
Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association by becoming a member so we can continue with the
following programs:
SALES
WTBOA
members are eligible to market their Thoroughbreds through the sales program
supervised by the WTBOA. The association conducts its Summer Yearling Sale in
late August or early September and the Winter Mixed Sale on the first weekend
in December at the Morris J. Alhadeff Sales Pavilion at Emerald Downs in
Auburn.
The sales program is designed to fit the
needs of both buyers and sellers, whether their interests lie in weanlings,
yearlings, horses of racing age or breeding stock. The WTBOA actively promotes
the program through advertising and personal contact with buyers and sellers
throughout North America.
LEGISLATIVE
REPRESENTATION
Dating back to 1940 when
the WTBOA (then the WHBA) was incorporated, the association has taken an aggressive and forward
position on legislative issues which have had an impact on the well-being of
the Washington Thoroughbred industry. The ability of the WTBOA to mobilize its
membership at the grass roots level to support or oppose proposed legislation
is essential to the success of the industry.
In
cooperation with the Washington Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective
Association and Washington's racing associations, the WTBOA actively monitors
and lobbies the state legislature in Olympia. For example, the WTBOA was
responsible for the passage of the One Percent Owners' Bonus Bill in 1969,
which has distributed over $54 million to owners of Washington-bred horses
which have raced successfully within the state's boundaries.
In 1985, the WTBA joined with the Washington HBPA and
the state's racing associations in developing and securing the passage of
Senate Bill 3342, which generated more than $4 million in additional revenue to
the racing industry in just its first year in effect. In 1991, the WTBOA helped
pass legislation which further increased purses and reduced the state's share
of the mutuel takeout. The funds generated from this reduction aided in the
construction of Emerald Downs, the state's major racetrack, thus helping to
secure racing's future in Washington.
BREEDERS'
AWARDS
Any bona fide breeder of a
Washington-bred Thoroughbred is eligible to receive breeders' awards,
regardless of who owns the horse at the time of winning, so long as the horse
in question wins a race at a major track in the state of Washington.
Originally negotiated by the WTBOA, the payment of
breeders' awards by the racing associations dates back to 1945. The WTBOA played
a major role in the passage of the legislation which addresses the continuing
payment of breeders' awards from the pari-mutuel handle and which has resulted
in the distribution of nearly $26 million to the breeders of Washington-breds
winners at the state's racetracks during the last six decades. The WTBOA was also responsible for initiating a change that, beginning in 2008, made it possible for the breeder of any Washington-bred finishing first, second or third in any race at Emerald Downs to receive Breeders' Awards.
WASHINGTON THOROUGHBRED
All members receive the WTBOA's award-winning bimonthly
magazine, Washington Thoroughbred, featuring comprehensive coverage of
both the Washington and Oregon racing and breeding industries.
The Washington Thoroughbred includes statistical data relevant to members' breeding, racing and marketing programs,
as well as educational information, up-to-date veterinary news, individual farm
features, sales previews and highlights, human interest articles, important
reminders, and classified and display advertising.
Two issues are of particular importance: the Stallion
Register, which features consistent side-by-side data on stallions standing
in Washington, Oregon and the Northwest; and the
Pacific Northwest Horseman's Resource, a handy industry reference tool, listing farms,
services, trainers, etc. which is distributed throughout the Pacific
Northwest every other year.
The magazine is a
General Excellence award winner from the American Horse Publications and has
also received numerous awards for photography, illustrations, stories and articles that were presented
within its pages.
The WTBOA also disseminates current and timely information and reminders through its about-weekly e-mail newsletter, Gate-to-Wire.
REGULARLY UPDATED WEBSITE
Update to date news, statistics, reminders and deadlines, historical biographies and other timely and/or noteworthy information.
NORTHWEST RACE SERIES
The WTBOA designed and provides the administrative work
for the exciting Northwest Race Series, an innovative series of races under a
one nomination umbrella which has no state-bred restrictions. It also offers
stallion and nominator bonus awards.
The
two-year-old series made its debut in 1988. In 1999, it was expanded to include stallion stakes for three-year-old colts and geldings and
three-year-old fillies. Through 2009, a sum in excess of $13.8 million had been
won by horses competing in the program. This rich race series has garnered
national acclaim.
RESEARCH LIBRARIES and
ON-LINE COMPUTER
The WTBOA maintains
one of the finest and most complete research libraries in the country,
available to members at no extra cost. The library is constantly upgraded to
provide up-to-date information regarding race records, sire records, broodmare
production records, breeding theory, etc.
Also
available are a broad selection of technical and veterinary reference books,
historical information, general reading material concerning the Thoroughbred
industry, a wide variety of magazines, sales catalogs, Daily Racing
Forms from Washington and Oregon, Daily Racing Form and The Jockey
Club microfiche.
Also available for purchase
through the WTBOA are computer printouts from Bloodstock Research and Equine
Line in Kentucky. The computer provides over 50 different printouts ranging
from race records to full five-generation pedigrees and complete sales catalog
page information.
VIDEO
LIBRARY
The WTBOA video library includes
tapes on horse care, stable management, races of interest and individual farms
and stallions available for viewing on our wide screen television.
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAMS
The WTBOA sponsors a wide range
of educational programs and forums, including the Horseman's Short Courses,
which have brought some of the industry's most respected and knowledgeable
leaders to Washington for one- to three-day seminars.
These educational experiences cover racing, breeding
management and theories, marketing and much more. Other events include sales
and tax seminars aimed at introducing new people to the racing industry.
SERVICES
Among the many services offered by the WTBOA are:
assistance with registration of members' Thoroughbreds and serving as a liaison
between members and The Jockey Club, pedigree evaluation and Thoroughbred
appraisals, assistance in arranging sales and leases, marketing guidance, etc.
The WTBOA either has someone on staff or can refer
you to the proper authority to help you with any question or need you may have
regarding your participation in the sport/business. The WTBOA has also been
designated as a regional information center for the Breeders' Cup Series.
PROMOTIONAL
Direct
and frequent exchanges with the media, arranging press conferences, relaying
pertinent stories, gaining media coverage for sales and interesting aspects of
the industry are all part of the WTBOA's focus in promoting racing and breeding
whenever possible.
EQUINE ART
SHOW
(Under the auspices of the Washington Thoroughbred
Foundation)
One of the highlights of
the summer is the annual Equine Art Show. It was conceived as a way to
encourage and promote young and unknown artists who are interested in the
equine animal. Entries are received from all over the western United States and
several artists have gone on to receive national recognition.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS and
ANNUAL AWARDS
There's no better way to
learn the sport/business of Thoroughbred horse racing and breeding than from
friends and associates in a relaxed atmosphere. The WTBOA provides that setting
several times each year at such events as the annual awards banquet, annual
meeting, etc.