CTBA Awards Dinner - California Thoroughbred Breeders Association

California’s Stars Of 2005California-Bred ChampionsCOVERSTORYby RUDI GROOTHEDDEPhotos by RON MESAROSThe California Thoroughbred Breeders Association(CTBA) honored its local champions of last year, duringa gala cocktail party and awards dinner held at theAutry National Center’s Museum of the AmericanWest on Tuesday, Feb. 7.About 150 attendees witnessed the four-year-oldBrian Boudreau, CTBA Director William de Burgh,Master of Ceremonies Janine Edwards and Warren Byrne (left to right)Margaret Hayhurst, Elinore Pagliuso, Desi Keckand June Huntington (left to right)California-bred gelding Lava Man take the lion’sshare of the honors. Bred by the partnership ofLonnie Arterburn and Kim and Eve Kuhlmann,the son of Slew City Slew, out of the winningNostalgia’s Star mare, Li’l Ms. Leonard, collectedthe award for Horse of the Year along with trophyfor Champion Older Male.Fellow California-breds Dream of Summer,Proud Tower Too, Leave Me Alone, BrotherDerek, Sierra Sweetie, Bordonaro and Valentine Danceralso deservedly picked up silverware.For the 18th consecutive year, Golden Eagle Farmreceived the Breeder of the Year award, while the Trainerof the Year trophy went to a surprised Barry Abrams.Amongst the stallions, the winners were River EdgeFarm Inc.’s duo of Bertrando and Benchmark, Pepper OaksFarm’s Swiss Yodeler and Old English Rancho’s Royal CatAlso honored were 36 members of the local Thoroughbredindustry when the California Hall of Fame was reintroduced.The screening of a superb video compiled by Alan Buchdahlprovided the perfect culmination to a recommendation thatwas originally submitted by CTBA President Keith Card.Prior to these main festivities, the association’s annualbusiness meeting was held earlier in the afternoon when itwas confirmed that the CTBA had once again enjoyed asuccessful year of business.The results of the recent directors’ elections were alsoannounced, with incumbents Jeanne Canty, Keith Card andJohn Harris retaining their seats, while newcomers Williamde Burgh and Pete Parrella were welcomed to the board.The positive note that was prevalent during theseevents, proved once again that the Thoroughbred breedingindustry in California continues to enjoy a high level ofsuccess that has now been the norm for many years.CTBA Director Pete Parrella and his wife Evelyn, Madeline Auerbachand CTBA Past President John Harris (left to right)Phil and Sharon Lebherz with Martha Bondeand George and Clare Schmitt (left to right)Continued on next pagewww.ctba.com CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • MARCH 2006 39

COVERSTORYCalifornia-Bred ChampionsCont’d.Horse of the Year & Champion Older MaleLava ManLonnie Arterburn & Kim & Eve Kuhlmann, BreedersSTD Racing Stable or Wood, OwnersDoug O’Neill, TrainerChampion Older FemaleDream of SummerJames C. Weigel, Breeder & OwnerJuan J. Garcia, TrainerKim and Eve Kuhlmann with CTBA President Keith Card (left to right)Champion Three-Year-Old MaleProud Tower TooTricar Stables Inc., Breeder & OwnerSal Gonzalez, TrainerChampion Three-Year-Old FemaleLeave Me AloneOld English Rancho & Quinn & Pond, BreedersS. M. Mitchell Ranch LLC, OwnerJ. Eric Kruljac, TrainerChampion Two-Year-Old MaleBrother DerekMary H. Caldwell, BreederCecil N. Peacock, OwnerDan L. Hendricks, TrainerMarianne MillardChampion Two-Year-Old FemaleSierra SweetieTommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC, BreederPeter Braugh, Jeff Shields, George Schmitt, et.al., OwnersJeff Bonde, TrainerChampion SprinterBordonaroFred Carrillo & Daniel A. Cassella, Breeders & OwnersBill Spawr, TrainerChampion Turf HorseValentine DancerAl & Sandee Kirkwood, Breeders & OwnersCraig A. Lewis, TrainerCTBA Director Myron Johnson, Trainer Sal Gonzalez and AssistantTrainer Jose Arthuro Ruiz (left to right)Daniel and Sally Cassella with Fred, Geraldineand Karin Carrillo (left to right)Chris and Mary Caldwell withCTBA Director Leigh Ann Howard (left to right)40 CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • MARCH 2006 www.ctba.com

COVERSTORYLarry Mabee (left) and CTBA Director Dan HarralsonLeading California Sire of CaliforniaConceived Foals by EarningsBertrandoMr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod, OwnersCTBA Director Trudy McCaffery (left) and Russell DrakeLeading California Sire of CaliforniaConceived Two-Year-Olds by EarningsBenchmarkMr. & Mrs. Martin J. Wygod, OwnersLeading California Sire of CaliforniaConceived Foals by Number of WinnersSwiss YodelerHeinz Steinmann, OwnerLeading California Freshman Sire ofCalifornia Conceived Foals by EarningsRoyal CatSLU Inc., E. W. Johnston & Patsy Berumen, OwnersLeading Breeder of CaliforniaFoaled Thoroughbreds by EarningsGolden Eagle FarmCTBA Director Pete Parrella (left) and Mike HarringtonOutstanding Trainer AwardBarry AbramsMarie Purdue (left) and Patsy BerumenTrainer of the Year Barry Abrams (left) and CTBA ExecutiveVice President and General Manager Doug Burgewww.ctba.com CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED • MARCH 2006 41