The New York Thoroughbred Breeders’ Inc. is pleased to announce the return of its annual Holiday Party on Friday, December 13 at the Canfield Casino National Museum in Saratoga Springs, NY from 7-10 p.m. ET.

The evening will feature exquisite hors d’oeuvres, chef-attended dinner stations, an open bar, and musical performances from local Saratoga Springs cover band The Wallies.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting nytbreeders.org/events and are $125 for NYTB members and $150 for non-members.

“Our annual holiday party is a yearly tradition for NYTB members and New York-bred program participants to get together to ahead of the holidays and breeding season,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.  “This year’s party, which will be held at the Canfield Casino, will be even more special in welcoming our guests to a historic and extravagant location for a festive party.”

Please note that the holiday party is a sellout event! You must RSVP by purchasing tickets directly at nytbreeder.org/events or calling the NYTB office at 518.587.0777.

Mary and Chester Broman in the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course. Mary Broman passed away last week at the age of 88. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

Mary Rachel Broman, who with her husband Chester established one of New York’s leading breeding and racing operations, passed away October 16 at the age of 88.

Born April 13, 1936, and a resident of Babylon Village, New York, and Wellington, Florida, was devoted wife of Chester Sr., beloved mother of Chester Jr. and his wife Holly, son Christopher and his wife Tamera and the late Rachel Broman. Cherished grandmother of Sarah, Nicholas, Brandon and Hannah, and dear sister of Roseanne McWilliams and Paula Hoey.

The Bromans own and operate Chestertown Farm in the tiny community of the same name in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The couple were honored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc. with the state’s Breeder of the Year title eight times, the most recent crown in 2022.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs. Broman,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “In addition to her tremendous accomplishments in the New York-bred program alongside her husband Chester, she was also a warm and welcome presence. We express our deepest condolences to Chester and the entire Broman family.”

The Bromans sit well atop the state’s list of leading breeders for 2024 with purse earnings of $2,256,979 through October 14, along with 42 wins from 227 starts. Stakes winners in 2024 bred by the Bromans include Bank Frenzy (Evan Shipman Handicap), Spirit of St Louis (Hudson Valley Stakes, Kingston Stakes, Danger’s Hour Stakes) and Sweet Brown Sugar (Niagara Stakes, East View Stakes).

“Mrs. Broman will be missed by the entire New York breeding and racing community,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, vice president of government affairs for the New York Racing Association and former executive director of the NYTB. “She was a personal friend and I sincerely enjoyed all our time spent together.  I’d like to extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to Chester and the Broman family.”

“We are so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing,” said New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association President Tina Bond. “She and Chester have been pillars of the New York breeding industry for so many years, and they set a standard of excellence that we all strive to meet. Mary was very much a partner in the Chestertown operations, and she was also a classy and lovely woman. Her passing is a real loss to our community.”

Chester and Mary Broman, at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga, collected eight Breeder of the Year titles from the NYTB. Susie Raisher/NYRA Photo.

The Bromans also led the state’s breeders list in 2023 with New York-bred earnings of $3,243,042. Hejazi, a finalist for champion 2-year-old male honors in 2022, earned the 3-year-old championship in 2023 and the Bromans also bred 2023 champion older female New York-bred Classy Edition. Spirit of St Louis also earned finalist consideration for champion male turf honors in 2023.

The Bromans racked up New York-bred earnings of $3,157,109 in 2022, nearly $1 million more than the state’s next closest breeder. Leading runners that season included New York-bred champion 2-year-old male Acoustic Ave, who raced in their familiar green and white silks. The Bromans also bred and sold Hejazi, a son of Bernardini who brought $3.55 million at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds in training sale.

Hejazi and Classy Edition were the 11th and 12th New York-bred champions bred by the Bromans since 2000. The group also includes 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold and Grade 1 winners Artemis Agrotera and Friends Lake and $1,403,536-earner and multiple stakes winner Mr. Buff. Bar of Gold, who retired with earnings of more than $1.55 million, and Mr. Buff won multiple titles and rank in the top 30 among all-time New York-bred earners.

From Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home:

Friends may visit at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home, 448 W. Main Street, Babylon Village, New York, Thursday, October 24 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Religious services at 10 a.m. Friday, October 25 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Farmingdale, New York. Mary will be laid to rest at Pinelawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 298 Conklin Street, Farmingdale, New York, 11735, in her name, appreciated.

Condolences and fond memories can be left at www.Boyd-Spencer.com.

Nicole McNees’ Not Phar Now, a gelding by American Pharoah bred by Chester and Mary Broman, competed in Barrel Racing under Jessica Frederick and earned the Empire State Success Story Top New York-Bred Award at last week’s Thoroughbred Makeover competition in Lexington, Kentucky. Erin Gilmore Photography.

By Melissa Bauer-Herzog

Three New York-breds finished in the top five after two days of preliminary competition at last week’s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America, and represented the Empire State in Saturday’s Finale.

One of 28 New York-bred retired racehorses who competed at this year’s Makeover, Not Phar Now, was awarded the Empire State Success Story Top New York-Bred Award presented by New York Thoroughbred Breeders Inc., New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and New York Racing Association after the week’s preliminary competition as the highest placed Makeover horse bred in New York.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, the son of American Pharoah competed in barrel racing and proved best among the 20 horses entered in the discipline. Performing a horsemanship pattern and two preliminary barrel racing runs during the week, Not Phar Now recorded a combined score of 40.134, more than a point ahead of the next nearest horse to enter the Finale.

Competitors started on a clean slate in the Finale and Not Phar Now showed that his earlier scores were truly representative of his abilities. The gelding stopped the clock in :18.567 Saturday – more than a second and a half faster than the nearest competitor – to win the division with Jessica Frederick aboard. Now that the Makeover in the books, Not Phar Now will see a change in rider with owner Nicole McNees turned the reins over to her 11-year-old daughter Zoe.

“During the run, I had to remember to breathe and just trust him because sometimes I forget to trust him around work,” Frederick said. “He’s such a special guy, especially with him only having one eye. He’s so special.”

The title of Barrel Racing Champion is just the latest accolade for the one-eyed Not Phar Now, who was trained at the end of his career by Orlando Noda for Final Turn Racing Stable and Celeritas Racing. Not Phar Now won six of his 24 starts, with seven other top-three finishes, and earned $271,790 during his career. He was sourced from ReRun Inc. by McNees.

Boo Ba La, a daughter of Frost Giant bred by Dutchess Views Farm Inc. and Gina Bentivgna, finished third behind Not Phar Now. The 5-year-old mare, retired in August 2023 while under the care of owner-trainer Ralph D’Alessandro, won twice on the track with three other top-three finishes during her racing career.

Boo Ba La had finished close behind Not Phar Now in her preliminary performances to be less than 3 points behind the leader going into the Finale. The Megan Hems-trained Boo Ba La registered a time of :20.597 to finish just a tick behind the runner-up and 1.5 seconds ahead of the fourth-place finisher. Boo Ba La also finished 15th in the Freestyle event during preliminary competition.

Winwood was the third representative for the New York-bred program in the Finale when competing in Polo.

A homebred runner for Ron Lombardi’s Mr. Amore Stable, Winwood was retired from the track last December after four career starts. A 3-year-old son of Poseidon’s Warrior, Winwood finished fifth in preliminary competition to earn his spot in the Finale. After a flat test and short indoor polo match where he could show his skills, Winwood finished fifth in the Finale.

Just like Boo Ba La, Winwood competed in a second discipline and finished 21st in Freestyle.

Only five horses from each discipline competed in the Finale but five other New York-breds also finished in the top 20 of their disciplines. The other top-20 finishers:

• Lemon Taffy (sixth, Barrel Racing)
• Cancelled Captivity (10th, Barrel Racing)
• Best Idea (10th, Competitive Trail)
• Bustin Hoffman (16th, Ranch Work)

Pretty miss Keens (17th, Show Hunters)

Students and professors from SUNY Cobleskill joined NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson (right) last weekend at Saratoga Race Course and helped pick the Best Turned Out Award on behalf of B.E.S.T. for Saturday’s card. Susie Raisher Photo.

By Tom Law and Alec DiConza

Students involved in the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., and State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill’s accredited course designed to expose Animal Science program students to the Thoroughbred industry were on hand Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

The students started the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Oklahoma Training Track led by former NYTB President and longtime New York owner and breeder Tom Gallo. The morning training part of the tour included a visit with Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, discussion with retired leading jockey Richard Migliore and later a tour of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame led by Tom Durkin.

The students spent the day at the races with visits to the paddock and helping the Backstretch Employee Service Team (B.E.S.T.) selection of the “Best Turned Out Award” for the day.

“I love it. We got to talk to a bunch of cool people like one of the jockeys earlier (and) we went to the museum,” said SUNY Cobleskill student Amber Reilly, also a member of the school’s equestrian team. “It was really fun to learn new things. And then we got to come here, meet a bunch of cool people, do a bunch of things I’ve never done. It’s just been a really good experience today.”

The program is offered to 15-20 junior undergraduate students that have met prerequisites. The course, which runs from late August to early December, falls in line with the NYTB’s goals to make outreach with upper-level science students majoring in equine studies and finding the next generation of the industry’s workforce and leaders in racing and breeding.

“This is the second year we’ve worked with SUNY Cobleskill, with Ray Whelihan and of course the Thoroughbred industry course, with New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” said NYTB Executive Director Najja Thompson. “This is a great experience for the students, to see the end product of the racing industry today at Saratoga Race Course. They got to visit Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, hear from champion New York jockey Richard Migliore and just experience the morning and afternoon racing.

“Expanding upon that program, they’ll also visit a breeding farm as well as experience the October fall sale here in Saratoga. It’s all about exposing students to the Thoroughbred industry in every aspect, and of course using that to get more people interested in participation and jobs within our industry, which is important.”

Raymond Whelihan, SUNY Cobleskill Associate Professor in Animal Science, collaborated with Gallo to develop the program and said it continues to be fine-tuned along with some growth.

“Definitely there is growth and getting a sense of the prior knowledge the students have and how we can help them build off it,” Whelihan said. “I think it goes a little bit smoother the second year, for sure. The New York breeders are the ones just providing all these opportunities. This is incredible.

Gallo spearheaded an effort years ago to introduce NYTB-led educational seminars, with an ultimate goal of using the seminars to educate young people that might be interested in the Thoroughbred industry. Gallo came away from this year’s event excited about the potential of the students and the program going forward.

“These kids are already in the equine studies program and deeply involved with horses,” Gallo said. “When we talk about schedules, care, maintenance, preparation for the races and all those things that go on with the horses, they’re deeply interested and engaged with the program.

Gallo thanked NYRA, BEST, Mott, Migliore, Durkin, the National Musuem of Racing and others involved in putting on Saturday’s event.

“It’s a pleasure to do,” Gallo said. “For me it’s not work at all. I love the fact we have young minds and young people that are really interested. The biggest thing is seeing what they get out of it, the excitement and the way their questions are pointed, very commonsense questions, one horseman to another type questions. Every question is a valid question.

“The challenge for us is to expand the program. We have a great product. What I’ve noticed in the Thoroughbred industry, everybody that comes to the racetrack now were exposed to the racetrack when they were young. You don’t have to talk a child into liking a horse. There’s a magnetic attraction there. That said, if we can introduce larger number of students to this program it will expand exponentially by telling other people. It’s great PR for our business. They see the standard of care these horses get.”