Page 68 - NM Winter 2023

Robert And Del Rae Driggers Honored At 2023 TOBA Awards
Tilla Cat, a full sister to Bella Dona sold to the
The other state and
Canadian breeders of
the year honored were:
•Arizona Breeder of the Year, Fleming Thoroughbred Farm LLC (Marvin and Gerald Fleming)
•Arkansas Breeder of the Year, Shortleaf Stable (John E. Anthony)
•California Breeder of the Year, Nick Alexander
•Canada Breeder of the Year, Adena Springs (Frank and Elfriede Stronach)
• Canada Small Breeder of the Year, Flying Horse Farm (Russell and Lois Bennett)
• Florida Breeder of the Year, Arindel Farm (Alan and Brian Cohen)
•Indiana Breeder of the Year, Justice Farms (Greg Justice)
•Iowa Breeder of the Year, Poindexter Thoroughbreds (Allen Poindexter)
•Kentucky Breeder of the Year, Godolphin •Louisiana Breeder of the Year, Allied
Racing Stables (Chester Thomas) •Maryland Breeder of the Year, Dance
Forth Farm (Tom and Chris Bowman) •Minnesota Breeder of the Year,
Lothenbach Stables (Robert Lothenbach) • New Jersey Breeder of the Year, Bright
View Farm (Christine Connelly) •New York Breeder of the Year,
Chestertown Farm (Chester and
Mary Broman)
•North Carolina Breeder of the Year,
Rockhouse Farm (Nancy Shuford)
• Oregon Breeder of the Year, Lisa Baze •Pennsylvania Breeder of the Year,
Elizabeth M. Merryman
•South Carolina Breeder of the Year,
Franklin G. Smith Sr.
• Texas Breeder of the Year, Windy Hill
(Ronald and Margaret Ellerbee)
• Virginia Breeder of the Year, South Gate
Farm (Amy Moore) •Washington Breeder of the Year,
John E. Parker
New Mexico-based owners and breeders Robert and Del Rae Driggers were among the leading state breeders honored at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s National Awards Luncheon, held September 8 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky in Lexington.
Owners and operators of Bar Y Equine
in Berino, the Driggers enjoyed a banner
year in 2022. Their top performer, Bella
Dona, is a homebred daughter of the Forest Wildcat stallion Attila’s Storm that they race
in partnership with Ben Lee Ivey. Raced exclusively in New Mexico, the bay filly put together an undefeated season during which
she won all seven of her races at four of the state’s tracks -- all against stakes company -- and earned $495,000.
Bella Dona’s dam, Charlotte’s Drone, has been a productive mare for the Driggers, as the unplaced daughter of the Full Choke stallion B.G.’s Drone has foaled a total of three stakes winners, all bred by the Driggers, including
partnership of Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC, Lee Lewis, Joe Dee Brooks, Scott Bryant and Derrol Hubbard at the 2014 New Mexico-Bred Sale
at Ruidoso Downs, and Lariat, a half-brother
to Bella Dona sold to Margaret V. Bloss at the 2018 New Mexico-Bred Sale.
More recently, Charlotte’s Drone has produced a 2022 foal by the Unbridled’s Song stallion Right Rigger (named Rig The Game), and an unnamed 2023 foal by the Tiznow stallion Sporting Chance.
Other past stakes winners bred by the Driggers include Quatro, a daughter of Mr. Greeley stallion Mr. Gold Mover who won the February 5, $100,000 La Coneja Stakes (R) at Sunland Park, and Sidewinder Sally and No Pasa Nada, a multiple stakes placed full brother to Bella Dona.
The Driggers have also had success with their homebred Quarter Horses; they stand Chicks Regard, a Quarter Horse stallion by Chicks Beduino owned by K. Humberto Lopez Gaxiola, at Bar Y Equine. Their homebred Gun Battle, a son of the First Down Dash stallion Dash Ta Fame, won the 2006 Zia Futurity (RG1) at Ruidoso Downs and was the runner-up in No Secrets Here’s All American Futurity (G1). Major Rime, their homebred son of the Dash For Cash stallion Rime, was a multiple graded stakes winner in New Mexico from 1994-95 and ran third in the 1994 All American Futurity.
TOBA National Awards sponsors included Jackson Family Wines, FanDuel, WinStar Farm, BloodHorse and The Jockey Club, Castle & Key Distillery, NTRA/John Deere/ Equine Discounts, Big Ass Fans, Daily Racing Form, Darley, the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Fasig- Tipton, Stoll Keenon Ogden and White
Birch Farm, Inc.
TOBA, based in Lexington, was formed in
1961 and is a national trade organization of leading Thoroughbred owners and breeders. A co-owner of BloodHorse, TOBA’s mission is to improve the economics, integrity, and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders.
The New Mexico Horse Breeders Associat ion would like to congratulate all t he honorees.
66 New Mexico Horse Breeder