Tuesday, April 22, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Becky Robinson,
Florida Thoroughbred
Breeders’ and Owners’ Association
(352) 629-2160
United front
Thoroughbred breeders and owners come together on horse sale issues.
The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (FTBOA) Tuesday applauded an agreement between a group of stakeholders working to promote integrity in public and private horse sales in Florida. FTBOA, working in conjunction with prominent Thoroughbred owner Earle Mack and the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (OBS), Tuesday presented their joint recommendations to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, on a comprehensive set of rules aimed at protecting Florida’s horse industry and ensuring the state’s $7-billion horse industry continues to flourish.
Earle Mack is a West Palm Beach resident who has been a national leader in the push for horse sale reforms. Mack, a former U.S. Ambassador to Finland, has owned many top racehorses, including Electrocutionist, a multiple group stakes winner while owned by Mr. Mack, who subsequently won the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup, after being privately sold to Sheikh Mohammed. Mr. Mack also owned Peteski, a Canadian Horse of the Year and MG1W November Snow. He is a longtime breeder, buyer and seller at major Thoroughbred auctions in North America and around the world.
Following months of meetings and discussions with Mr. Mack and other horse owners, breeders, buyers, sellers, FTBOA officials, OBS representatives, and veterinarians, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has been working to fashion rules and regulations to govern horse sales and protect buyers.
“Kerry Flack, Assistant Director of Marketing for The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company, Mr. Mack, and many other individuals in the horse industry have contributed their time and expertise to draft the regulations on behalf of the industry. These are areas of great importance and everyone is to be commended for their efforts,” said Richard Hancock, Executive Vice President of the FTBOA.
“I’m pleased with the progress we have made together with this giant step forward. We must be diligent in our continued efforts to protect the integrity of the horse marketplace and thereby encourage wider public participation in our great industry,” said Mack. “The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services asked all of us to work together and come back with an agreement on rules that would protect horse buyers in Florida. I congratulate the FTBOA and OBS management for their hard work and spirit of cooperation in the public good by getting this accomplished. ”
“The Florida group, including Mr. Mack, Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, Florida Veterinary Medical Association, Florida Association of Equine Practitioners, Florida Horse Council, Florida Quarter Horse Association, American Association of Equine Practitioners, and the National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors together with The Florida Department of Agriculture have worked together for many hours in order to improve both public and private sales of horses in the state,” said Tom Chiota, President of Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company.
View the published press release featuring Earle I Mack at Bloodhorse.
View the corresponding article featuring Earle I Mack.