Registrar and General Manager of the CTHS National Office, Fran Okihiro will be retiring in October after close to 20 years in her position at the Toronto, Ontario office.
Growing up on a farm in rural London, Ontario, Fran had an inbred love of horses. Her first glimpse at the horse racing industry was through the early morning fog with her mother and thousands of other fans all trying to catch a glimpse of Secretariat’s final workout before the International at Woodbine. It wasn’t until years later that Fran was thrust into the business while trying to register her husband’s Thoroughbred racehorse, the resulting foal from a mare he and a partner had purchased on a whim.
After learning some lessons in racing, Fran and her husband eventually became partners in Get Away Farms where she worked as secretary and was also in charge of transporting horses among many other duties.
She left the farm to go work at Nobleton Feed Mill at which time Fran also began helping each year at the CTHS Ontario Division Sales and then the Woodbine Sales Company. When the Woodbine Sales company dissolved Fran had a stint in the Group Sales Department at Woodbine before returning to the sales arena working for Canadian Breeders Sales.
In April 1993, CTHS Ontario President, Glenn Sikura, asked Fran if she would be interested in the position she has now held for close to 20 years.
“I plan to do as little as possible,” commented Fran when asked about her plans for retirement, “I would like to do some traveling and to also spend time with my granddaughters.”
Stepping into her position will be Rachel Kukulewich whose family has raced both standardbreds and thoroughbreds in Ontario. Rachel says that her family can boast about the rare feat of being in the winner’s circle in the afternoon at Woodbine and in the winner’s circle that same evening at Greenwood. Formerly the Manager of Industry Programs at the Ontario Racing Commission, Rachel brings her enthusiasm, previous work experience and a variety of skills to her new position at the CTHS National office.
The Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (CTHS) was incorporated in 1906 under the federal Live Stock Pedigree Act (presently called the Animal Pedigree Act – 1988) as a national breed organization to assist breeders of Thoroughbred horses in Canada. The National Office is located in Toronto. The National Office determines the requirements for Canadian-bred status of foals, maintains the breeder membership roster for Canada, compiles statistics and represents Canadian Thoroughbred breeders nationally and internationally.
In 1982, provincial divisions were established in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Saskatchewan. The divisions assist breeders with provincial bonus and incentive programs, operate auctions, and provide other services to member. Most of the provincial divisions have web sites.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
