Lawrence Cordes and Ivan Dalos Honoured Sept. 11 at TOBA Awards

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association will host the 36th annual TOBA National Awards live from Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Kentucky, on September 11, 2021.

LAWRENCE CORDES and TALL OAKS FARM’s IVAN DALOS will be honoured as co-Canadian Breeders of the Year at the dinner.

Cordes burst on to the international racing scene when his one-eyed wonder colt MIGHTY HEART (Dramedy – Emma’s Bullseye, by City Place) won the 2020 Queen’s Plate by 7 1/2 lengths in the second-fastest time in modern Plate history, adding the Prince of Wales Stakes and collecting Sovereign awards for Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Colt.

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Cordes, who has raced a small stable for some 40 years, began his own breeding program in earnest about eight years ago. His mare Emma’s Bullseye produced two nice winners for him before foaling a colt by obscure Kentucky sire Dramedy. A bright and feisty bay colt was born in 2017 at Curraghamore Farm of Vera Simpson and Mike Dubé but at six weeks of age, was found one afternoon to have an eye so badly damaged it had to be removed.

From there, the determined colt and his faithful owner went on a journey of a lifetime. Trained by Josie Carroll, Mighty Heart would bring Canadian racing fans some news of hope through the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic as he marched towards the Canadian Triple Crown.

Ivan Dalos, breeder of dozens of stakes winners including Grade 1 winners Channel Maker and Johnny Bear, is a Sovereign Award winning breeder and himself owner of many top horses, also trained by Carroll.

Gary Barber, Godolphin, Klaravich Stables, the partnership of Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing, and Three Diamonds Farm have been selected as finalists for the TOBA National Owner of the Year.

Breeders from 18 states and Canada will be honoured. “These owners, breeders, and horses exemplify the best of our sport and we are honored to be able to recognize their outstanding achievements,” said Dan Metzger, president of TOBA. “Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa will present an incredible experience for what promises to be a memorable evening.”

See all the honourees here.