The Galbreath Award
This award is named for the late John W. Galbreath, a self-made man who distinguished himself in business and also as a horseman. Born in Derby, Ohio, he built a small local firm into an international real estate project development company. His interests included the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and Darby Dan Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding and racing enterprise that won stakes races on three continents. He also served for many years as chairman of Churchill Downs.
Mr. Galbreath was the first ever to breed and race Kentucky Derby winners (Chateaugay and Proud Clarion) and an English (Epsom) Derby winner (Roberto). He received Eclipse Awards as racing’s “Man of the Year” in 1972 and as the country’s outstanding breeder in 1974. Mr. Galbreath was heavily involved in importing top Thoroughbred stallions from overseas, and among his selections were Ribot and Sea-Bird II.
The Galbreath Award is presented annually to one individual whose entrepreneurial leadership has had a significant and positive impact on the equine industry. The criteria used in selecting the winner are:
- Has introduced original and creative techniques or approaches to business
- Has demonstrated a willingness to take personal or career risks
- Has utilized forward-thinking and visionary management planning
- Has shown an ability to render a business firm or organization more effective and profitable
- Has gained the respect of peers as evidence of character and integrity
Rules and Procedures
The John W. Galbreath Award Committee has established the following rules and procedures for nomination:
- Nomination forms are restricted to one individual per form. Posthumous awards will not be considered.
- Each nomination submitted must include a supporting letter and a biography outlining the nominee’s achievements. Specific accomplishments, awards and honors, and service in volunteer positions should be included.
- The University of Louisville Equine Industry Program will appoint a committee to review the nominations and select the award recipient.
- Nomination forms, together with a biography and supporting letter, must be received by the announced annual due date.
- The winner of the John W. Galbreath Award will be announced and honored at a dinner held in Louisville, Kentucky annually.
- The University of Louisville Equine Industry Program will retain all entered nominations.
Galbreath Laureates
2022 – Michael Dickinson — a bold, opinionated, and passionate entrepreneur, focused on improving the safety of Thoroughbred horses and riders through the creation of the synthetic racetrack surface, Tapeta.
2021 – Tom Aronson — a true “horse enterprise architect” who helped build two of the horse industry’s greatest start-ups from the ground up.
2020 – Elizabeth James, PhD — turned her passion for horses and helping others achieve their dreams into a business.
2019 – B. Wayne Hughes — a visionary who initiated a host of ingenious programs which shifted the breeding industry paradigm.
2018 – Michael Blowen — committed to providing a safe and secure retirement facility where racing fans are welcome to come and meet their favorite Thoroughbred champions.
2017 – Todd Roberts — an entrepreneurial leader who built his company into one that supports the entire backbone of the racing industry.
2016 – Jeffrey R. Gural — a champion for building trust and integrity in the Harness Racing Industry.
2015 – Stephen L. Day — transformed equine tack companies through an “omni channel” strategy approach.
2014 – William “Bill” Rood, DVM and Thomas “Tom” Riddle, DVM — developed an equine veterinary business that set the standard by which vet practices were to be judged.
2013 – Barry Weisbord — a perennial entrepreneur who co-founded a media organization that produced the most widely read online publication for industry professionals.
2012 – Thomas G. Struzzieri — founded the most successful privately-owned equine event development and management business in the world.
2011 – James E. Helzer — became one of the best-known and highly regarded horsemen in the Quarter Horse industry through his JEH Stallion Station and JEH Equine Reproduction Specialists and Hospital.
2010 – King T. Leatherbury — used his business degree to dominate racing in Maryland and helped modernize Thoroughbred training methods.
2009 – David Llewellyn — founded a company that imported Australian horse racing to 31 countries in Europe and North America and was a leader in the advance deposit wagering platform.
2008 – G. Marvin Beeman DVM — professionalized the field of equine veterinary medicine and built a sophisticated surgical center that was not tied to a university.
2007 – R.D. Hubbard — risk-taker, with a reputation for taking the impossible and turning it into the profitable.
2006 – Carol Rose — American Quarter Horse Association’s number one all-time leading breeder of performance horses.
2005 – Brian Derrick Mehl — transformed the South African pari-mutuel horse racing industry.
2004 – Judith Forbis — visionary researcher, importer, and breeder responsible for the modern Egyptian Arabian market in North America.
2003 – Frank “Scoop” Vessels III — led his California stallion station to the top of both the Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred breeding industries.
2002 – W. S. “Billy” Morris III — revolutionized the western performance industry with innovative publications, databases, and organizations.
2001 – David Willmot — guided the century-old Ontario Jockey Club from a near-crisis to a prominent industry leader.
2000 – Denny Gentry — improved and promoted the sport of team roping to a position as the fastest-growing horse activity.
1999 – Thomas H. Meeker — responded with a progressive vision to lead Churchill Downs through major industry changes.
1998 – D. Wayne Lukas — applied success-management methods and practices to raise the standard of race training.
1997 – John Lyons — parlayed his successful round-pen clinics, and himself, into a successful marketing business.
1996 – B. Thomas Joy — managed his tiny Canadian harness track from near bankruptcy to a simulcasting innovator.
1995 – Robert N. Clay — applied business school principles to develop and operate a leading Thoroughbred breeding farm.
1994 – Ami Shinitzky — beginning from scratch, established a successful and profitable horse magazine publishing firm.
1993 – John R. Gaines — introduced securities-investment approaches to the management of Thoroughbred stallions.
1992 – W. Cothran “Cot” Campbell — used his marketing savvy to pioneer successful Thoroughbred racing partnerships.
1991 – James E. “Ted” Basset — the man who guided Keeneland to its current status as a world leader in bloodstock sales.
1990 – John A. Bell III — one of the most respected, and among the first professional bloodstock agents.
Past Galbreath Award Presentations
2022: Michael Dickinson
2021: Tom Aronson
2020: Elizabeth James, PhD
2020 Galbreath Award Presentation from John Merchant on Vimeo.