John Toffan was a Canadian-born American Thoroughbred racehorse owner-breeder in California. He came to fame with his partnership with Trudy McCaffery. He had a long career racing purebreds ranging from 1989-2012.
John Toffan | |
|---|---|
| Died | June 18, 2019 Hidden Hills, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Thoroughbred racehorse owner-breeder |
| Years active | 1989 - 2012 |
| Spouse | Cheryl Toffan |
Toffan began his career in 1989 with his partnership with Trudy McCaffery, which went on to become one of California's top racing-breeding operations. In 1997 McCaffery and Tofan were named as "Owners of the Year" by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Their most renowned purebred was 'Free House'.[1][2][3] After McCaffery's death in 2007,[4] he continued his career with purebreds partnered by his spouse Cheryl Toffan.[5]
Toffan died on June 18, 2019 at the age of 83 after suffering from a lengthy illness.[5]
Top Runners
edit- Mane Minister (b. 1988) - Finished third in the 1991 Belmont Stakes[6]
- Bien Bien (b. 1989)[7][8]
- Free House (b. 1994) – A homebred who was a two-time California Horse of the Year and whose eight stakes race wins included California's three most important dirt races: the Santa Anita Derby (1997), the Pacific Classic Stakes (1998), and the Santa Anita Handicap (1999);[1][9][10]
- Came Home (b. 1999)[11][12]
References
edit- ^ a b "Tofan and Trudy strike Gold". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Free House dead after fall". ESPN.
- ^ "Free House dominates Santa Anita". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Trudy McCaffery, 62; horse breeder and owner worked to improve racing". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ a b "Prominent former California horse owner John Toffan dies at age 83".
- ^ "Looking back at Belmont Stakes 1991". Blood Horse.
- ^ "Bien Bien - profile". Racing Post.
- ^ "Bien Bien dies at the age of 13". ESPN.
- ^ "Free House defeats Silver Charm". New York Times.
- ^ "A Grateful Trainer Puts His Faith in Free House (Published 1997)". New York Times.
- ^ "Came Home wins it for McCaffery and Toffan". The New York Times.
- ^ "Came Home prevails again". The New York Times.