California Leader Leigh Anne Howard Dies at 78

Leigh Ann Howard, former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and a driving force as a member since 1968, passed away the evening of Sept. 3. She was 78.

Howard was only the second woman to serve as CTBA president after Cecilia B. DeMille Harper.

She was active in every phase of the industry, having also held board of director positions on the CTBA since 1997, the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association, the Edwin Gregson Foundation, California Horse Council, Cal Poly AG Advisory Council, and the California Food and Agriculture Equine Advisory Committee. At the Gregson Foundation, Howard was committed to the Backstretch Kids' Scholarships Program.

She designed, built and managed Valley Creek Farm. From 2001-2010 she managed San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall, where she also maintained a training barn. She was president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and a former member of the CTT Backstretch Employees' Cash Balance Pension Plan Administrative Committee.

She was first elected to the CTBA Board in 1997 and was a staunch supporter of the incentive program, educational meetings and seminars, membership camaraderie and intra-industry communication.

She and her late husband, Eugene Cunningham, had been in the horse industry since the mid-1960s. Gene's involvement was in shipping, racing, and auctions; Leigh Ann's in the breeding, sale consignments, breaking, training, and racing side.

Born in Los Angeles, Howard grew up in the San Joaquin Valley town of Lindsay. She attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and after her college graduation worked for Dr. James Buell as an assistant at his Buellton breeding farm.