Isaacs Named FTBOA President

George Isaacs, general manager of the historic Bridlewood Farm located in Ocala, was elected president of the Florida Thoroughbred Owners' and Breeders' Association at the board meeting that followed the Oct. 21 annual member meeting.

Isaacs said he was grateful to be elected president by his fellow board members.

"I am honored and humbled to be elected by my peers to this important position. Being an active manager of a large Florida breeding operation, I hope to do my part in continuing to bolster the Florida breeding and racing industry, " Isaacs said.

FTBOA board members Marilyn Campbell of Tyngsboro, Mass., and Joe O'Farrell III of Ocala extended their terms on the board while Jerry Campbell, of Tampa, Mike Hall of Parkersburg, W.V., and Mary Lightner of Williston were named to the board for the first time. They will each serve a three-year term that will run until October 2025.

Leaving the board because of term limits as outlined in the FTBOA by-laws were Valerie Dailey, who served as FTBOA president from October 2021 through October 2022, and past presidents Brent Fernung and Phil Matthews, DVM. As past presidents, all remain on the board without voting privileges with as immediate past chair also continuing to serve on the executive committee.

The board also selected the remaining executive committee officers for 2022-23 with Isaacs as president while George Russell, who owns Rustlewood Farm in Reddick, was named first vice president. Francis Vanlangendonck, who operates Summerfield in Morriston, was named second vice president; and O'Farrell will serve as treasurer. Nick de Meric, who operates de Meric Stables and Sales in Ocala, was elected as secretary.

Isaacs has a long history serving the Florida Thoroughbred industry as an FTBOA officer and serving five terms on the FTBOA board.

He became stallion manager at Arthur Appleton's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala in 1989 before becoming the general manager for Allen Paulson's Brookside South Farm in 1992. In 1996, Isaacs returned to Bridlewood as general manager and currently manages operations there with John and Leslie Malone, who purchased the farm in 2013.

Marilyn Campbell, along with her late husband Gil Campbell, established the 600-acre Stonehedge Farm South in Williston in 1988. Since then, the farm has been a perennial industry leader as the top producer of Florida-bred foals annually from 2016-22. In 2021, Stonehedge was the second leading Florida-bred breeder by earnings with $2.5 million.

O'Farrell is an Ocala native and his passion for Thoroughbreds comes from growing up on the family farm, Ocala Stud, the oldest active Thoroughbred farm in the state. O'Farrell became a manager of Ocala Stud in 2004, managing the financial side of the farm.

Jerry Campbell is a veteran banker and longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder for more than 55 years. He is the chair/CEO of the bank holding company, New South Bancorp Inc., in Tampa.

Mike Hall is the co-owner of the successful racing stable Breeze Easy with partner Sam Ross. 

Mary Lightner is a licensed trainer from a well-regarded, longstanding Thoroughbred family. The Lightner family owns and operates their broodmare farm in Williston and they break and train 20-30 yearlings each year at Oakridge Training Center in Morriston.

Other returning FTBOA board members include Fred Brei, T. Paul Bulmahn, Laurine Fuller-Vargas, Bobby Jones, Milan Kosanovich, and Dr. Fred Yutani.

Lonny Powell enters his eleventh year at the Association helm as the CEO and executive vice president.