Byron Hughes is Farm Manager of the Year
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Trainer Byron "Scooter" Hughes has been selected to receive the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Manager Club's "Ted Bates Farm Manager of the Year" award. He will be honored during the organization's annual dinner-dance Sept. 26 at The Red Mile harness track in Lexington.
Hughes, who operates Hughes Management and Hughes Racing, is the son of Gail Hughes, who was KTFMC's "Farm Manager of the Year" in 1987, and Ruth Hughes, an avid horsewoman.
The younger Hughes was born and first raised at Greentree Farm, which his father managed, and then at Dr. Eslie Asbury's Forest Retreat Farm after Gail Hughes took over management of that farm near Carlisle, Ky.
Hughes, who also assisted his father in operation of Far Cry Farm and Hughes Management, graduated from the University of Kentucky and then worked at John Hettinger's Akindale Farm in Palling, N.Y., helping establish it as a stallion station and breeding farm.
Since becoming a full-time trainer, Hughes is best known for his success with Rahystrada, a gelding who raced through age 9 and earned $1.3 million while winning five grade III stakes. Hughes also conditioned Solo Cat, a stakes winner who won or placed in 23 races over eight seasons and earned $267,914, and multiple stakes-placed Seniga, who won or placed in 13 races and earned nearly $190,000.
Hughes' wife, Traci, works for McCann Bloodstock; daughter Sydney is a student at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine; and son Byron is an assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher.
According to the KTFMC, the "Farm Manager of the Year" is selected by a five-person committee, based on quality and success of management, service to the community, involvement in the KTFMC, and industry leadership and dedication.
Hughes has been a long-time volunteer for the High Hope Steeplechase and is the venerable sergeant at arms for the club.
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