Hronis Racing Team to Receive TOC Chairman's Award

The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has named Kosta, Stephanie, and Pete Hronis, the team behind Hronis Racing, as this year's recipients of the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, also known as the TOC Chairman's Award. Presented annually, the award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred racing industry. Past recipients include some of the most prominent names in Southern California racing. Hronis Racing led all California owners in wins in 2024, but their impact extends beyond the racetrack. The Hronis' have been a driving force in the industry, both as top-tier owners and dedicated philanthropists. Founded in 1945 by their father, Hronis Farms has thrived under Pete and Kosta's leadership since 1991. Despite the challenges of central California's agricultural landscape, the family business is recognized as an industry leader in sustainable farming, with initiatives focused onwater conservation, soil health, emissions reduction, and social responsibility. Kosta and Pete claimed their first racehorse in 2010. Today they have more than 50 in their barn. They campaigned Flightline, 2022 Horse of the Year and world's highest rated racehorse, Eclipse Award champion Stellar Wind, multiple stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Accelerate, and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano, as well as many other successful runners including Higher Power, Gift Box, Cistron, Catalina Cruiser, Combatant, Rock Your World, and Tripoli. Kosta Hronis has been a member of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Board of Directors since 2018. Stephanie Hronis, who joined the TOC Board in 2020, has been a catalyst for positive change. As chair of the Owners Relations/Industry Committee, she was one of the founders of the Horse Racing Women's Summit in 2021, which has since evolved into the Horse Racing Women's Association (HRWA)--a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women in racing. She also serves on the boards of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation (CTHF), the NTRA Horse PAC, and The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation. "The Hronis family truly embodies the spirit of California horse racing," said Gary Fenton, TOC Chairman. "Their unwavering commitment to the sport is matched by their deep compassion for our equine athletes and the dedicated horsemen and horsewomen who make racing possible. Their contributions continue to elevate California racing, both on and off the track." The Hronis' will be honored at TOC's Southern California Annual Meeting at Del Mar on Saturday, August 16.