Great Friends Stable has been selected by Thoroughbred Owners of California as the recipient of this year's Horseracing Partnership Award. The annual award recognizes and celebrates co-ownerships and partnership entities within the horse racing community and is open to partnerships of all sizes from two and up.
Nominated by Aaron Wilson, one of the partners, Great Friends Stable was selected by TOC's Owner Relations Committee. Great Friends campaigns 4-year-old stakes sensation Raging Torrent in partnership with Yuesheng Zhang's Yulong Investments. The Southern California-based partnership is headed by Craig Dado, founder and owner of Sports Injury Central, a real-time expert sports injury analysis website.
Approximately 15 members of the Great Friends Racing group recently traveled to New York to watch Raging Torrent win the June 7 Metropolitan Handicap (G1), earning a paid, automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) this fall at Del Mar. Trained by Doug O'Neill, his previous wins include the Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan Racecourse and the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park last year. Other stakes winners for Great Friends Stable include Mr. Chairman, winner of the 2008 California Cup Classic Handicap, and Clenor, winner of the 2013 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes.
Great Friends Stable was conceived by Dado in 2007 while working at Del Mar, where he met Scott Kaplan and Billy Ray Smith, talk radio personalities who wanted to get into horse racing. On their "Scott and BR" show, they touted the fun and excitement of racehorse ownership. Great Friends, named after the fans who called into their show, began with 20 original partners and now includes 50 or more at any one time.
"We were just a little claiming barn from Del Mar," Dado said. "We were lucky enough to meet Mark Davis and buy into some of his horses."
Davis, who acquired Raging Torrent for $75,000 from the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, sold his stake in the horse after he won the Malibu Stakes.
Great Friends Stable will be recognized with a special presentation of a trophy award at TOC's Southern California Annual Meeting Aug. 16 at Del Mar.
TOC is the official organization serving new, veteran, and future Thoroughbred owners in the state. It represents, advances, and protects owners' interests and rights in legislative, administrative, and business matters. www.toconline.com.
