TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1075818
"There's a lot of enjoyment for us in the breeding and foaling and raising babies. You never know which ones are going to come up and hit it big. Individual successes keep you going back for more. How do I do that again?" But Barton is not one to get sentimental about the babies. "I have to keep it a lot less emotional with horses," said Barton. "I'm a little more Type A, so it's easier for me to know this is business. I love them and I think they're the most beautiful creatures ever, but it's a number game and you have to make business decisions." Her family, under her father's name, was honored as California Breeder of the Year by Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Associa- tion (TOBA) in September at their annual dinner in Lexington. Where do you go when you've already been named TOBA's California Breed- er of the Year and you've yet to breed (or own) a stakes winner? "That's the one thing. We haven't had the big horse yet. Obviously, there's a lot of luck and a lot of factors that come into play. Good- ness, even just to win a stakes and then a grade I or whatever it is, I think it's just little things to look forward to that keep you reaching for the stars." Barton, who is also still involved in her father's packaging compa- ny, and her father aren't the only family members now immersed in the horse business. Richard's wife and Kate's mother, Beth, is part of it too. "We're all in this together, the three of us," said Beth Barton. "Just the fact that we all love the horses, all love the business, and we all have a common goal. Sometimes working together all the time can get a little bit dicey, but overall it's really good because I think we all have the same vision, the same love and interest for the horses." Although her husband had always owned horses, Beth was too busy raising their six children to spend much time thinking about them. As her kids grew – Kate is her youngest – and she saw their interest in the sport soar, she had an epiphany of her own: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.