SOCIAL SCENE: Brunch with a legend

Kathleen O’Connell, the winningest female horse trainer of all time, visits with Tammy Gantt and Bill Sims during the Florida Thoroughbred Brunch With A Legend at the Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala on Oct. 3, 2025. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2025.

The Florida Thorobred Fillies, a social friendship club for women in the horse industry locally, hosted its Florida Thoroughbred Brunch With A Legend event on Oct. 3 at the Stone Creek Golf Club.

The guest of honor, Kathleen O’Connell, is the winningest female horse trainer of all time, with 18,274 wins as of late December, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.

Since first getting her start as a trainer, O’Connell has trained several millionaires and has been honored by the FTBOA for several titles, including leading trainer of Florida-bred races, leading trainer of Florida-bred stakes-winners and leading trainer by Florida-bred earnings. The organization presented her with the Bruce Campbell Award in 2022 and a Special Award of Merit in 1999, FTBOA materials state.

Other special event guests were authors Janet Del Castillo and Tisa Armstrong Smith.

With Lois Schwartz, Del Castillo authored “Backyard Race Horse: The Training Manual: A Comprehensive Off-Track Program for Owners and Trainers.”  According to her profile on Linkedin, Castillo became successful as a trainer with a “throw away” horse donated to a children’s home. In her hands, the filly, First Prediction, became a major stakes winner.

Smith’s book, “Capricorn Sky,” is described as a children and family-oriented horse story about a little filly and the various animals she considers her farm family’ Her greatest desire is to become a respected racehorse. Throughout Cappy’s story there are many life lessons, much laughter and a whole lot of loving bonds.

To learn more about the Florida Thorobred Fillies and their year-round activities, go to fb.com/Filliesclub

Florida Thoroughbred Brunch With A Legend

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