How long have you been with OBS and what are someof the things you've worked on previously?

Earlier this month, the Ocala Breeders= Sales Companyin Florida announced that longtime employee Tod
Wojciechowski (pronounced
woe-ja-HUS-kee) has been tabbed
to replace Tom Ventura as directorof sales. Ventura is assuming therole as OBS president when Tom
Chiota leaves the post June 30,
2012. The 45-year-old
Wojciechowski, a Cornell grad, hasbeen involved in the Thoroughbred
Tod Wojciechowski
industry throughout his life. Heagreed to sit down with the TDN=s
Lucas Marquardt recently to answer some questions
about the future of OBS, the Thoroughbred industry,
and the rivalry that first drew him to the sport.
In your new role as OBS's Director of Sales, what aresome of the things you'd like to do to help the company
move forward?
First, Tom Chiota and Tom Ventura have done a greatjob. I look forward to continuing their efforts working
with sellers to offer quality horses for buyers. I also
think technology is going to have a larger role in thefuture as to how we market our product, both to buyers
and sellers, and in providing pertinent information in areal-time fashion.
It seems like there has been a stabilization of thecommercial market and perhaps even the beginning of arebound. What's your assessment of the market in2011, and where do you see it going in 2012?
I would agree that assessment, and believe we willcontinue to move forward in the same fashion in 2012.
The Florida breeding industry was particularly hard hit
by the downturn in the market. Are you seeing evidenceof a rebound in the state?
I am certain the Florida breeding industry will
experience a rebound. Breeders in this state havealways done a tremendous job of proving young
stallions and producing quality racehorses. I am
confident that will continue in the future.
Visit the TDN Q&A archive for aseries of in-depth one-on-one
interviews with interesting
figures in the industry.

I have worked with OBS inspecting horses for the last
10 years. For the last three years, I have also assistedwith horsemen relations and visiting horsemen at thetracks, mainly in the Midwest. I have also helped withsale-day operations.
You have a background both buying and selling. Can
you talk about your Thoroughbred background a little
bit--how you got into the sport, your move to Florida,etc.?
I have been involved in the racing industry for thebetter part of my life. My first job was walking hots at
Atlantic City Race Course when I was 9 years old. My
father was a track farrier, and my mother trained
horses. We lived in Florida, traveling to tracks during thesummer. When I was in my late teens, my parents
began pinhooking yearling to two-year-olds, andcontinued doing so up until just a few years ago. Aftercollege, I began working at a number of tracks on thefront side, the last as publicity director at Tampa BayDowns in 1990. Although I enjoyed working inmanagement, I missed the action of working directlywith horses. I traveled to Texas in the summer of 1991
with a string of horses, and met my wife there. My firstpinhooking venture was in 1992. A buddy of mine putup the money for two short yearlings, and I provided thesweat equity. We made money on both horses, and I
was hooked on the auction game ever since. Most of
the good things in my life have happened because ofthis industry.
OK, here are some rapid-fire questions to help TDN
readers get to know you better...
Age: 45
Birthdate: 4/20/66
Birthplace: Perth Amboy, NJ
Current residence: Currently I live in Texas, but moving
to Ocala on the first of the year.
Favorite racehorse? I have two. Affirmed and Alydar. I
can remember standing in the grandstand at Atlantic
City Racecourse, watching their Belmont dual, and wasmesmerized.
Favorite sports team and/or athlete? Lifelong Miami
Dolphins fan--although it's been a little lean lately.
Favorite athlete: Bo Jackson.
Last good book you read? Blink, by Malcom Gladwell.
Favorite meal? Chicken fried steak.
If you weren't involved in horse racing, what would you
be doing? Definitely something with horses.
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