BONSALL, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2020) – Leigh Ann Howard, former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association and a driving force as a member since 1968, passed away on Thursday night. She was 78.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to:
Leigh Ann Howard Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Equine Sciences
Cal Poly State University
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences
1 Grand Avenue
San Luis Obispo, CA 93407-0250
Please reference on check memo to: “Leigh Ann Howard Scholarship Endowment”
Also, donations can be made online:
http://bit.ly/calpolyhowardmemorial
Howard was only the second woman to serve as CTBA president after Cecilia B. DeMille Harper.
“That’s kind of a big deal,” Howard had said.
She was active in every phase of the industry, having also held Board of Director positions on the CTBA since 1997, the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association, the Edwin Gregson Foundation, California Horse Council, Cal Poly AG Advisory Council and the California Food and Agriculture Equine Advisory Committee. At the Gregson Foundation, Howard was committed to the Backstretch Kids’ Scholarships Program.
She designed, built and managed Valley Creek Farm and from 2001 to 2010 managed San Luis Rey Downs in Bonsall, where she also maintained a training barn. She was president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and a former member of the CTT Backstretch Employees’ Cash Balance Pension Plan Administrative Committee.
She was first elected to the CTBA Board in 1997 and was a staunch supporter of the incentive program, educational meetings and seminars, membership camaraderie and intra-industry communication.
She and her late husband, Eugene Cunningham, had been in the horse industry since the mid-1960s. Gene’s involvement was in shipping, racing and auction sales; Leigh Ann’s in the breeding, sale consignments, breaking, training and racing side.
Born in Los Angeles, Howard grew up in the San Joaquin Valley town of Lindsay. She attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and after her college graduation worked for Dr. James Buell as an assistant at his Buellton breeding farm.