Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Milton Toby
Milton Toby was an award-winning author, celebrated journalist, and esteemed attorney who lost his battle with cancer at age 73. Blood-Horse first reported his demise. Toby’s death marks a profound loss in the realms of journalism and equine law, where he was deeply revered for his unparalleled expertise and professional contributions.
Early Career and Love for Horse Racing
Born on October 26, 1949, in Campbellsville, Kentucky, Toby began his sports writing journey at the Aiken Standard, covering his first assignment, the 1972 GI Belmont S. His love for Thoroughbreds soon eclipsed his exposure to American Saddlebreds during his upbringing. After the completion of his first assignment, he returned to his home state, Kentucky, and joined BloodHorse magazine, where his career flourished.
Throughout the 1970s, Toby had the privilege of witnessing some of the most historic moments in horse racing, notably Secretariat’s victorious Triple Crown campaign in 1973. Alongside writing, Toby’s passion for photojournalism took him on journeys across the globe, capturing stories in countries like China, Costa Rica, and Columbia.
Transition into Law and Teaching
Milton Toby had more to him than words; he took an avid interest in law as well. Following ten years with BloodHorse Magazine and BloodHorse Book Publishing Co. Ltd, in 1995 Milton Toby earned a law degree from University of Kentucky School of Law. Alongside practicing law, Toby taught at various Kentucky colleges and universities and headed the Central Kentucky Bar Association’s equine law division. He further served as an instructor in equine commercial law at the University of Louisville’s Equine Industry Program.
Accolades and Final Work
As an author, Toby penned 10 books, winning several prestigious awards. His book “Dancer’s Image: The Forgotten Story of the 1968 Kentucky Derby” won the 2011 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award and the American Horse Publications Editorial Award for the best equine book of 2011. He won the same award again in 2012 for “Noor: A Champion Thoroughbred’s Unlikely Journey from California to Kentucky” and in 2018 for “Taking Shergar: Thoroughbred Racing’s Most Famous Cold Case.”
Toby’s final book, “Unnatural Ability, The History of Performance-Enhancing Drugs in Racing,” will be published posthumously next month by the University Press of Kentucky. It encapsulates his deep understanding and insights into the racing industry.
Toby’s Death and Commemoration
Toby passed away surrounded by his loving wife, Roberta, and his loyal pets, Echo the Doberman and Winston the surveillance cat. While there is no service or visitation currently scheduled, a remembrance gathering may be announced in the future. Contributions in Toby’s memory can be made to the Bluegrass Care Navigators in Lexington, KY, reflecting his enduring dedication to his community.
Milton Toby’s legacy will be forever etched in the fields of journalism, equine law, and literature, celebrated by those who knew him and those touched by his work. His passion, wit, and dedication remain as enduring as the Thoroughbreds he loved to write about.
