Ivan came to Canada from Hungary around the same time E.P. Taylor opened Woodbine racetrack in 1956 and put together a successful flooring and construction business. Once the horse racing bug took hold it did not take long for one of the first horses bred by Ivan to make news on an international stage.
Victory Gallop, a son of Cryptoclearance and the first foal of his mare Victorious Lil spoiled Real Quiet’s bid for a Triple Crown sweep when he beat him by a nose in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Ivan immersed himself in pedigrees, seeking that perfect ‘nick’ and a broodmare band that numbered a handful is now more than three dozen, many of which are a part of several generations of Tall Oaks breeding.Tall Oaks won its first Sovereign for Outstanding Breeder in 2018 and doubled up in 2020.
A dedicated family man Ivan enjoys sharing the racing experiences with wife Irene and his three daughters, one of whom, Colleen, has moved into a lead role in the racing and breeding operation. “I started Tall Oaks for my family,” said Ivan. “I try to breed every horse to the best of my ability.”
Source: Jockey Club Canada