Andrew MacNamara Pons, who managed his family's Country Life Farm in Maryland during the 1970s, died on Tuesday evening, Jan. 2, following complications from cardiac arrest five days earlier. He was 70 years old.

Born in Baltimore on May 31, 1953, he was the oldest son of Joseph and Mary Jo Pons. He grew up working with horses at Country Life, the oldest Thoroughbred farm in the state, established in 1933 by Pons' grandfather, Adolphe.

Fresh out of high school, Pons began work as an assistant for Hall of Fame horse trainer Henry S. Clark at Delaware Park. He interrupted his own career as a trainer when called back to guide Country Life through difficult times. His equine experience included a term in the stallion division of Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, where he met Marva Jones. The couple were married at Country Life in 1986.

With the support of family in 1991, Pons enrolled in a 28-day, in-patient treatment course at Ashley Addiction Center in Havre de Grace, Md. Thereupon, he determined to finish college and persevered through 10 years of night school to graduate with a Master of Science Human Services Administration degree from the University of Baltimore in 2002. He would later quip: “I finished my sophomore year of college 27 years after my freshman year.”

As the son of a recovering father in the Alcoholics Anonymous program, Pons faced the disease of alcoholism with wry humor: “If I'm carrying a gene for addiction, then I must also be carrying a gene for recovery.” He put that gene to good use, became a counselor at Ashley, then relocated to Chestertown to live on Marva's family farm, Belle Grove, on Langford Creek in Kent County.  He was named clinical director of the A. F. Whitsett Center in Chestertown, a vital facility for those suffering from substance use disorder.

An active, outdoors life he lived right to the end. He was playing pickleball with Chestertown pals at the Y when he collapsed. He was admitted to the Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Lunger Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Christiana Care Hospital, adjacent to Delaware Park Racetrack.

“How appropriate,” said younger brother Josh. “The Lungers owned Christiana Stable, based at Delaware Park. That's where Andrew worked for Mr. Clark, who was the first to truly recognize what a fine young horseman he was.”

“I've known him since grade school,” said a Bel Air AA member. “He gave up a life with horses–something he loved–to spend his life helping other alcoholics. That's a powerful statement of who he was. That's what stands out about him as a man. That's what we'll remember. That he helped others.”

Pons is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marva, his stepdaughter Karianna Johnson (Tom) Brace, granddaughters Ellie and Minna; his siblings Norah Pons, Josh (Ellen) Pons, Mike (Lisa) Pons, and Alice Pons; Marva's siblings BJ Jones, Keith (Nancy) Jones, Jonathan (Beverly) Jones and Steven (Caroline) Jones. Nieces and nephews: Tess Jones, Marva Kumpf, Ben Jones, Lindsay (Matt) Diehl, Charlotte Jones, Christopher Jones, Alexander Jones, Philip (Lindsay) Pons, Elizabeth (Garrett) Forsberg, Josh (Shelby) Pons, Dave (Maggie Clough) Pons, and August (Hayley) Pons.

Remembrances of life are in the planning stages for late spring, one at Belle Grove and another at Country Life. Please consider a donation to a favorite cause of his: The Mann House, Inc., 14 Williams Street, Bel Air, Maryland 21014, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit recovery residence where he often attended AA meetings. A link to his obituary can be found here.

Pons will forever be remembered for his impact on the lives of others. Recalled his youngest brother Mike: “If you asked Andy how he was doing, without fail, he would remind you, 'It's a good life, ain't it?'”

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The “Talking Tesio” event begins at 10:30 a.m. and will feature a continental breakfast followed by a panel discussion with industry leaders about Tesio's influence on the breed. Speakers include Country Life Farm's Josh Pons, J. William Boniface, the owner of Bonita Farm, and Ned Moore, owner of Corner Farm in Clark County, Virginia, bloodstock agent, and consultant for the National Sporting Library.

The Tesio, which has been held annually in Maryland since 1981, honors the great Italian breeder, owner and trainer best known for his breeding theories and his success with Nearco, who was the foundation of a sire line that includes Kentucky Derby winner and legendary stallion Northern Dancer, who stood in Maryland for many years at Windfields Farm, and Bold Ruler, sire of the great Secretariat. He also bred Ribot, a two-time winner of the prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Tickets to the talk are free with registration before Apr. 13. For more information, call (410) 252-2100 or email bremsberg@marylandthoroughbred.com.

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“We were excited to breed to him and we couldn't be happier with this filly,” said Christy Holden, Country Life's general manager. “Being a Maryland-bred will give her lots of opportunities to earn bonuses when she runs, and she's already showing us that she'll be a star.”

Global Campaign is a millionaire who won six of 10 starts, including the 2020 GI Woodward H. in which he earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. His other graded scores included the Monmouth Cup S. and the Peter Pan S., and he placed in both the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and the GII Jim Dandy S. He is a half-brother to both MGISW Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) and MSW & MGSP Sonic Mule (Distorted Humor).

Booked full in 2021, covering 177 mares in his first season at stud, Global Campaign is slated to stand his second season at WinStar for $12,500 S&N.

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“We were excited to breed to him and we couldn't be happier with this filly,” said Christy Holden, general manager of Country Life Farm. “Being a Maryland-bred will give her lots of opportunities to earn bonuses when she runs, and she's already showing us that she'll be a star.”

Global Campaign is arguably the best-bred Grade 1 winner at stud by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin. Bred by WinStar Farm, Global Campaign demonstrated the coveted combination of speed and stamina during a racing career that saw him win from seven furlongs in his debut at three to an impressive front-running score in the historic Woodward H. (G1) at 1 ¼ miles at four, just like his esteemed sire.

The Woodward, in which he earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, was Global Campaign's second straight Graded victory following a win in the Monmouth Cup S. (G3) where he defeated seven stakes winners, including a Grade 1 winner, in his previous outing with a 101 Beyer. All told, Global Campaign, who also captured the Peter Pan S. (G3) at three and placed in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with a career-best 106 Beyer, won six of 10 starts and bankrolled $1,321,080 for partners Sagamore Farm and WinStar Farm and trainer Stanley Hough.

A complete outcross in his first four generations, Global Campaign is produced from the late A.P. Indy mare and spectacular producer Globe Trot, who is the dam of only three foals, two of whom are Grade 1 winners—the other being multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d'Oro and the third is multiple stakes winner Sonic Mule, both half-brothers to Global Campaign.

A $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchased by Sagamore Farm, Global Campaign was booked full in 2021, breeding 177 mares in his first season at stud. He will stand his second season at stud for $12,500 S&N. For more information about Global Campaign, contact Liam O'Rourke, Olivia Desch, or Gareth Wigley at 859-873-1717, or visit WinStarFarm.com.

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“He started Spendthrift for us,” said Hughes, founder of the modern-era Spendthrift. “Without Malibu Moon, we are not where we are today. It takes a special horse, and he was just that. This is a sad day.”

A perennial leading sire in North America, Malibu Moon has been a staple of the Thoroughbred industry for the better part of this century, significantly influencing the breed through his sons and daughters on both the racetrack and in the breeding shed.

Malibu Moon has sired 126 black type winners and 51 graded winners – including 17 Grade 1 winners – to date. His progeny are led by 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, 2004 Champion 2-Year-Old Declan's Moon, and Grade 1-winning millionaires over the last dozen years that include Gormley, Magnum Moon, Life At Ten, Carina Mia and Come Dancing.

“It's a sad day for us. This is our first loss of this kind. It's tough,” said Spendthrift owner and president, Eric Gustavson. “You really develop a love for these beautiful, majestic animals. Even with Into Mischief taking over the mantle as 'top stallion' at the farm, Malibu Moon has always been 'the man' among our stallions. It can't be overstated how important he has been to the development of our farm. To say he will be missed just doesn't cover it. It's hard to imagine Spendthrift Farm without Malibu Moon.”

Malibu Moon's 17 Grade 1 winners all came on dirt, representing the second most by a modern-day sire on that surface only to Tapit. Malibu Moon perhaps made his greatest impact on the Kentucky Derby trail, siring winners of the Kentucky Derby (Orb), Florida Derby (Orb), Santa Anita Derby (Gormley), and Arkansas Derby (Magnum Moon), among other key “prep” races.

He has also been a highly influential broodmare sire in recent years, with his daughters producing the likes of champion Stellar Wind, Grade 1 winners Girvin, By the Moon, Bellafina and recent Preakness runner-up Midnight Bourbon, among others.

Malibu Moon was owned by Spendthrift, Castleton Lyons and Country Life Farm.

“Malibu Moon did so many things for so many people,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “Our partners, Castleton Lyons and the Pons family, were so instrumental in helping develop his career and he rewarded them, and us, handsomely for it. He has truly been the horse of a lifetime.”

Country Life Farm's Josh Pons added: “Malibu Moon was a friend. He had a special presence and was such a playful horse. When I would come visit him at Spendthrift, he always recognized me and my voice. Malibu Moon improved the lives of all the people he touched. He paid tuitions for the next generations of Pons family – he put five kids through college. Malibu Moon moved up everything he touched.”

Bred and raced by Hughes, Malibu Moon was second on debut before breaking his maiden in his second start going five furlongs on the dirt at Hollywood Park as a 2-year-old for the late trainer Melvin Stute. It would be his only two starts, as Malibu Moon came out of his maiden victory with a significant knee injury that would end his racing career.

Malibu Moon took up stud in 2000 at Country Life Farm in Maryland, where he stood for a modest $3,000 fee and quickly became a smash from his initial crops of offspring to hit the racetrack. Declan's Moon was a member of his second crop, helping ascend Malibu Moon's young stud career to the next level. He moved to Kentucky to stand his first season at the Ryan family's Castleton Lyons in 2004 for a fee of $10,000. That was the same year Hughes purchased Spendthrift Farm.

In late 2007, Malibu Moon was moved to Spendthrift after Hughes had spent the previous few years restoring the farm to be able to stand stallions again. With the continued success of his progeny on the track, Malibu Moon stood his first season at Spendthrift in 2008 for a fee of $40,000. As he continued to reach new heights, his fee would climb to a high of $95,000 in 2014 following Orb's historic Derby triumph the season prior.

Since arriving in Kentucky in 2003, Malibu Moon has been cared for and overseen daily by Wayne Howard, the current Spendthrift stallion manager who was at Castleton Lyons until he and Malibu Moon both moved to Spendthrift.

“Malibu Moon – 'Boo Boo' to me – will be sadly missed by all of us at Spendthrift. Personally, the 18 years I had the pleasure to care and work with Malibu Moon have been a journey I believe we both enjoyed immensely. He was most definitely the boss, I just followed his lead,” said Howard.

Malibu Moon represented genetic royalty. He was the most prolific son of the breed-shaping A.P. Indy, who himself was the most prolific son of the legendary sire and 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Malibu Moon is the only son of A.P. Indy to sire a Kentucky Derby winner – matching Seattle Slew with one.

Always known for his strong physical stature and good looks, the bay Malibu Moon was out of the Mr. Prospector mare Macoumba, whom Hughes purchased and imported from France following her successful Group 1-winning racing career. Malibu Moon is a half-brother to Parker's Storm Cat – another stallion bred by Hughes – and his half-sister Curriculum is the dam of Spendthrift homebred runner and sire, Temple City.

Malibu Moon was standing stud for his 22nd breeding season in 2021 at a fee of $35,000 at his passing.

The post Cornerstone Spendthrift Farm Sire Malibu Moon Dies At Age 24 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Click for the video feature on Holden done by TIEA.

Other finalists for the Leadership Award in Breeding are Wayne Clem of Claiborne Farm and Matt Lyons of Candy Meadows Farm, who will also be recognized on these pages in the coming days. The Leadership Award in Breeding is presented annually to an individual who displays exceptional leadership qualities while in a managerial or supervisory position on a Thoroughbred farm.

A total of seven award categories will be honored by TIEA for 2020. Maria Cristina Silva of New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA) has already been announced as the winner of the Community Award, while the winners in the other categories will be announced live in a virtual ceremony hosted by Jill Bryne and streamed at the TDN homepage Thursday, Nov. 5, at 12:00 p.m. ET. All finalists will be spotlighted in TDN in the days leading up to the ceremony.

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