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Florida Thoroughbred History Moments: Visionary Fred W. Hooper Opened Pathway For Latin Jockey Success In U.S.

A founder of TOBA, strong advocate for the creation of the Breeders' Cup and a member of countless industry boards, Fred W. Hooper was the first industry leader to foster Latin American jockeys to race at Florida tracks.

Hall of Fame jockeys Laffit Pincay, Jr., Braulio Baeza and Jorge Velasquez among others got their start with Hooper.

Living to be 102, Hooper's own rags-to-riches story of hard work, to always look ahead, and don't look back, is a truly Florida tale. Hooper later received racing's highest honor, an Eclipse Award of Merit.

Hooper's profile is the third in the Florida Thoroughbred History Moment series that has expanded into history profiles. The first two profiles featured Lugusta “Gus” Gray who actually worked for Hooper for more than 30 years and who still retells the legendary stories of Hooper and his horses in their heyday.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.

The series titled “Florida Thoroughbred History Moment” features an opening and closing image of an old-timey newsreel much like those featured in movie theaters in the 1940s. Along with the sound of the whirr of the newsreel, each video is narrated by the distinctive voice of Hugh Kelly giving an even more nostalgic feel. Based in Florida, Kelly lends his voice perfectly to the series.

Each 'Florida Thoroughbred History Moment' vignette highlights a significant achievement in Florida-bred history focusing on the people, the horses and the farms that have contributed to its success since the industry kicked off in earnest after Needles' 1956 Kentucky Derby win.

Check out the previous installments of Florida History Moments here:

Ocala Stud Shaped Local, National Auction Markets

Affirmed Enthralled Nation With Triple Crown Triumph

Derby Winner Unbridled's Presence Felt Today In North American Bloodlines

Silver Charm Flies The Florida Flag Around The World

Needles' Derby Triumph Sparks Florida's Thoroughbred Industry

Dr. Fager Goes So Fast He Gets A Speeding Ticket

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Noble Drama Tops Saturday’s FTBOA Stakes At Tampa Bay Downs

Florida's historic Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry will be on display on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, with a pair of $100,000 stakes races sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association highlighting the 10-race card.

Post time for the first race is 12:12 p.m. The FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings is the third race, with the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for fillies and mares the seventh race. Both races are for registered Florida-breds 3-years-old and upward who are sired by an FTBOA-registered Florida stallion. Each race will be contested on the main dirt track at a distance of 7 furlongs.

With a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the mid-70s, fans are encouraged to be part of the excitement. Spectators are required to wear masks and encouraged to practice social distancing.

Despite having only seven entrants, the Marion County might be the most wide-open race on the card. The 3-year-old gelding Legal Deal, 4-year-old colt Jackson and 3-year-old colt Shivaree – the first, second and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the Nov. 14 Millions Sprint Preview Stakes sprinting 6 furlongs on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park West – are set to resume their rivalry.

None of those three, however, are likely to be the betting favorite. That role should fall to 5-year-old gelding Noble Drama, who on that same Nov. 14 card was upset by 27-1 shot Quenane in the 1-mile Millions Classic Preview Stakes. Before that, Noble Drama had won the Benny The Bull Stakes and the FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir Stakes back-to-back at Gulfstream Park, giving him five career stakes victories.

Noble Drama races for his breeder, Harold L. Queen, and is trained by David Fawkes. He will be ridden by leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho. Noble Drama's victories include the 2018 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Jackson, bred and owned by Tracy Pinchin and trained by her husband, Jose Pinchin, won the Grade III World of Trouble Sprint Stakes back in February at Gulfstream Park. He is 3-for-3 at Tampa Bay Downs, all state-bred stakes victories. His victory in the 2019 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes was achieved in track-record time of 1:38.86 for the mile-and-40-yard distance.

Antonio Gallardo will ride Jackson.

Shivaree, bred and owned by Jacks or Better Farm and trained by Ralph Nicks, might be the most intriguing Marion County entrant. He's a multiple-stakes winner, and back in February and March he finished second in the Grade III Swale Stakes, the Hutcheson Stakes and the Grade I Curlin Florida Derby in succession, all at Gulfstream. He also competed in the Grade II Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Grade I Runhappy Travers at Saratoga. Roberto Alvarado, Jr., has the riding assignment.

The City of Ocala has attracted nine hopefuls, with 5-year-old mare Heiressall the probable favorite. Owned by My Purple Haze Stables and trained by Teresa Pompay, she won the Sheer Drama Stakes on Sept. 6 at Gulfstream before a fifth-place finish in the slop on Nov. 14 at Gulfstream Park West in the Millions Distaff Stakes. Gallardo will be the rider.

Other likely contenders include 5-year-old Tiz Possible Dear, who won that Millions Distaff Stakes; 4-year-old filly R Prerogative, who finished third in last year's City of Ocala; and 3-year-old Independent Miss, who has finished in the money in six consecutive starts.

Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride Tiz Possible Dear for owner Paradise Farms Corp. and trainer Peter Walder, while Camacho has the assignment on R Prerogative for owners Averill Racing and CCF Racing Stable and trainer Georgina Baxter.

Independent Miss races for her breeder-owner, Stonehedge LLC, and is trained by Michael Yates. Alberto Burgos is the jockey.

Bettors who choose to overlook 3-year-old The Goddess Lyssa, a supplemental entry, do so at their own risk. Although off since May 8, she is 3-for-4 for owner Team Equistaff, Inc., and leading Oldsmar trainer Gerald Bennett. Alvarado is the jockey.

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Canadian Champion Field Commission Dies At Age 15

Millionaire, multiple Graded stakes winner Field Commission died suddenly this morning in his paddock at Solera Farm, near Williston, Fla., from what appeared to be a heart attack.

Solera Farm's Krista Seltzer said, “He looked fine this morning and was playing in his paddock as he usually does when turned out.” Minutes later the chestnut stallion collapsed and died.

Bred by Minshall Farms in Ontario, owned and raced by Edward Seltzer, the son of Service Stripe (Deputy Minister) won or placed in 10 of 19 stakes starts (eight graded) earning $1,030,266 from three to seven. Field Commission was named Canada's champion sprinter as a 4-year-old, after a campaign in which he won Woodbine's Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes and G3 Vigil Stakes, and placed in four other graded races.

Posting triple-digit Beyers on dirt, turf and synthetic, he captured the 2012 Ponche Handicap at seven, setting a stakes record for the six-furlong test in 1:09.3 on the at Calder Race Course surface.

From six crops of racing age and 114 runners, Field Commission has progeny earnings of more than $4.6 million. Among his current runners are Drafted, who won his 2-year-old career debut at Keeneland while setting a track record of :50.45 for 4 1/2 furlongs; a multiple stakes winner and group-placed, the 6-year-old has career earnings of $690,633. Other 2020 black type performers include Hall Rich Legacy and 2-year-old Ricki Ticki Taffi.

“Field Commission was a very very special soul,” Krista Seltzer said. “He was truly all class. His racing talent was exceptional and certainly speaks for itself. Not only was he physically stunning and an incredible athlete with great speed, but he was kind and honest with a great mind. 'Commish' was the ultimate professional, both on and off the track. He was an absolute dream to be around every day. He was a true gentleman with just the right bit of mischief. Field Commission excelled in everything he did and he seemed to pass on his talent and great mind to his progeny. Like their sire, they just seem to get better with maturity.

“Field Commission was a farm favorite and one of his favorite things were his routine snacks of grapes,” Seltzer continued. “He knew he had a home here forever. He has for certain, gone too soon. 'Commish' touched many lives and was well loved by many. Field Commission's loss is profound for all of us here at Solera.”

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Florida Thoroughbred History Moments: Ocala Stud Shaped Local, National Auction Markets

Few Thoroughbred operations can lay claim to truly changing the bloodstock landscape, but Ocala Stud did just that as a pioneer of the 2-year-olds in training sale concept, now a staple of the auction calendar in Florida and beyond

Ocala Stud sold its first crop of juveniles in 1958, and it has maintained the tradition of selling its homebreds at age two in the years that followed. The Central Florida operation has developed into a prominent breeder, seller, and stallion station, with 15 stallions set to stand at Ocala Stud in 2021.

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association has launched a digital campaign promoting the successful history of Florida-breds born and raised in the Sunshine State.