hermitage farm | Horse Racing Free Tips

LOUISVILLE, KY – With the first Saturday in May just days away, TDN Senior Editor Steve Sherack caught up with the connections of leading GI Kentucky Derby contenders to get some of their 'Early Impressions.' In this edition, we check in with Hermitage Farm General Manager Bill Landes and Ocala, Florida, horseman Eddie Woods.

Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) found another gear in the stretch to punch his ticket to Louisville in the GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby. Last year's 94-1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up, a $17,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky February yearling turned $110,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall yearling pinhook by Bob and Sean Feld, is a product of the late Edward A. Cox, Jr.'s breeding program. The half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya) was bred and raised on Cox's behalf by Hermitage Farm. Cox purchased Hot Rod Charlie's second dam, the unbeaten SW Glacken's Gal (Smoke Glacken), for $250,000 at the 2008 KEEJAN sale. After bringing $240,000 from WinStar at the 2018 KEENOV Sale, Hot Rod Charlie's dam Indian Miss (Indian Charlie) brought $1.9 million from OXO Equine, in foal to leading sire Into Mischief, at the 2020 KEENOV sale. Two-time Kentucky Derby winning-trainer Doug O'Neill trains Hot Rod Charlie for Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing and William Strauss.

Known Agenda (Curlin) has really taken his game to the next level since adding blinkers for Todd Pletcher in two starts this term, headed by a powerful performance in the GI Curlin Florida Derby. The St. Elias homebred, out of GI Vanity H. heroine Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}), RNA'd for $135,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. Byrama was acquired privately by St. Elias after RNA'ing for $725,000 at the 2013 KEENOV sale. With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench into the 2-year-old sales schedule last spring, the chestnut, originally ticketed for the canceled Gulfstream Sale with consignor Eddie Woods, was instead held on to by his breeder Vinnie Viola and taken to the races. Last year's GI Kentucky Derby/GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Authentic was a graduate of Woods's training program. Woods also trained and pinhooked 2008 Derby winner Big Brown ($60,000 FTKOCT yearling turned $190,000 KEEAPR 2yo).

HOT ROD CHARLIE:

“This guy early on was beset with gastrointestinal issues–maybe three days of age–and then again in the summer of his foal year, and had to go to the clinic two times for treatment, and therefore he was setback, physically. When we got him straight, Mr. Cox had already decided to disperse at Keeneland November, but was gonna take the worst of it with this guy pushing him there. We were all in agreement, and I said, 'Let's just pass and I'll get him sold.' I tried to sell him privately and then eventually the Fasig February deadline came and we had to find a home for him and that's where we were.

I can tell you this, from that October of his weanling year, however, he was not going backwards, he was progressing, but he was just behind. But every step he was making was forward. And that's what I told the Felds when they bought him [at Fasig February] and that's what I told everybody that I tried to sell him to, that he was heading the right way that his gastrointestinal issues were taken care of.

His record speaks for itself, he really hasn't looked back from that fall. Everything has been positive and forward. I told the Felds after they bought him, 'You guys stole another one.' He was always a solid colt.”

Looking back now, did Hot Rod Charlie remind you of his now-famous half-brother Mitole at all?

“It was too early to tell. Mitole was pretty straightforward. We didn't have this horse long enough for me to make that impression. To the people that I tried to sell Hot Rod privately to, I did say that he had a half brother that looks well above average.

The sad part of it all is Ed Cox would've absolutely been thrilled following Mitole and Hot Rod Charlie. Oh my God. He wouldn't have bragged. He wouldn't have patted himself on the back to the point he needed Tommy John Surgery. He wouldn't have done that. He would've taken quiet delight that he was the breeder of two really nice horses.

I'm sorry he missed it. We sold Hot Rod in February and Ed died in March. I'm sad about that.” –Bill Landes

KNOWN AGENDA:

“He was a really laid-back horse–a very quiet, good-moving horse. He was pointing to the [Gulfstream] sale, but it was questionable whether he had enough speed to be a proper 2-year-old sale horse. I don't know if the 2-year-old sales would've been the ideal environment for him. But he always moved good and trained good. He just lacked the little bit of sharp toe. When the sale was canceled, he went into a different program and just went along nicely.

I think in this year's Derby, every one has a chance to be a Derby horse. It's that kind of race. He'll run a good race. He'll be closing and he'll get the trip, which I suspect a lot of them won't. The faster they go, the better off he'll be.

It's great for our program and our team. The one consistency we've seen with the Derby horses and the horses that run well in the Derby is that they're really classy acting. They have great composure and they handle all the turmoil that comes with it– prepping for the Derby and the whole day in itself.

He's incredibly laid back–I spoke with Todd [Pletcher] at one of the 2-year-old sales about him and he said he's the same now as he was then.” –Eddie Woods

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Dr. A. Gary Lavin, a distinguished equine veterinarian, Thoroughbred breeder, and exemplar of leadership in his profession, passed away at his home in Louisville, Ky., on Feb. 27. He was 83. Dr. Lavin had been afflicted by cancer for several years, but had successfully maintained quality of life and had been planning when he would return to his second home in South Carolina.

Dr. Lavin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth (Betsy), sons Allan (Susan) and Kevin (Amy), and granddaughters (known by the family as “The Cousins”) Catherine, Alexandra, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Lulu, and Hattie.

Response from the racing world was immediate and illustrative of Dr. Lavin's standing as a professional and friend, both of the industry and individuals within it.

“If you set out to meld 'country scientist' and 'southern gentleman' the product that exited the forge would be A. Gary Lavin, VMD,” said noted colleague Dr. Larry Bramlage, a world renowned veterinary surgeon. “Whether discussing a difficult case or one of his passions, such as The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, words never came quickly and were never wasted: '…Well…if that is the best, we'll do it!' He certainly was one of the 'Best.' They don't come along all that often.”

“Doc Lavin was a mentor to me,” said Dell Hancock of Claiborne Farm. “Anything I have ever done for the horse was inspired by him,” added Ms. Hancock, who is chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. (Lavin served as vice chairman.)

“Doc Lavin did as much to further my career as anyone as I was getting started in Louisville,” said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. “He and his family were friends as well as supporters, and I will never forget how important that relationship has been.”

Dr. Robert Copelan, like Lavin a former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), said upon learning of Dr. Lavin's passing: “He is one of the oldest, dearest, and closest friends I have ever had or hope to have. I think back to when we met. It was at Randall Park in 1953. He was a student then and was in charge of the canoe they used to have in the infield lake. I was in the first year of my practice and was at the head of the stretch inspecting a field going into the gate. We became friends that day and have been friends ever since.”

“'Dockie' was a special person and among the most wonderful human beings I have ever met,” said Keeneland sales executive Geoffrey Russell. “He loved the horse and everything to do with the horse, be it racing, sales, breeding, or its health. He never met a stranger and always had time for everyone no matter your station. His knowledge was immense, and he was generous in sharing it with anyone who would listen. I was blessed to have spent 13 years working with him on the inspection team at Keeneland. Crisscrossing Kentucky and the East Coast, days were filled with great humor and even better stories. He loved history, especially the Civil War. He would joke that I could drive by Civil War markers faster than Rogers Beasley (also on the team) could.

“After working on the racetrack for over 30 years, he had seen every conformational fault a horse could have and knew what a horse could live with. When grading yearlings that had some conformation faults he would sometimes say, 'Don't worry about that, he'll be alright.' I will always treasure our friendship, and I will raise a glass in his memory. Thanks Dockie. We'll be alright.”

“Every so often someone comes along who touches so many live, both professionally and personally,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “Doc Lavin was one of those. He was always there, with advice, or just friendship.”

“He was a true giant,” said Rogers Beasley, who recruited Lavin to be part of Keeneland's yearling inspection team after his retirement from active practice. “I know that phrase is used a lot, but he really was a giant. He accomplished so many things in the industry, and he was always promoting what would benefit the horse. And he never met a stranger. You would see him on the backstretch and he would always ask how you were doing, whether you were and owner or a groom. And he never lost his inquisitive mind.”

Illustrative of Beasley's last point, Dr. Lavin led the decision by Grayson-Jockey Club to make a special call for research on Shock Wave Therapy. He recognized that the beneficial new treatment had the potential downside, if misused, to eliminate pain without a horse being cured and therefore place them at risk of injury. The resultant research project at Iowa State University guided racing commissions' parameters for how long before a race the therapy must not be used.

Dr. A. Gary Lavin was born on November 6, 1937, in New Orleans. He grew up in racing, as the son of Allan (Doc) Lavin, racing secretary at Churchill Downs and also at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. The young Lavins were high school sweethearts in Hot Springs and retained a lifetime affection for track and the area.

Dr. Lavin graduated from veterinary college at the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. (He always enjoyed pointing that his alma mater identified his veterinary degree as VMD, whereas other colleges conferred a DVM.) He established himself as a race track practitioner in Louisville while also working at Warner L. Jones Jr.'s Hermitage Farm and for clients in Bowling Green, Ky., and in Indiana. Over the years, other long-term associations included working for such clients as John Ed Anthony and Peter Willmott. In that capacity, Dr. Lavin and his Longfield Farm were involved with such horses as Anthony's back to back 1982-83 Preakness winners, Pine Bluff and champion Prairie Bayou, as well as the noted future stallion Cox's Ridge, plus Demon's Begone and Eddington. Also, Angel Fever, raised at Longfield, became the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.

“My relationship with Gary Lavin began when Loblolly Stable first acquired Thoroughbreds in 1971, 50 years ago,” said breeder-owner Anthony. “From that time forward Doc has been a key part of my life and experience in the industry. He nurtured and helped develop every prominent horse we campaigned, plus attended to the lesser stock with the finest skill, expertise and patience known to his profession.

“The Lavins' Longfield Farm was our home base where mares, foals, and yearlings and layups were under his watchful eye as he and Betsy raised their fine family there. At the sales he was the critical advisor. His counsel regarding trainers and industry personnel was invaluable. I came to know of his kind, honest, and helpful regard for the horses and the people associated with them. He was always optimistic, positive, and encouraging. His honesty and integrity were without question. There are few people one can say they trust absolutely, yet Doc was such a man. Doc lived life fully, but more importantly, calling this fine man friend was a high honor that I am proud to have had in my life.”

Dr. Lavin's long career as a practitioner and surgeon was accompanied by a degree of dedication to the sport and his profession that led him to accept many roles and challenges. He has served terms as president of both the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and was vice chairman of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and a director of Keeneland Association.

In 1994, Dr. Lavin became the first veterinarian elected to The Jockey Club, and he also has served as a steward of that organization. He has also been on the boards of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Breeders' Cup. Over the many years they owned Longfield Farm in Goshen, Kentucky, he and his family bred major winners, raised horses for the commercial market, and managed bloodstock for clients.

Family members also became deeply involved in the sport in individual capacities. Mrs. Lavin served on the Kentucky Racing Commission, Allan runs Lavin Bloodstock, and Kevin owns Lavin (Equine) Insurance. Lavin Bloodstock bred the sentimentally named Star of Goshen, whose son Pioneerof the Nile sired Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, etc.

Dr. Lavin received many honors, including his alma mater's Bellwether Medal for Distinguished Leadership and the Thoroughbred Club of America's Annual Testimonial Dinner guest designation. He was a Distinguished Life Member of the AAEP, recipient of the Distinguished Practitioner Award of the Kentucky Equine Practitioners, and namesake of the Lavin Cup for Equine Welfare. The Lavin Cup was established in 1996 by the AAEP.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation (821 Corporate Drive, Lexington, Ky., 40503).

A private family burial will be held in Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville.

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