Obituaries | Horse Racing Free Tips

Breeders’ Cup Sprint Winner, Our Mims Retirement Haven Resident Elmhurst Dies At Age 31

Our Mims Retirement Haven in Paris, Ky., mourns the loss of 31-year-old, Elmhurst (1990, Wild Again x Mimbet), grandson of Our Mims. Elmhurst left this earth on Jan. 4 due to heart failure.

Elmhurst raced 51 times with eight wins, 10 seconds and six third-place finishes, winning a total of $1,100,567. His most notable win was the 1997 Breeders' Cup Sprint.

He arrived at “The Haven” on Nov. 1, 2011. He quickly became a favorite of not only the ladies of Our Mims Retirement Haven, but also the people who came to visit. Since he was born on Feb. 14, he was crowned the King of Hearts and was notorious for his antics with women. He had been known to pop bra straps. If he saw cleavage, he would pull the shirt out and look down.

OMRH owner and president Pete Mirabito commented, “Thank you 'Elmo' for filling my wife Jeanne's heart with joy.”

“Mo was truly one of a kind,” said Ann Cheek, OMRH vice president. “A real ladies' man. I will miss his flirty ways and sweet whisper nickers.”

Sidna Madden, director of development noted, “Elmhurst was an amazing guy – a true gentleman that embodied everything I love about Thoroughbreds. He proudly helped carry the name of the Haven in memory of his granddam, Our Mims. I will certainly miss his antics, along with his loving spirit too, but it brings a smile to my face knowing he and Jeanne, along with Our Mims and all the other ladies of the Haven that have gone before him, are now all reunited. His longevity is also a true testament to the care that all of the horses at the Haven receive.”

After being cremated, Elmhurst will be laid to rest in the farm's Invincible Spirit cemetery.

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Longtime Hagyard Equine Medical Institute Veterinarian, Dr. James D. (Jim) Smith, 86, Passes

Dr. James Donovan (Jim) Smith, DVM, of Lexington, Ky., husband of Judy Smith passed away on Dec. 28, 2020, surrounded in love by his family. Dr. Smith was born Oct. 10, 1934, in Hutchinson, Kan., to the late Raymond and Anita Smith.

Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor and Doctorate degrees in Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University where he was a member of the Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Beta Theta Pi. Known affectionately as “Doc”, Jim developed a love for equine medicine during his studies. This passion led him to specialize in equine reproductive medicine and ophthalmology. Jim enjoyed a long and successful career at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute for over 40 years.

As a senior partner, Jim mentored and encouraged many young veterinarians. He instilled a lifelong love of learning with everyone he met. Dr. Smith was an extremely active member of both the veterinary and civic world, serving as president of the Kentucky Equine Practitioners Association, as well as a board member, secretary, and treasurer of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Jim was also active in Rotary, the Kentucky Harness Commission, the Kentucky Equine Drug Council, the Fayette County Board of Education, the Kentucky Equine Practitioners Infectious Disease Committee, Quality Assurance Program of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, The Jockey Club Medication Commission, The Committee on Environmental Affairs for the American Veterinary Medical Association, The George T. Fairchild Society, The Bluegrass Boys Ranch, and sat on the board of the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center.

After retiring from practice, he was involved in the Christian Muslim Dialogue, BUILD Nehemiah Action, The Cricket Club, and Birthright of Lexington – receiving the Louise Summerhill Award in 2017 along with his wife Judy. Dr. Smith's other awards include the Joan F. Pew Award for Racing Commissioners, the E.R. Frank Award for Meritorious Service, the Kansas State University Distinguished Veterinary Alumni Award, Registry of Merit from the American Quarter Horse Association, and he was Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel.

His love for music started early when he was the youngest musician hired by Universal Studios to play trombone in their live studio orchestra. This evolved into him performing with the Lexington based big band group Men of Note. After moving to Kentucky, he also had his own local television show on KET called, Camping with Jim Smith. His numerous hobbies included reading, exploring the outdoors, dancing, and traveling, Panama being a favorite. He was the life of the party and loved cooking and feeding his friends and family, though never on time. He was deeply passionate about naps, ice cream, and head scratches. His love of endless storytelling and conversation meant that he never met a stranger and was never far from home. Family and friends describe Jim as “caring and gentle, hardworking and curious, intelligent but always learning. A man who truly lived life to the fullest.”

In addition to his loving wife of 31 years, he is survived by ten children: Laura (Martin) Smith-Nederpelt, Kelley Smith, Jeff (Melanie) Smith, Tim (Kelly) Smith, Amy (Patrick) Randles, Madison (Robert) Crispen, Sean (Kelly) Profitt, Jonathan (Rachel) Profitt, Nanzobe Aimee, and Bigabo Jackson; nine grandchildren: Sharee, Lauren, Emma, Will, Grace, Jackson, Gabrielle, Solomon, and Graham; two siblings, Michael (Cheryl) Smith and Pat (Rhea) Serpan; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The visitation will be held on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Milward's 159 North Broadway in Lexington. His memorial mass will be a private, family event.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center, P.O. Box 910124, Lexington, Kentucky 40591 or St. Paul Catholic Church, 425 W. Short St., Lexington, KY 40507.

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Former Jockey Bourque Dies Of Cancer At 67

Former jockey Kenneth “Chopper” Bourque passed away in Taylorsville, Ky. on Tuesday at the age of 67, according to Daily Racing Form. The cause of his death was cancer, according to Bourque's son.

Bourque was born in Erath, La. and got his start as a jockey by riding bush races around south central Louisiana. He went on to win his first official race in 1969 at Evangeline Downs. He eventually moved to the East Coast in further pursuit of his career at Charles Town, where he only remained for a short while before returning to Louisiana.

The jockey retired in 1999 with 2,467 wins and $20.4 million purse earnings, according to Jockey Club statistics. He retired to spend more time with his wife and six children.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

Paulick Report contributor Liane Crossley caught up with Bourque in late 2019, at which time he was still working as an assistant clerk of scales in the jockeys' quarters as a way to stay close to the sport he loved. You can find that profile here.

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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