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Kentucky Commission Veterinarian John Taormina Passes At Age 57

Dr. John Philip Taormina, D.V.M. passed away in Lexington, Ky. on Tuesday, March 16, at the age of 57.

Dr. Taormina served as a Racing Veterinarian for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission at both Thoroughbred and Harness tracks across the state.

Prior to his tenure as a KHRC vet, Dr. Taormina was a private veterinarian specializing in equine care out of Bowling Green, Ky.

Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Harrodsburg Rd. is handling arrangements.

We are devastated to hear about Dr. John Taormina passing away. He was such an amazing friend to all of us horsemen, he…

Posted by KentuckyHarness HorsemensAssociation on Wednesday, March 17, 2021

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Trainer Rebecca Bastiman Passes at 40

Trainer Rebecca Bastiman passed away following a long illness according to her Facebook page, Rebecca Bastiman Racing. The trainer was 40.

A statement on Bastiman's Facebook page read, “It comes with extreme sadness and heartache that I'm posting this, but sadly Rebecca Bastiman has peacefully passed away after a long illness.

“Being a trainer was her dream her life, her everything, she put 110% into the love and care of her four-legged friends.

“Rebecca was a dedicated trainer and a hard worker, she was first on the yard and last to leave, she mucked out and rode out and loved the challenge of problem horses and sweetening them up.

“Rebecca will leave a hole in many people's hearts, but her legacy will go on and never be forgotten. The world has lost a special, beautiful person but the heavens have gained an angel.”

Bastiman was the daughter of trainer Robin Bastiman, who trained dual Nunthorpe S. victor Borderlescott (GB) (Compton Place {GB}). Also a three-time winner as an amateur jockey, she took over from her father in 2015. Throughout her seven seasons as a trainer, Bastiman saddled over 100 winners. Her best runner was Thirsk Hunt Cup hero Hayadh (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}).

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Racing Executive Brant Latta Passes Away

Joseph Brant Latta, age 60, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away Mar. 15. After earning his accounting degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Brant went on to study racetrack management at The University of Arizona. He worked at Longacres and when that closed Brant became the general manager at Yakima Meadows for two years.

Brant went on to manage Turf Paradise and later became the general manager of Santa Anita Park. In the last part of his racing career, he acted as chief operating officer for Magna Entertainment and worked closely with Magna's numerous tracks around the country. In 2008, he retired from the racing industry and opened an insurance agency that he owned until his passing.

Brant is survived by his wife Heather Latta; his daughter, Claire Rose Latta; his son, Brayden Latta; and many siblings. A funeral mass will be celebrated Mar. 20 at 11:00am at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Barling, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1301 Frank Street, Barling, AR, 72923 or The American Stroke Association at www.stroke.org.

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Champion Boston Harbor Dies in Japan

American champion juvenile colt Boston Harbor (Capote-Harbor Springs, by Vice Regent) passed away from the infirmities of old age on Mar. 9, Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association's Shigeki Yusa announced via Twitter on Thursday. The pensioned stallion was 27.

“Boston Harbor passed away from old age on March 9,” Yusa said in a tweet. “We are truly saddened to lose him and are grateful for all the support from his fans over the years.”

Bred by Overbrook Farm in Kentucky, the homebred was trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. A Churchill Downs maiden winner at first asking in May of 1996, he added the GIII Bashford Manor S. a month later and ran second in muddy going in the GIII Sanford S. at Saratoga on July 26. Back on top in the Ellis Park Juvenile S. in September, the son of Harbor Springs won the GIII Kentucky Cup Juvenile S. at Turfway Park later that month. Wheeled back in Keeneland's GII Breeders' Futurity, Boston Harbor scored again, and ended his season with another victory-this time in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Woodbine en route to champion juvenile colt honours. Tried only once as a sophomore, he was fourth in the Santa Catalina S. in February and retired after injuring himself in work with a mark of 8-6-1-0 and $1,934,605 in earnings.

Originally a resident of Overbrook Farm, Boston Harbor moved to Japan to stand under the JBBA banner beginning in 2002. Overall, he sired 21 black-type winners, four at the group level including GI Santa Margarita Invitational S. heroine Healthy Addiction. His daughters have already bettered his sire record, with 35 stakes-winning progeny, 11 group winners and three at the highest level. Boston Harbor's Group 1 winners as a broodmare sire include GI Mother Goose S. heroine Off The Tracks (Curlin), GI Madison S. victress Shotgun Gulch (Thunder Gulch) and GI Vanity S. winner My Sweet Addiction (Tiznow).

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