obituary | Horse Racing Free Tips

Veteran Trainer Bob Hess, Sr. Dies of COVID-19

Bob Hess, Sr., who began training in the late 1950s and saddled his last horses in November, passed away Saturday due to the effects of COVID-19. He was 86.

Golden Gate Fields, where Hess was based, was closed in mid-November and is not set to reopen until after Christmas due to a rash of COVID positives. Hess was hospitalized with the virus around the same time the track was closed, eventually released, and then readmitted when his symptoms returned.

According to The Stronach Group, owner of Golden Gate, Hess was born Oct. 10, 1934, and began training in Washington State in the 1950s after serving in the U.S. Army. He was part of the Agua Caliente training ranks in the 1960s and finally moved to Golden Gate in 1971, where he remained based for the past five decades. He was consistently among the Northern California leaders. Hess saddled 1,592 winners from 10,448 starters, with his runners earning more than $17.2 million. His final winner was in an Oct. 29 claimer with 3-year-old Just Like Fred (Ultimate Eagle).

“Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Hess family at this time,” said David Duggan, General Manager at Golden Gate. “To lose a longtime trainer and friend is simply heartbreaking to our entire horse racing family.”

Golden Gate’s Director of Racing, Patrick Mackey, added: “Bob was a wonderful horseman who was always there for his fellow race tracker. His stories were legendary. He was a wealth of knowledge and imparted that knowledge to many over the years. He was a great man and his presence here at Golden Gate Fields will be sorely missed.”

Hess is survived by his wife Maria, to whom he was married for 56 years, and four children: Bob, Jr. (who is also a trainer), Howie, Erica, and Anna. Services are pending.

The post Veteran Trainer Bob Hess, Sr. Dies of COVID-19 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

James Brady Passes Away at 85

James C. Brady, a longtime Thoroughbred owner and breeder and officer of The Jockey Club, passed away at his home in Bedminster, N.J., Thursday, Oct. 22. He was 85.

On behalf of his brother, Nicholas Brady, a former chairman of The Jockey Club, U.S. Senator, and Treasury Secretary, and sisters Lisa Richards and Eliot Stewart, Brady managed Mill House Racing Stable, which raced prominent runners America Alive (American Chance), Brilliant (War Chant), Trappe Shot (Tapit), and Rattlesnake Bridge (Tapit).

Born in New York, N.Y., to parents James C. and Eliot (nee Chace) Brady, he attended St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., and Yale University in New Haven, Conn., where he played varsity ice hockey. Brady served as general partner of Mill House Associates, successor to Brady Security & Realty Corporation and he began work at Bankers Trust Company in 1957, resigning to take a position in New Jersey Governor William T. Cahill’s Cabinet as commissioner of banking, where he helped plan the development of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, including Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack.

In 1983, Brady was appointed secretary-treasurer of The Jockey Club, joining newly elected chairman Ogden Mills Phipps and vice chairman William S. Farish. The trio led a three-decade period of growth of The Jockey Club, establishing new commercial business, including Equibase Company and several technology-based service and data businesses. Proceeds from the commercial subsidiaries fueled increasing investments in the marketing of Thoroughbred racing and research and advocacy for improved safety and integrity of the sport. Brady’s nephew, Ian Highet, succeeded him as secretary-treasurer of The Jockey Club in 2010, and Brady remained on the board of stewards until 2013.

The Brady family has been involved in Thoroughbred racing for more than 100 years, beginning with Brady’s grandfather, financier James Cox Brady, who developed the 5,000-acre Hamilton Farms in New Jersey and bred and raced the champion War Feathers. Brady’s father, also James Cox Brady, was a steward of The Jockey Club and bred and raced 16 stakes winners, including Classic winners in England and Ireland, in addition to a champion in America. He was chairman of the New York Racing Association for eight years, during which Belmont Park was built, and also a founding director of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joan Babcock Brady; his siblings; son James C. Brady III and his wife, Anne Lusk Brady; daughter Joan “Nonie” Brady and her husband, Wilhelm Merck; and daughter Kerry Chace Brady and her partner, Brock Dolman. He had two granddaughters, Audrey Slade Brady and Millicent McKay Brady.

A private family funeral was held [Saturday, Oct. 24] at St. Brigid’s Church in Peapack, N.J. A memorial service celebrating his life is to be held in the spring of 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brady’s memory may be made to LifeCamp, a summer camp for inner city youth, long supported by the Brady family.

The post James Brady Passes Away at 85 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Beau Greely Dies at 49

Christopher Beau Greely, a fourth-generation trainer with deep Kentucky ties, passed away Sept. 30 in Redondo Beach, Calif., after a short illness. He was 49.

A Kentucky native, Greely, who went by his middle name, had long-time roots in the horse business. With his brother, John J. Greely IV, who passed away earlier this year at 54, Greely founded Wintergreen Stallion Station. His father, John “Bud” Greely III, owned Wintergreen Farm near Midway, Ky. Their uncle, Bill Greely, was president of Keeneland from 1986-2000.

Greely worked for Criquette Head in France and Richard Mandella in California before going out on his own in 1997. Among his more successful runners were MGISW Borrego (El Prado {Ire}), whom he also bred and owned in partnership, MGISW Manndar (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}), GISW Sligo Bay (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells), MGSW & MGISP Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park), and MGSW & GISP Five Star Day (Carson City), who later stood at Wintergreen Stallion Station.

In recent years, Greely, who left training completely in 2015, was an underwater and art photographer.

Greely is survived by his father, the aforementioned Bud, and his mother, Ann Evans Greely; as well as three children, Christopher Beau Greely II, Jacqueline Greely, and Margaux Greely; his sisters Shannon Totty and Laura Whitworth; the mother of his children, Heidi Marsh; a special friend, Tracy Stephenson; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Due to ongoing COVID-19 protocols, the burial at Calvary Cemetery in Lexington will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Lexington location of God’s Food Pantry at 1685 Jaggie Fox Way.

The post Beau Greely Dies at 49 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Irish Champion Jockey Pat Smullen, 43, Passes Away

Pat Smullen, Irish Champion Jockey nine times throughout his career, passed away on the evening of Sept.15 at St Vincent’s Hopsital in Dublin, Ireland. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of 2018, he was 43.

Smullen began riding out as an apprentice for Tom Lacy, and made an immediate impact, being named champion apprentice both in 1995 and 1996. He also rode for Joanna Morgan and after serving his apprenticeship, Smullen rode for various other trainers, including John Oxx, and Tommy Stack before joining forces as first call rider for Irish maestro Dermot Weld in 1999. For Weld he would serve the rest of his 20-year career.

Among those two decades were the aforementioned nine riding titles, the most recent in 2016, after piloting Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) to a win in the G1 Epsom Derby. Smullen booted home 10 other Classic winners, including G1 Irish Oaks victress Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), G1 2000 Guineas hero Refuse to Bend (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) and quadruple G1 Irish St Leger winner Vinnie Roe (Ire) (Definite Article {GB}).

Smullen began penning a weekly column for the TDN shortly before he retired from the saddle in May of 2019 after doctors advised him against a return to race riding. He put those months to good use, however, subsequently raising over €2.5 million for Cancer Trials Ireland through various charity efforts. One of the highlights of his fundraising was the Pat Smullen Champions Race. He also was part of the advisory team at Eva Bucher-Haefner’s Moyglare Stud, for whom he rode many successful horses during his jockey days.

During the annual Cartier Awards last year, Smullen was presented with the Cartier/Daily Telegraph Award of Merit in London on Nov. 12. (Click here to view the video). He was also appointed as the honourary president of the International Federation of Jockeys Associations.

Smullen is survived by his wife Frances Crowley and their three children-Hannah, Paddy and Sarah. Funeral plans are pending.

Twitter Tributes:

“I never saw courage like this–Pat Smullen was a truly special man.” — Nick Luck

“Pat Smullen was one of Irish racing’s brightest stars, a nine time champion, but his achievements in the saddle pale in comparison to his qualities out of it. An inspiration to us all, his legacy is large. All our thoughts this evening are with Frances, Hannah, Paddy and Sarah.” — Brian Kavanagh

“Pat Smullen was that rare breed of a genuine great at what he did, yet utterly decent and unpretentious about that greatness. RIP Pat.” — Vincent Hogan

“Truly heartbreaking news about Pat Smullen. He was great jockey and even better man. My thoughts are with his family at this time.” — Jonjo O’Neill

“So very sad to learn of the passing of Pat Smullen. What a jockey and ambassador for a sport we all love, but above all what a gentleman and legend. My sincerest condolences to Frances, Hannah, Paddy, Sarah and all his family. May he rest in peace.” — Mouse O’Ryan

“Heartbroken–for his family, for his friends, for racing–the world is a worse place tonight without Pat Smullen. He was the true combination of both legend & gentleman–courageous, gracious, humble & kind. My deepest condolences to Frances, Hannah, Paddy & Sarah.” — Cathy Grassick

“Terrible news to hear this morning of the passing of Pat Smullen, A legend of the weigh room and a jockey that I was lucky enough to ask for advice many times. Will be sadly missed and a massive loss to the sport.” — Robbie Dolan

“It’s days like today that make you question everything. Thoughts with Pat’s family and friends and the racing community. Irish sport and society has lost a gem. Rest In Peace, Pat.” — Ronan O’Gara

“He will be so dearly missed by the global horse racing community. Rest In peace, Pat.” — Breeders’ Cup

The post Irish Champion Jockey Pat Smullen, 43, Passes Away appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post