Derby Winner Grindstone Passes Away

Grindstone, the winner of the 1996 GI Kentucky Derby, passed away at age 29. The news was reported by Oakhurst Equine of Oregon, which acquired the stallion in 2009.

“RIP Champ,” Oakhurst Equine posted on its Facebook page. “Thank you for providing us with the thrill of a lifetime. You changed our lives when you joined us and will always be missed.”

Grindstone was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner, a status he enjoyed for just a few days. At age 31, 1994 Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin died Mar. 8. Silver Charm, the 1997 Derby winner, now holds that distinction. He resides at Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Ky.

A son of Unbridled who was trained by Wayne Lukas and owned by William T. Young, Grindstone raced just twice as a 2-year-old, winning a June 1, 1995 maiden at Belmont by five lengths. After finishing second in his 3-year-old debut in an allowance race at Santa Anita, he won the GIII Louisiana Derby and then finished second in the GII Arkansas Derby.

Sent off at 5-1 in the Kentucky Derby and ridden by Jerry Bailey, he closed relentlessly in the stretch to nip Cavonnier by a nose at the wire. The photo was so close that Lukas wasn't sure that he had won the race.

“When we hit the wire we erupted,” Lukas said. “Then it hit me right between the eyes–hell, maybe we didn't win it.”

A chip was found in Grindstone's knee after the race and he never ran again. He became the first Derby winner since Bubbling Over in 1926 to be retired after winning the Derby.

“The chip was described to me as being half as big as the end of your little finger,” Young said. “The injury isn't life-threatening, but if he wasn't going to come back to his present form, I didn't want to take the chance of racing him anymore. I said that after we lost Grand Canyon that I wouldn't go through that again.”

Grindstone began his stud career at Young's Overbrook Farm in Kentucky. His most notable offspring was Birdstone, the winner of the 2003 GI Champagne S, the 2004 GI Belmont S. and the 2004 GI Travers S. He also produced Ekolu Place, who made $1,326,760 racing in Japan.

But Grindstone was not particularly successful at stud. When Young died his heirs closed the farm and dispersed the stallions. Not exactly in high demand, Grindstone was acquired by Jack Root, who owns Oakhurst Thoroughbreds, and sent to Oregon. His initial stud fee there was $2,500 and he became the first Derby winner to stand in the Pacific Northwest.

“To have Grindstone, a Kentucky Derby winner, is a dream come true,” Root said in 2014. “I just never thought it would happen to me. It's a thrill of a lifetime.”

The move to Oregon gave him a new lease on life and he was among the top three leading stallions in that state every year from 2009 through 2020.

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Veteran Trainer Ron Glorioso Passes Away

Trainer Ron Glorioso, a mainstay at Parx since that track opened in 1974, passed away Oct. 22 at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. He was 79.

Before entering training, the Philadelphia native was a Pennsylvania State Trooper assigned to the mounted unit. He stayed with the state police for five years before shifting gears and becoming a trainer. He first became interested in racing when his father took him to the track when he was a freshman in high school.

Glorioso started out in the late sixties at Liberty Bell Park and shared the training duties with his then-wife Patricia. In 1974, Parx, then known as Keystone, opened and Glorioso was the first trainer to arrive on the backstretch.

A member of the Parx Racing Hall of Fame, Glorioso campaigned a modest-sized stable at Parx for much of his career. He was involved in a serious car accident in 2011, which created lingering problems that required several surgeries. With a significantly smaller stable, he continued to train up until 2018 when he was physically unable to do the job. At his peak, he had 27 horses in his barn.

“Ron was an optimist in a game of pessimists,” said Dick Jerardi, who developed a friendship with Glorioso during his years covering racing for the Philadelphia Daily News. “He was always certain he was going to win the next race. He was a memory-maker for his two daughters and a loyal friend to everybody who knew him.”

Equibase records show that since 1984, Glorioso won 685 races. It is believed that he won more than 1,000 during his career.

Glorioso had been on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association since 2007.

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Mike Recio Passes Away at 46

Bloodstock agent and consignor Mike Recio passed away Sept. 16, at the age of 46 after an unexpected illness. The son of respected Ocala horseman Bill Recio, he had been involved in the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry for the majority of his life. After graduating from the University of Louisville Horse Racing Industry Program in 2002, Recio worked in client services for Taylor Made Farm, Adena Springs, Mill Ridge and Hidden Brook, where he cultivated his business acumen and his legendary gift of gab.

In the fall of 2014, Recio launched South Point Sales. South Point became a prominent consignor at the breeding stock and yearling sales in Kentucky and Saratoga. At the same time, he began Rockbridge Bloodstock, a full-service bloodstock agency that quickly proved successful with matings, racing and broodmare purchases and stallion placement.

Recio was involved in the private purchase of multiple graded stakes winner Tonalist's Shape and had an especially strong record at the 2-year-old sales–13% of his juvenile purchases earned black-type, including 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint contender The Critical Way. Also adept at purchasing broodmare prospects, he secured a quartet of mares under his Rockbridge Bloodstock banner have produced stakes winners in 2021, in addition to securing sisters to recent Grade I winners Swiss Skydiver and Super Stock.

South Point sold several more good ones, including record-setting Grade II winner Stubbins, who was also mated on Recio's advice, graded stakes winner Proud Emma, GSW and GISP Fear the Cowboy and multiple stakes winner and Sovereign Award finalist She's the Berries.

Although Recio was a tremendous businessman in his own right, he will be remembered for his outgoing personality, the connections he made within the industry, and the people he brought together. Never one to turn down a drink at the Keeneland bar or a dinner at Jeff Ruby's, Recio had an astounding number of friends within the industry. The La Croix-filled South Point water cooler became the best spot on the sales ground for gossip, which he was more than happy to supply. He never knew a stranger, and spoke with an ease that truly was a gift.

While Recio loved the horse industry and his work, he took the greatest joy in spending time with his family and friends, whom he loved fiercely. He leaves behind his wife Nancy, his twins Wesley and Addison, whom he adored, his mother Lynn and father Bill, as well as his brother Gene, sister Katie Cauthen, brother-in-law Doug Cauthen, and niece Campbell Cauthen. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

TRIBUTES FROM THE INDUSTRY…
Mike was one of a kind, an irreplaceable fixture in this business and in Lexington. He treated everyone equally from employees to competitors to owners, and you always knew where you stood. This community is full of people from all walks of life that would tell you Mike Recio was their friend. He had a big heart and cared for his loved ones immensely. I can confidently say he lived his 46 years to the fullest. He loved this business, loved everything about trading horses, but the real joys of his life were his twins Wesley and Addison and wife Nancy. The void his loss has created cannot be filled. He will be missed and he is loved.  – John David Christman

Soup was 31-lengths the best storyteller I've ever known. There have been so many tears shed over these last several weeks, but so many of them have come from the laughter of remembering those incredible nights when he'd take over the dinner table with his most legendary tales. His best ones always came at his own expense and often with one of us secretly recording them so we could laugh just as hard about them later. He had the biggest heart of anyone I know, and it was filled to the brim with his love for Nancy and his two children. There's never been a prouder father than Soup, and it's the picture of him beaming with those squinty eyes and impossibly big Soup grin while holding Addison and Wesley that will always be with me. He will be missed every day by those of us who loved him, but I can promise you that his stories will be told wherever horses run and beer is served for as long as any of us are around. We'll try our best to tell them as well as you did, Soupy. – Bret Jones

We are heartbroken
Rest in Peace, Mike – South Point Sales (Twitter)

 

We are saddened by the loss of Mike Recio of SouthPointSales. It was truly an honor to work with him. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and everyone in the thoroughbred industry. – The Green Group (Twitter)

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and many friends of Mike Recio. Mike was more than just a client of Fasig-Tipton, he was a great friend to many of us. Nobody enjoyed traveling to our various sales more than Mike, and we will dearly miss him and his infectious smile. – Fasig-Tipton (Twitter)

 

Mike Recio was a great horseman and most importantly, a great friend to so many. We will remember Mike's energy, enthusiasm and love of life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Recio family and all of those who were fortunate to call him their friend.” – Keeneland (Twitter)

 

Our industry lost one of its sharpest minds and biggest personalities today, I've lost one of my best friends. First guy I met when I moved to KY 20 years ago, Soup has become family to me as he is to so many of us. Please share your stories and celebrate his life. Love you Mikey – Joe Miller (Twitter)

 

Today has been tremendously hard, seeing so many friends of Mike's and knowing how dearly he was loved by his family and friends. I will treasure every beer I had with him. He was a total legend – Tom Morley (Twitter)

 

Mike could always put a smile on your face. Will miss him dearly, but my heart goes out to his family and young children – Maggie Wolfendale (Twitter)

 

Brother we had so many laughs together, conversations, took many a Horse racing trip, & even sold some horses in between. You & Jake were my first 2 friends in Kentucky, Thank you Mike. My Folded hands to Nancy, Wes, Addi, Bill, Ella, Gene, & Katie. Till we meet again, gone too soon my boy – Ramiro Restrepo (Twitter)

 

Mike Recio, what a legend. Thank you for all you have done, I will miss seeing your smiling face and energy around the sales. Was always a pleasure to see you. We will hold a glass up to you, cheers Clinking beer mugsdear friend. – Atlas Bloodstock (Twitter)

 

The horse business lost a great ambassador today. Mike Recio was a good man: He will forever be remembered as a hardworking, fun loving character who was good for his word. There's not a sales complex in North America that won't miss his endless enthusiasm and welcoming smile. – Tom Ryan (Twitter)

 

Was lucky enough to have worked and learned under Mike for four years when I started out in the industry. Mike was more then a friend to me, he was like a 2nd dad who would tell me what I wanted to hear even if I didn't like it cause he genuinely cared about what was best for me. – Seth Wilkey (Twitter)

 

You are with angels now, please say hi to my grandma Betty…missing your larger than life personality at the sales so much my dear friend. My heart aches along with so many of us. Live Every Day. Going to miss you so so so much. – Carrie Brogden (Twitter)

 

To Share a tribute or story please contact Sue Finley or Gary King.

 

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California Trainer Neil French Passes Away

Neil French, a licensed trainer since 1971 who was based in Southern California, passed away from heart failure Saturday, Apr. 10, at Arcadia Methodist Hospital near Santa Anita. He was 68.

French grew up with a father who was a farrier at Los Alamitos before switching to training, first Quarter Horses and eventually Thoroughbreds. French rode his father's horses in the mornings and then became a trainer on his own as a teenager. Among French's top horses were SW Pencil Point (Ire) (Sharpen Up), SW & GSP June's Reward (Hail Bold King), and GSP Chocolate Coated (Candy Ride {Arg}). He won a total of 257 races from 2,080 starters, with his runners earning $6,436,620.

Plagued with rheumatoid arthritis for the last decade, French continued training and relied on a golf cart to take him from the backside to the grandstand apron for training.

“The horses were his life,” said his sister, Joy. “The arthritis was very, very hard on him and this time, he had to go to the hospital and his heart gave out. He never got married or had kids; the horses were his life.”

French is survived by his mother, Loretta; three sisters: Joy, Joan, and Sundee; plus a number of nieces and nephews. Services are pending.

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