Tag: People

Willis D. Horton, who campaigned champions Will Take Charge and Take Charge Brandi, died Friday of pneumonia in a Fayetteville, Arkansas hospital. He was 82.

A resident of Marshall, Arkansas, Horton was a retired homebuilder who reached the pinnacle of racing with his two champions and also had great success racing horses with his family.

He developed D.R. Horton Custom Homes, which became the nation's largest builder of single-family homes. Upon his retirement when the company went public in 1992, he began an ardent pursuit of horse racing.

He previously was the managing partner of Horton Stable, which included his brother Leon, his late son Cam, and his nephew Terry. Among their best horses was 2006 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Lemons Forever.

“He lived and breathed horse racing,” Horton's son Kevin told Daily Racing Form. “He had no hobbies. He didn't hunt, fish. …His love has always been horse racing.”

Will Take Charge won the Rebel Stakes (G2), Travers Stakes (G1), Pennsylvania Derby (G2), and Clark Handicap (G1) en route to his 2013 Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male. Horton bought Will Take Charge at auction, paying $425,000 for the son of Unbridled's Song at the 2011 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He earned more than $3.9 in his racing career.

Take Charge Brandi won the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Delta Downs Princess Stakes (G3), and Starlet Stakes (G1) en route to the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly. Horton paid $435,000 for the Giant's Causeway filly at the 2013 Keeneland September sale. She compiled a 5-1-0 record from 11 career starts and earnings $1,692,126.

Horton has worn many hats during his life: as a former parts store owner, feed mill owner, turkey farmer (at one time raising more than four million turkeys), and as the owner of a 7,000-acre cattle farm. He also served five terms as Searcy County (Arkansas) Judge, from 1964-1974.

Horton is survived by his wife of 64 years, Glenda, his son Kevin and his wife, Laurie.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT) Tuesday at the Roller-Coffman Funeral Home at 923 Hwy 65 North in Marshall, Arkansas. Visitation is set or 12-2 p.m. (CT).

The post Willis Horton, Owner Of Champions Will Take Charge, Take Charge Brandi, Dies At 82 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

By Leo Schlink

In an extraordinary display of excellence, Zac Purton has again stamped his authority on Hong Kong racing, posting a personalbest of seven wins to dominate at Sha Tin on Sunday and take an iron-grip on the 2022-2023 jockeys' championship.

On an incredible day, Purton's career-high of seven was underscored by Harry Bentley's treble on the 10-race card, while Benno Yung took training honors with a treble from Danny Shum and John Size, who both notched doubles.

But, by any measure, it was the 'Zac Purton Show' with his three unplaced rides – Campione (fourth), All Is Good (fourth) and The Irishman (fifth) – all finishing in the top five as a gauge of elite consistency and ambition.

After only nine meetings, Purton has tallied 21 wins – more than doubling the haul of nearest rival Vincent Ho (nine) – and in the absence of Joao Moreira and Karis Teetan, the Australian maestro is forging relentlessly towards a sixth championship.

“It was nice, all the horses ran well. I had a couple there that let me down a little bit, but you can't be too picky – it's been a good day,” Purton reflected. “Seven wins is good.

“It's nice that the trainers and the owners are supporting me. I had a couple of nice horses today but you still need the right barriers, the track bias, the tempo – all of those things – in your favor and you need the horses to turn up on the day.

“It's not easy, but I suppose when it comes together, it certainly feels good.”

Moreira, who is sidelined with a hip issue, holds Hong Kong's all-time record for the most wins at a single meeting with eight victories from 11 races at Sha Tin on 5 March, 2017.

Exceeding his previous effort of six wins at a meeting – a feat he had achieved four times – Purton has continued an outstanding start to the season while building a stunning winning strike rate of 26.58%.

Revered for his ability to navigate Happy Valley's tricky contours, Purton has excelled at Sha Tin this season, producing at least two winners per meeting at each of the venue's five meetings so far for a total of 18 victories from 48 rides at a staggering winning strike rate of 37.5%.

With four of his previous six-timers materializing in the 2018/19 season, Purton dominated from the outset on Sunday with only Harry Bentley (three wins) able to snap the Australian's unstinting mastery.

Yung provided three of Purton's winners to post his first treble in more than three seasons, while the reigning champion jockey also combined successfully with John Size (two wins), Jimmy Ting and David Hayes.

Bentley's treble was peppered through Purton's reign, initially triumphing on Danny Shum-trained Majestic Star in Egret Handicap and twice subsequently upstaging the Australian.

“Majestic Star is obviously a very good quality horse and he's got form on the All Weather so we knew that was going to suit him well. From a wide draw, we ended up just sitting three-wide but he was travelling so strongly, I couldn't really do a lot about that,” the Englishman said.

“He took me into the race extremely well and once I pressed the button, he picked up really nicely for me.”

Bentley, 30, repeated the feat after Purton had prevailed in five of the first six races, stalking Purton on the favorite All Is Good (fourth) and fending off Wide Blue Yonder to land the Class 4 Sea Eagle Handicap to again disrupt the Australian's ascendancy.

Bentley closed the meeting in tremendous style by propelling Packing Victory across the line in a desperate finish to clinch the Swan Handicap for Danny Shum.

“It's a good milestone to get my first treble here in Hong Kong and to do it here at Sha Tin and in some really good quality races is fantastic. Danny has been fantastic and I really appreciate that he stood by me – it's good to get some winners on the board, it's good for the confidence,” Bentley said.

Purton's amazing spree began in the opening race with a gaping victory atop Benno Yung's Yes We Can in the Flamingo Handicap– the first leg of a double for both the jockey and trainer, who were again to the fore with Fiery Diamond in the Heron Handicap.

Beaten into fourth place on Campione in the Egret Handicap, Purton reprised a dominating role atop Sunny Baby in the Kestrel Handicap for David Hayes.

“With his running style, he needs luck and a good ride and he got both from Zac today,” said Hayes, who leads the trainers' championship with nine wins.

Purton's reign continued with the ultra-impressive debut of Beauty Eternal, who overcame difficulties before surging to victory in the Peacock Handicap for John Size.

Unraced and a trial winner in Australia where he was known as Teamyouessa, the Starspangledbanner gelding lingered at the start and covered ground before easing to a widening two-length win over seven-time Hong Kong winner Regency Bo Bo.

“He did run very well and he was disadvantaged through the bad draw (post 14), he covered plenty of ground and still won quite well, so you'd have to be happy with the way he's begun his racing career and hopefully he can improve on that,” Size said.

“He came through that with flying colors and passed his first test well. It's only one race and as he becomes progressive, we can work out where he's going to go in life. I'm satisfied today.”

A perfectly timed ride atop Handsome Twelve in the Class 3 Chinese General Chamber Of Commerce Cup Handicap left Purton one shy of his personal best haul of six winners at a single Hong Kong meeting.

Purton duly notched a sixth on Man Star in the Chinese Recreation Club Challenge Cup Handicap for Jimmy Ting before steaming into unchartered territory with a ground-saving ride on Erimo in the Spoonbill Handicap.

The post ‘It’s Been A Good Day’: Hong Kong Jockey Purton Pilots Seven Winners At Sha Tin appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Golden Gate Fields is saddened to report the loss of longtime Northern California racehorse trainer John F. “Mickey” Martin, who has passed away at the age of 63 after a lengthy illness.

Martin, who saddled his first starter in 1984, trained Quarter Horses early in his career before transitioning to Thoroughbreds. He campaigned over 2,300 winners of both breeds. From 7,707 thoroughbred starters, Martin won 1,960 races and amassed purse earnings of $23,835,366.

“With the recent passing of Duane Offield and now John, it's been a rough couple of weeks,” said Golden Gate Fields vice president and general manager David Duggan. “We are still trying to process this loss. John was a well-respected figure amongst his peers. He was the type of person that would help anybody if they needed it. He was a terrific horseman and had a very successful and distinguished career. We extend our best wishes and thoughts to his family and large group of friends.”

Martin mentored numerous horsemen who have gone on to achieve success in the sport of kings. Among his students were Jonathan Wong, who went out on his own in 2015 and has been the perennial leading trainer in Northern California since 2018, and Reid France, who began training his own string in 2019 and has scored at a strong 26%-win clip since.

“John was just a great guy,” said owner Troy Onorato, a longtime client and friend of Martin's who runs Hat Trick Racing Stable. “He helped and mentored so many people throughout his life and never sought attention for helping people. He was focused and dedicated on taking care of his horses, but always tried to do the right thing.”

Martin's best and favorite horse to train was Mended, a filly he claimed for $12,500 in 2017 at Golden Gate who went on to win 10 consecutive times, including the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper at Gulfstream Park that same year. On the day her win streak was snapped – Jan. 13, 2018 – she lost by a head in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita. Two months later, she finished as the runner-up again, this time in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita. Among  other notable Martin trainees were stakes winners Force, Me My Mine and She's Sensational.

“Mended put us on a phenomenal ride,” said Onorato, who owned Mended along with his wife Maritza. “People would always say how well we campaigned Mended and other horses. I told them, 'We're just following the John Martin playbook.' John was a terrific horseman.”

Services for John Martin are pending.

The post Northern California Trainer John F. Martin, 63, Passes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Dave Brower, the longtime lead TV host, morning-line oddsmaker and program analyst at The Meadowlands, passed away unexpectedly Thursday night while away on assignment at The Red Mile. He was 53.

Brower, who recently completed a week-long stint doing TV at the Delaware (OH) Fairgrounds for the Little Brown Jug, was preparing for a huge weekend of racing at Lexington but was found unresponsive in his hotel room after no one had heard from him Friday morning.

“Dave Brower's level of expertise and professionalism was unmatched in the sport of harness racing, and all of us at The Meadowlands were in complete shock when we heard of his passing,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “While we grieve his passing, we also want to send our condolences to his family and many, many industry friends.”

In addition to multiple TV credentials, Brower was a published author, penning “Harnessing Winners” in 2009. A native of Passaic, NJ, Brower also did many national TV broadcasts, which included this year's Hambletonian, seen on the CBS Sports Network.

“Sitting next to Dave Brower for the last five years has been the greatest pleasure of my entire career,” said Dave Little, Brower's TV partner since 2017. “He and I got to be friends in the mid-1990s when I was in my first go-round in the Big M's TV department. We have spent so much time together over the years and know just about everything there is to know about the other. I cannot imagine going on camera in a few weeks and not having him beside me.”

The post Longtime Meadowlands TV Host Dave Brower Passes At Age 53 appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post