Tag: People

John Hernandez First Recipient Of Herb & Darlene Likens Scholarship

The Indiana Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (ITOBA) awarded its first Herb and Darlene Likens Scholar Award recently at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. John Hernandez of Monticello, Ind. is the recipient of the first $2,500 scholarship from the newly installed program.

John is a graduate of Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, Ind. He is currently attending Ivy Tech in Lafayette, Ind. His father, Martin, works at Elliott Farms in Brookston, Ind., making John eligible for the award earmarked to families associated with Thoroughbred racing in the state of Indiana.

“This award was initiated by ITOBA this past spring to offer something to the thousands of people working behind the scenes in the Thoroughbred industry in the state,” said Tom Mosley, President of ITOBA. “Martin, John's father, has had his hands on so many horses that have emerged from this state. Martin is a prime example of a hard-working, dedicated, loyal horseman who is the backbone of the Indiana Thoroughbred industry.”

Elliott Farms is Indiana's largest and oldest farm in the state. It is well known nationally for breaking, training, breeding and sale prep of the horses raised at the farm. Martin Hernandez has been a huge part of the entire services offered by Elliott Farms for more than two decades.

The Herb and Darlene Likens Scholar Award was created to assist Indiana's breeders, owners, farms, and their employees and families in their post high school educational expenses. The award is named after the Likens, longtime owners and breeders in the state, who assist with the award. The Likens are still active in breeding and racing Thoroughbreds from their farm in Madison County.

The Likens' Scholar Award leads into ITOBA's biggest event of the year, Indiana Champions Day set for Saturday, Oct. 30 at Indiana Grand. Racing begins at 12 p.m. and will feature four Thoroughbred stakes with followed by five Quarter Horse stakes, pushing purses for the day to more than $1 million. Numerous activities will complement the afternoon racing card, including a Cigar Rolling Station with free cigars to the first 200 racing fans, sweatshirt, hat, and license plate giveaways, two $1,000 handicapping contests, five $1,000 Megabet drawings, strolling entertainment, and food and beverage specials. The afternoon will be capped off with an appearance by the Headless Horseman.

Indiana Champions Day will also include two book signings associated with racing. Otto Thorwarth, who portrayed Ron Turcotte in the Disney movie “Secretariat,” will be available to sign his new book “No Ordinary Champion.” Tina Cleary, former Quarter Horse jockey, will also be available to sign her book “Growing Up With Moocher” based on a former Indiana racehorse. Both signings will take place trackside from 2 until 5 p.m.

The 19th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing is now in progress and continues through Thursday, Nov. 11. Live racing is conducted at 2:25 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 11. First post all other Thursdays leading up to the end of the meet begin at 3:25 p.m. A special Indiana Champions Day highlighting the state's top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses will be held Saturday, Oct. 30, beginning at noon. More information about the 2021 racing season is available at www.caesars.com/indiana-grand.

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‘Consummate Professional’ Bob Neumeier Passes; Played Key Role On Major Racing Telecasts

Popular Boston sportscaster Bob Neumeier, a reporter and analyst on horse racing telecasts on NBC and ESPN for more than a quarter century, died Oct. 23 at the age of 70. Neumeier's wife, Michele Ucci, told the Boston Globe that her husband suffered from congestive heart failure and heart disease and had been in hospice care for the last two months.

Known as “Neumy” to friends and fans, Neumeier – a graduate of Syracuse University – had been doing play-by-play for the World Hockey League's Hartford Whalers when he became a reporter and sports anchor for Boston's Channel 4 in 1981, a position he held for 20 years.

In the 1980s, Neumeier – an avid horse racing fan and sharp handicapper – began working for Breeders' Cup on a newsfeed that distributed news and personality features nationally to local TV channels.

In 1990. Neumeier joined the NBC Sports broadcast team for the Breeders' Cup, and his reporting and interview skills went into play almost immediately on a tragic day at Belmont Park when three horses died on track, Shaker Knit and Mr. Nickerson in the Sprint and champion filly Go For Wand in the Distaff. He played a similar role during the challenging post-race coverage of Barbaro's ultimately fatal injury in the 2006 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

“It was very similar in terms of the raw emotion that was palpable from the patrons and the people on the track and surrounding the track,” Neumeier told Houston Chronicle columnist David Barron after the 2006 Preakness. “Professionally, we've been there before, and unfortunately, it's not a pleasant experience. But we're trained to handle it.”

Neumeier continued his reporting during racing telecasts (while also doing hockey play by play on Boston radio), but it was his handicapping and on-camera bantering with others, from the late eccentric horseplayer from England, John McCririck, to Mike Battaglia, Eddie Olczyk and others. Neumeier took his handicapping seriously and backed up his opinions at the windows.

He had two publicized health setbacks, the first coming in 2009 when he was taken to a Louisville hospital after collapsing at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. Five years later, he suffered a stroke just days before the 2014 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. He recovered from both incidents, most notably coming back from the stroke to win an NTRA sponsored media handicapping tournament held in conjunction with the National Horseplayers Championship in January 2015. Neumeier was back on the air for the 2015 Triple Crown.

Breeders' Cup issued the following statement about Neumeier's passing: “We were very saddened to learn today of the passing of Bob Neumeier. Bob was a big part of the NBC Breeders' Cup World Championships broadcasts for many years as a handicapper, reporter and analyst. Bob brought his expertise of Thoroughbred racing and a great sense of humor to every show.  We extend our sincere condolences to Bob's wife Michele and to his extended family.”

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Sam Spear, Bay Area Media Legend, Passes Away

Golden Gate Fields is saddened to learn of the passing of Bay Area media legend Sam Spear at age 72 following a lengthy illness. Spear, born Nov. 3, 1948 in Oakland, Calif., and raised in Alameda, was a lifelong horse racing fan who passed away Saturday at 1 a.m. After graduating from St. Joseph's Alameda and San Francisco State, he quickly became a major fixture at Thoroughbred racetracks throughout Northern California.

Spear was employed in the racing industry for over four decades. He served as media relations director at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, assisting media personnel, horsemen, front side staff, owners, breeders, horseplayers, and fans. Sam thoroughly enjoyed helping others and was devoted to creating the best possible experience for those he encountered on and off the track. His affable personality quickly made him a “fan favorite” amongst fans and horsemen, and he was often seen chatting it up with turf club patrons and railbirds alike.

A close friend and confidant of legendary San Francisco native Joe DiMaggio, Spear often drove “Joe D.” to and from both Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields and ensured he was well taken care of throughout many race days in both the press box and Turf Club.

One would be hard pressed to find an individual who did more to promote Northern California racing than Sam Spear. Sam hosted and produced Bay Area racing's popular race replay show on KTSF-Channel 26 that began in 1978 and ran until 2017. He also hosted “At the Track with Sam Spear,” a weekly radio program every Sunday morning that attracted a large following of listeners and some of racing's biggest names as guests on the show. Spear had contacts with every newspaper and news station in the Bay Area, and successfully promoted horse racing through these channels.

Whenever leaving a voice mail, he would invariably tag each message with the admonition, “And we'll see YOU at the races.”

Spear was described as a “human encyclopedia” for all things horse racing and Bay Area Sports—Giants, A's, 49ers, Raiders, Warriors, and more. His uncanny ability to remember specific races, names, dates, and statistics was second to none. Sam was a natural storyteller and enjoyed sharing memories from the past using humor, wit, and charm. Spear was also a big supporter of the younger generations and a mentor to many journalists, television/radio personalities, and race callers who have gone on to be very successful in their respective fields of work.

The Golden Gate Fields racing community will never forget Sam Spear and the countless contributions he made to Northern California horse racing and the community at large. From all of us at Golden Gate Fields, we extend our deepest condolences to Sam's family and friends.

A funeral Mass is scheduled for Sam Spear on Monday, Nov. 1 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Danville, where Spear had resided for the past 20 years with his longtime partner, Barbara O'Neill.

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Valerie Dailey Elected President Of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ And Owners’ Association

After a brief absence as a member on the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board due to term limits, George Isaacs of Ocala returned to the board Friday while Laurine Fuller-Vargas of Morriston, George Russell of Reddick, T. Paul Bulmahn of Ocala and Nick de Meric of Ocala were re-elected to the board. They will each serve a three-year term that will run until October 2024.

Leaving the board because of term limits as outlined in the FTBOA by-laws was Richard Kent, who predominantly consigns yearlings under the name of his Kaizen Sales based in Ocala. He was commended for his strong commitment and service to the Association and industry.

Breeder, realtor, executive and most recently first vice president of the FTBOA, Valerie Dailey of Ocala was elected president of the Association at the board meeting that followed the Oct. 22 annual member meeting. She said she was grateful to be elected president by her fellow board members.

“What I bring to the table is my knowledge of agriculture and horses and I'm actively involved in that organization and trade. So I kind of bring a different viewpoint in wanting to protect the interests of all farm owners,” Dailey said.

She notes that she is looking forward to the opportunity of learning more about the industry and enhancing her own experience and knowledge as president of the FTBOA.

“The more you learn, the more knowledgeable you are and the better resource you are to educate your members,” she said.

The board also selected the remaining executive committee officers for 2021-22 with Dailey as president while Isaacs was named first vice president. Russell was named second vice president and Brent Fernung will serve as treasurer. Joseph O'Farrell III has been elected as the secretary and Phil Matthews, D.V.M. remains an officer and director as immediate past president.

Dailey has a long history serving both the agriculture and business markets in central Florida.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Food and Resource Economics and a Masters of Science in Agricultural Operations Management, both from the University of Florida. She has been a Florida licensed realtor with Showcase Properties of Central Florida since 2005 where she specializes in listing and selling commercial and agricultural equine properties. Currently, she also serves as District VII vice president for Florida REALTORS, is a member of the Value Adjustment Board of Marion County and a representative for the Florida Association of Realtors. She is on the board of the University of Florida, College of Agricultural, Life Sciences Alumni and the State of Florida 4-H Foundation board. Valerie utilizes her agricultural background and leadership positions to protect the property rights of breeders in Ocala.

Together with husband Hugh and daughter Samantha, Dailey has been a small breeder under the banner of their 3D Farm since 1992 with multiple stakes winners and a Breeders' Cup qualifier. Dailey is a member of the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership and has been a member of the FTBOA for 30 years.

Isaacs is a past FTBOA board member and officer, who became stallion manager at Arthur Appleton's Bridlewood Farm in Ocala in 1989 before becoming the general manager for Allen Paulson's Brookside South Farm in 1992. In 1996, Isaacs returned to Bridlewood as general manager and currently manages operations there with John and Leslie Malone, who purchased the farm in 2013.

During his tenure at Bridlewood, more than 100 Florida-bred stakes winners and 12 Grade 1 winners have been bred by the farm.

Isaacs is the chair of the Equine Studies Program at the College of Central Florida, is a Horse Farms Forever board member and an AdventHealth Ocala Foundation board member. Isaacs is the chair for the FTBOA Ocala Downtown Thoroughbred Walk of Fame committee and serves on the FTBOA Farmland Preservation Work Group.

Isaacs will be serving his fifth term on the FTBOA board.

Fuller-Vargas is a third generation horsemen and today owns and operates the 65-acre Cedar Lock Farm with more than 25 thoroughbreds and is home to Run for the Ribbons Inc., a 501(c) 3 program. She also founded the Florida Thoroughbred Expo, which along with Run for the Ribbons, is dedicated to improving the lives of OTTBs and founded by Fuller-Vargas in 2014.

She will be serving her second term on the board. She has dedicated time to thoroughbred retirement programs and assisted the FTBOA charity and social committees.

Russell is past president of the FTBOA and longtime director and officer. He and his wife Karen own the 158-acre Rustlewood Farm in Reddick. They have bred and or raced several graded stakes winners and currently campaign Best Pal (G2)-winner Pappacap.

Russell has been instrumental in the FTBOA's legislative role, governance and racing program development, is past chair of the charity/social committee and is a strong advocate of Florida Thoroughbred Charities. He is currently the chair of the FTBOA Farmland Preservation Work Group.

Russell will be serving his fourth term on the FTBOA board.

Bulmahn is an entrepreneur in various industries and opened GoldMark Farm, a 2,600 acre commercial thoroughbred training center, in 2006.

He serves on the Texas State University board of directors of the College of Business Foundation and is a member of the FTBOA Farmland Preservation Work Group.

Bulmahn will be serving his second term on the FTBOA board.

A native of England, de Meric currently operates with his wife Jaqui, the 240-acre Manuden Farm, de Meric Sales and Eclipse Training Center.

Currently serving on the FTBOA Farmland Preservation Work Group, de Meric is also on the board of Horse Farms Forever and dedicates time to the Ocala Farm Ministry where Jaqui serves on the board. He has also served on the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company board since 2001.

This will be the second term on the FTBOA board for de Meric.

Other FTBOA board members include Fred Brei, Marilyn Campbell, Bobby Jones, Milan Kosanovich, Francis Vanlangendonck and Dr. Fred Yutani.

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