Hugh Fitzsimons Jr. Passes: Texas Owner-Breeder Held Numerous Industry Leadership Positions

Hugh Asa Fitzsimons, Jr. passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, April 17, 2021, with his beloved Andrea by his side. A master of the quick quip and possessing an infectious humor, Hugh loved life. He had a great love for people, dogs, horses, and cattle. He also had a passion for land conservation that continues with his children and grandchildren. An Irishman to the core, he was a master storyteller. As he recently said, “If an Irishman dies while telling a story, he will be back.” Hugh will be back in the lives of his family and friends.

Known as “Pappy” to his nine grandchildren and “Pappylito” to his four step-grandchildren, Hugh was born in Shreveport, La., on January 19, 1930, to Hugh Asa Fitzsimons and Val Burch Fitzsimons. The family moved to San Antonio in 1933. Hugh graduated from Texas Military Institute in 1946 and attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Schooling did not end with college, however, as Hugh was an avid reader, especially of history.

In 1951, Hugh married Laura Lu “Lolly” Carrigan of Wichita Falls, Texas. They had three children, Pam, Sunny, and Joseph. The family divided their time between San Antonio and the San Pedro Ranch in Dimmit County, Texas, where Hugh continued his father's passion for cattle and horses. Fascinated by bloodlines and breeding, he was always looking for innovations, and befriended leading beef and range experts, including Rhodesian native Alan Savory and Dr. Jan Bonsma from South Africa, a proponent of “functional efficiency,” to help with his Brahman and Hereford herds.

His interests led him to leadership positions in numerous livestock and ranching organizations, including the Texas Beef Council and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Besides his family, perhaps no passion ranked as high as horses. An avid horseman, Hugh began playing polo with his father at the age of 12 when many of the players in San Antonio's fabled polo community went to fight in World War II. Many years later, he found tremendous joy in watching his grandchildren play. Later, Hugh took up three-day eventing. But perhaps nothing excited him more than horse racing.

Breeding and racing thoroughbreds was Hugh's lifelong passion. He was a walking encyclopedia of bloodlines. A member of The Jockey Club, he held leadership positions in numerous other racing-related organizations and, from 1988 to 1993, served as chairman of the Texas Racing Commission. Hugh's contributions to horse racing always focused on the welfare of his first love, the horse. As such, he supported the tireless work of many people that culminated in the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, signed into law by President Trump in 2020. In later years, when no longer at the track, he could be found bouncing his great-grandchildren on his lap while watching live races.

In addition to his ranching and equine interests, Hugh was an accomplished pilot, businessman, and philanthropist. He served on the Texas Aeronautics Commission from 1966-1972 and was either a director or co-founder of three South Texas banks.

As a trustee of the Ewing Halsell Foundation, Hugh was instrumental in the establishment of charter schools in San Antonio. He was a firm believer in the power of school choice to provide opportunities for those seeking a high-quality education for all. Beyond his philanthropy, Hugh was generous with his time and mentored many young friends. As one young admirer said, “I always felt better after talking with him.”

In 1994 Hugh married Berthica Andrea Fitzsimons. Together they pursued passions for travel, music, and hunting, and enjoyed the company of many great friends. In addition to Andrea, Hugh is survived by a large loving family, including his children: Pamela Fitzsimons Howard and husband, Ryland; Hugh Asa Fitzsimons, III, and wife Sarah; Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons and wife Blair; and his nine grandchildren: Hugh Asa Fitzsimons IV; Patrick Fitzsimons; Evelyn Fitzsimons Clark and husband Matt; Fay Fitzsimons Walker and husband Brevard; Anson Boulware Howard, and wife Meredith; Laura Isabel Howard; Jonathan Calvert Fitzsimons and wife Burkley; Louisa Carrigan Howard and fiancee Devon; and Katherine Burgwin Fitzsimons. He was also devoted to his stepchildren: Bertha Maria Castellvi Bryant and husband Brad; Susie Castellvi Streller and husband, Steve; Carol Castellvi Marable and husband, Todd; and David Castellvi; and their children, Julia and Joseph Streller, and Amanda and William Marable. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his three sisters: Pauline Fitzsimons Love, Jamie Fitzsimons Adger and Seawillow Fitzsimons Perron.

Due to covid restrictions, there will be a family-only memorial service at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 23, 2021. You may find the link to view the service within Hugh's obituary page at www.porterloring.com and share stories about Hugh. We are deeply grateful to Hugh's long-time assistant, America Vargas, for many years of faithful service and devotion; to Felisha Singer, Valentina Pereida, Angel Orta, Mari Torrez and the staff of 4242 Broadway for their loving care; and to Four Seasons Hospice and Porter Loring for their guidance. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Village at Incarnate Word; Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word; or the Grayson-Jockey Club Foundation.

 

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Four Trainers Receive One-Year Bans, $10,000 Fines For Texas Ractopamine Positives

The Texas Racing Commission in recent months has handed out one-year suspensions and $10,000 fines to four trainers whose horses tested positive for ractopamine, a Class 2 drug carrying a Class A penalty under the Association of Racing Commissioners International's Uniform Classification Guidelines.

Ractopamine is a feed additive for cattle and swine designed to create lean muscle. When used in horses, it reportedly acts similarly to anabolic steroids in building muscle mass. Ractopamine has also been found to be a contaminant in commercially sold horse feed manufactured by companies that also make additives for cattle and swine that contain the drug.

Jerenesto Torrez, who has been training since 1991, is the only one of the four trainers who primarily conditions Thoroughbreds. His sanctions stem from a positive post-race test for Mine Inspector, second-place finisher in the fourth race at Lone Star Park last July 27. His suspension began on Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. Mine Inspector  was disqualified and also placed on the veterinarian's list for 90 days last Oct. 15 after a split sample confirmed the ractopamine finding.

The three others suspended for one year and fined $10,000 are primarily Quarter Horse trainers. They are:

  • Jorge L Muniz, whose My Famous Troubadour was disqualified from a Retama Park win in the fifth race on Aug. 13, 2020. Muniz' suspension runs from Nov. 20, 2020, through Nov. 19, 2021.
  • Xavier Alonzo Jr., whose Medicci was disqualified from a second-place finish at Lone Star Park on Sept. 26, 2020. His suspension runs from Jan. 23, 2021, through Jan. 22, 2022.
  • Jesus Marquez Meza, who had two ractopamine positives reported at the same time. The first was for A Louisiana Miracle, second-place finisher in the third race at Lone Star Park on Sept. 13, 2020. The second was for American Hussle, third in the 11th race at Lone Star Park on Sept. 19, 2020. Meza's suspension for both violations runs from Nov. 1, 2020, through Oct. 31, 2021.

All of the horses were required to go on the veterinarian's list and are required to pass an approved veterinary examination before being eligible to race.

 

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McMahon Summarily Suspended, Off All Mounts At Sam Houston

Jockey Charles “C.J.” McMahon, arrested on Jan. 2 in Lafayette, La., and charged with attempted murder, illegal use of weapons and possession of schedule 1 drugs, has been summarily suspended by Texas Racing Commission stewards and taken off all mounts at Sam Houston Race Park, which kicks off its 2021 meeting on Friday evening.

The ruling states that McMahon “admitted to recent use of Marijuana and tested positive for Marijuana on a field test kit on Jan. 5, 2021. Jockey Charles McMahon is hereby summarily suspended starting on Jan. 5, 2021, pending a hearing.”

Don Ahrens, director of security and parking at Sam Houston, confirmed that McMahon has been “excluded in accordance with the Texas Racing Commission ruling and other related matters.”

The 26-year-old jockey was taken into custody Jan. 2 after a traffic stop in Lafayette when police discovered there were outstanding warrants against McMahon stemming from a Dec. 27 incident in which he allegedly fired a weapon into a car stopped at a traffic light. Traffic cameras were believed to have caught the incident on tape. According to the arrest record, police also found marijuana in McMahon's possession at the time of the arrest.

Bond was set at $80,000 and McMahon was released on Jan. 3.

McMahon last rode at Delta Downs in Louisiana on Dec. 28 and had been working horses in the morning at Sam Houston in preparation for the meet at the Houston track.

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Details Emerge In Attempted Murder Charge Against Jockey C.J. McMahon

Jockey Charles J. (C.J.) McMahon, 26, was arrested by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana on Jan. 2 and charged with attempted murder in the second degree, illegal use of weapons, and possession of schedule 1 drugs.

Bond, set at $80,000, was posted on Sunday, and McMahon was released.

According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, details of the case were confirmed Tuesday afternoon by Wayne Griffin, a spokesperson for the Lafayette Police Department.

“[McMahon] was allegedly involved in an incident where a vehicle was parked at a red light. He pulled up in his own vehicle next to the car. He shot into the car. And then he sped off,” Griffin told the TDN. “We were able to locate the vehicle through some investigative means and [by using traffic cameras]. And in turn we were able to locate him and make an arrest.”

The alleged incident is reported to have occurred on Dec. 27. No individuals were injured during the shooting, Griffin said.

The son of a Quarter Horse jockey and grandson of a trainer, McMahon began riding horses at an early age and took out his apprentice jockey's license at 16, recording his first win at Evangeline Downs in 2011.

Previously a leading rider at Lone Star Park and Delta Downs, McMahon is coming off his least productive year since 2014, winning 47 races from 391 mounts that earned $1,147,087. He enjoyed his best years in 2015 and '16, winning 219 races in 2015 (ranking 11th nationally) and compiling mount earnings of $4,989,625 the following year. McMahon has won three graded stakes: the 2016 Texas Mile Stakes (G3) with Great Minds and the Super Derby (G3) and Oklahoma Derby (G3) with Texas Chrome in 2016.

McMahon was suspended by the Indiana Horse Racing Commission for 30 days in 2017 for reportedly testing positive for methamphetamine and THC.

Most recently he rode the Delta Downs meet in Vinson, La., where he won with two of 41 mounts, his last appearance there on Dec. 28. He was named to ride the Jan. 8 and Jan. 9 programs at Sam Houston Race Park in Texas.

The TDN reports that McMahon's jockey license remains in good standing in Texas, but he may not be allowed to ride at Sam Houston.

“The thing with McMahon is his license remains in good standing with us,” Robert Elrod, the public information officer for the Texas Racing Commission, told the TDN. “But my understanding is Sam Houston is not going to let him ride. That's their call. As long as he doesn't have a conviction, he's afforded due process.”

Sam Houston officials did not return requests for comment.

McMahon has 1,046 career victories from 6,734 races for mount earnings of $22,682,202, according to Equibase.

Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.

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