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Horse Owner Tom Conway Passes Away at 83

Tom Conway, a prominent Kentucky attorney who owned 2010 GI Blue Grass S. winner Stately Victor (Ghostzapper) in partnership with his son, Jack, passed away Saturday at the age of 83.

Conway was attending the races at Kentucky Downs Sept. 11 when he fell and suffered multiple fractures. That led to complications that caused his death.

After graduating from Western Kentucky University, Conway served as U.S. Army police officer stationed in West Germany. With funding from the G.I. Bill, he went to law school at the University of Louisville and was admitted to the bar in 1968. Conway, a trial attorney, embarked on a legal career that spanned more than 50 years. Specializing in personal injury litigation, he won some of the largest civil verdicts in Kentucky history.

Conway had been an owner for about 40 years and continued to campaign a small stable up until the time of his death.

“He grew up on a farm in western Kentucky surrounded by ponies, horses, donkeys,” said Jack Conway, who is the former Attorney General of Kentucky. “His dad would travel up to Ellis Park and bet. He liked to take his boys and talk to them about horse racing. My dad grew up with the sport.”

After winning the Blue Grass, Stately Victor finished eighth in the GI Kentucky Derby. Jack Conway said those days were magical.

“It was a thrill of a lifetime,” he said. “I've been going to the Derby since I was 16 and every year we'd look out at that turn and watch them bring their horses over for the Derby. We'd always talk about how wonderful that walk must be. My dad always said to me, 'Someday, I'm going to make that walk.' Not many people can say that got to experience something like that with their dad.”

Conway also campaigned GIII Kentucky Cup Turf S. winner General Jumbo (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and GIII Matt Winn S. winner King Zachary (Curlin) and served on the Kentucky Racing Commission from 2008-2016.

Conway is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara White Conway; his brother A.V. Conway; his four devoted children, Jack Conway (Elizabeth), Kelli Conway Gordinier (Henry), Matthew Conway, and Megan Conway Herndon (Terry); and nine grandchildren, Max, Emma, Katie, Reagan, Kiah, Zach, Trey, Eva, and Alex. There will be a memorial service for Conway at the Kentucky Derby Museum Sept. 27.

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Hernon Launches Bloodstock Agency

Michael Hernon, who served as Gainesway Farm’s Director of Sales for the past 24 years, has launched his own bloodstock agency, Michael Hernon Bloodstock LLC. Starting in the mid-1990s, Hernon managed the stallion books of sires including Broad Brush, Cozzene and Mt. Livermore. More recently, he oversaw the books of leading sires Tapit and Empire Maker, as well as the emerging young sire Karakontie (Jpn).

“Two decades of selling at the highest level of the stallion market was a rare experience, but as Gainesway expanded their bloodstock sales agency, I worked on the farm consignment and

started helping our outside clients with everything they needed to be successful at the sales. We enjoyed a lot of success,” said Hernon.

“Before Michael took over, we were breeding for the top of the market, but not always succeeding at the sales,” said Waymore LLC’s Tom Conway. “He put us on the right track, from sales prep to setting reserves, and suddenly we were on fire with two yearlings selling for $800,000 and another for $700,000. We became fast friends and last year I was proud to attend when Michael became a U.S. Citizen.”

Additionally, Hernon is the co-breeder of champion 3-year-old filly Monomoy Girl, winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks and

GI Breeders Cup Distaff. From a small broodmare band, Hernon also co-bred two-time Grade I-winner Zazu, and graded-stakes winner Flashback, sire of champion British Idiom. This year in the U.S., he co-owns stakes-winning 2-year-old Spanish Loveaffair and while in his native Ireland, Hernon campaigned group-placed juvenile Sussex Garden. Prior to his tenure at Gainesway, Hernon served stints at Pedigree Associates, Fasig-Tipton and Walnut Green.

“I feel everything I have done in this industry has brought me to this new position. Helping people find the right horses and succeed in sales and racing is very satisfying. I look forward to

operating as a bloodstock agent and attending Thoroughbred racing and sales both in the U.S. and in Europe,” Hernon said.

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Industry Veteran Hernon Launches Bloodstock Agency

Michael Hernon, who served as Gainesway Farm's director of sales for the past 24 years, has launched his own bloodstock agency.

Starting in the mid-1990s, Hernon managed the stallion books of top sires like Broad Brush, Cozzene and Mt. Livermore. More recently, he oversaw the books of leading sires Tapit and Empire Maker, as well as the emerging young sire Karakontie.

“Two decades of selling at the highest level of the stallion market was a rare experience, but as Gainesway expanded their bloodstock sales agency, I worked on the farm consignment and started helping our outside clients with everything they needed to be successful at the sales. We enjoyed a lot of success,” said Hernon.

Tom Conway, with Waymore LLC, said, “Before Michael took over, we were breeding for the top of the market, but not always succeeding at the sales. He put us on the right track, from sales prep to setting reserves, and suddenly we were on fire with two yearlings selling for $800,000 and another for $700,000. We became fast friends and last year I was proud to attend when Michael became a U.S. Citizen.”

Hernon's greatest personal achievement was co-breeding champion Monomoy Girl, winner of the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff.

From a small broodmare band, Hernon has also co-bred two-time Grade 1 winner Zazu, and graded stakes winner Flashback, sire of champion British Idiom. This year in the U.S., he co-owns and races exciting stakes-winning 2-year-old Spanish Loveaffair, while in his native Ireland, Hernon campaigns group-placed juvenile Sussex Garden.

Prior to his tenure at Gainesway, Hernon served stints at Pedigree Associates, Fasig-Tipton and Walnut Green.

“I feel everything I have done in this industry has brought me to this new position. Helping people find the right horses and succeed in sales and racing is very satisfying. I look forward to operating as a bloodstock agent and attending Thoroughbred racing and sales both in the U.S. and in Europe,” Hernon said.

The post Industry Veteran Hernon Launches Bloodstock Agency appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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