by Bill Finley and Dan Ross
Jerry Moss, who rose to fame in both the music business and in horse racing, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 88.
Moss owned horses in partnership with then his wife, Ann, and while they campaigned many top horses, none could compare to the superstar in Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}). A winner of a remarkable 19 races from 20 career starts, she was named Horse of the Year in 2010 and champion older mare in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Her lone defeat came in her final start when was beaten a head by Blame (Arch) in the 2010 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
“She was unbelievable, just unbelievable,” Moss told TVG in 2019. “Everybody felt like they owned a piece of her. Everybody felt she was their girl and she wasn't going to disappoint them and she never did. She never lost to a filly.”
Zenyatta was ridden by Mike Smith in her final 17 starts. On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame rider shared his memories of Moss.
“He was all class, a wonderful man and wonderful to ride for,” he said. He made you feel special. I will miss him dearly.”
Moss, who co-founded A&M Records along with Herb Alpert, was encouraged to get into the racing business by a longtime friend and colleague Nate Duroff. Along with Duroff and Alpert,
they claimed a horse named Angel Tune for $12,000 in the late sixties. Moss took a step back from racing briefly but started to get more heavily involved in the seventies.
One of his most prominent stars was Giacomo (Holy Bull). Sent off at 50-1 and with Smith riding, he won the GI Kentucky Derby in 2005. It was Moss's first visit to Churchill Downs since he won the GI Kentucky Oaks with Sardula (Storm Cat). Moss never worried that few gave Giacomo a chance.
“Critics are entitled to opinions,” he told the Associated Press. “I never let those opinions get in the way. We think he ran a tremendous race in the Derby and had to surmount tremendous obstacles to win the race. We think maybe the best is yet to come. That he's still growing still learning and still relaxing. He can certainly do better.”
Giacomo won just one other race during his career, the 2006 GII San Diego H. Other top horses owned by Moss include GI Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley (Malibu Moon), GIII winner Keri Belle (Empire Maker), two-time GI winner Zazu (Tapit ), and Cozi Rosie, the winner of the GII John C. Mabbee S., the GII Buena Vista S. and the GIII Senorita S.
Along with Alpert, Moss turned A&M Records into one of the country's leading independent record labels. The Police were among the bands signed by A&M, and that is how Zenyatta got her name, It was taken from the Police's 1980 album release Zenyatta Mondatta.
“Jerry was a great, great man and a dear friend to myself and my family,” wrote Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, Moss's long-time racing manager and wife of trainer, John, in a text message Wednesday.
“He was passionate about our sport,” Ingordo-Shirreffs added, about Moss. “Loved every moment of being with his horses. Mornings at the barn was the best way to start his day–then off to the office. He cherished his horses and all of the people who cared for them each day. ”
Trainer John Sadler conditioned a number of top-class runners for the Moss family, including the two-time Grade I winner, Zazu (Tapit). Sadler concurred with Ingordo-Shirreffs's assessment, calling Moss a “great American in every sense of the phrase.”
“So much of his life is well documented on TV in documentaries and biopics,” said Sadler. “He was just a wonderful person, beloved by anyone who knew him. And obviously, he had a great passion for horse racing.”
Sadler highlighted Moss's less heralded efforts in horse racing beyond the flashing light bulbs of the sport's glitziest stages, like his tenure on the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
“I still think when I read about him that his philanthropic [largesse] is probably under-reported. He was great at giving back. He was just an amazing man and an amazing American story,” said Sadler.
“I remember some of our conversations. To hear him talk about Joe Cocker. To hear him talk about one of my early favorites as a teenager, Cat Stevens. The artists that he worked with, it was just a who's-who. The other great one is Sting. There was that much depth to him.”
When it comes to horse racing, Moss's most enduring contribution, said Sadler, was his enduring love of the horse.
“He loved his horses with a passion. A passion. Always wanted to do the right thing–that was a given,” said Sadler. “He'll be missed because he was a great man. A truly great man.”
Services will be held in Los Angeles this weekend at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary.
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