Bertram W. Klein, an owner/breeder for many years with his late wife Elaine and son Richard, passed away Friday, Mar. 24. He was 86. Born in 1930, the Louisville, Kentucky resident attended the Kentucky Military Institute and graduated in 1952 from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science in economics. After serving in the U.S. Air Force in Germany, Klein married Elaine Brodnax of Birmingham, Alabama Mar. 1, 1953 and joined the Bank of Louisville later that same year. Klein eventually rose to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mid America Bancorp d/b/a Bank of Louisville, before retiring in 2002. Although involved in thoroughbred racing singly earlier, Klein enjoyed his greatest successes as an owner/breed after joining his wife and son in a three-way partnership in 1998.
Reminiscing about his partnership with his parents, after a decade of racing with just his mother, son Richard remarked, “It was just an honor to say that you can have that long of a relationship with your parents in a business and not have one cross word. We may have had different views at times, but they let me handle it all and they had nothing but a lot of joy and a lot of excitement and thrills.”
The horses carrying the Kleins' lime and black silks have saluted in over 90 stakes wins to date, including 22 at the graded level. Outofthebox earned Grade I glory for the Kleins in the 2001 Super Derby. Once Bertram joined the partnership, a slew of horses with 'Bertie' in their name frequently found their way to the winner's circle for the Kleins.
“My father started naming them that when we got in the business because he saw how hard it was for my mother and I to get horses named and approved,” Klein reflected. “He said 'I'm coming up with my own idea.' Sure enough it worked and we've had a lot of very special Berties.”
One of the best known 'Berties' was homebred Allamerican Bertie, who scored four times at the graded level, while other MGSWs raced by the Kleins were: Hurricane Bertie, Swept Away, De Bertie, and homebreds Mis Ida and Cash Control (Pioneerof the Nile). The Kleins' current torchbearer is Believe in Bertie (Langfuhr), who has won four straight, including the Daisy Devine S. Feb. 25 and the Red Camelia S. Mar. 11, both at Fair Grounds.
The Klein silks will still be seen on racetracks across America, as Richard has no intention of dispersing, but will instead continue his family's passion.
“My parents wished for me to continue,” Klein said. “We've got 60 horses now, and I am going to continue racing. Instead of my name only, I want to make it the Klein Family, so my parents can still feel like they are a part of it. [It was] my father's wish of a week ago when we talked. He said to me 'Richard, you don't have to worry, just keep running the horses and enjoy the horses.' The Berties will not go away.”
Preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Elaine and his son, David, Klein is survived by sons Stephen (Yael) of Yelm, Washington and Richard (Beth); four grandchildren, Erin, Kathryn, Chelsea, and Casey; and one great-grandson, Luke.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 28 at The Temple, 501 US Hwy 42, with burial to follow in The Temple Cemetery. Visitation will begin after 1:00 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation-Elaine Klein Career Development Fund, 821 Corporate Dr. Lexington, KY 40503 or The Temple Julia, Bert and Elaine Klein Memorial Landscape Fund, instead of flowers.
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