obituary

Joe Friedberg, a prominent Minneapolis defense attorney and racehorse owner, died Monday from colon cancer. He was 87. Friedberg was born in Brooklyn, New York, was a graduate of the University of North Carolina law school, and served in the Marine Corps. A colorful attorney with a large personality, Friedberg represented a long list of NFL players, politicians and others. He was married to his mutual best friend, Carolyn, for 62 years, and they Carolyn raised a daughter and son, both of whom married and presented their parents with grandchildren...

German Derby hero Kamsin (Ger) (Samum {Ger}) has died at the age of 19, Jour de Galop reported on Friday. A resident of Haras de la Baie in 2024, the dual purpose stallion stood for €2,500 this year. "We found the stallion dead in his box in the morning," said stud representative Andre-Jean Belloir to the JDG. "At night, he ate his ration and everything seemed normal." Bred by Gestut Karlshof, the half- or full-sibling to four black-type horses raced in the colours of Stall Blankenese and was trained by...

Tributes have been paid to Keeneland's longstanding and much-admired European representative Tim Preston, who died earlier this week aged 80 after an illness. He spent 23 years in his role with the Kentucky sales and racing company, starting in 1989 when it was still de rigueur for any major international bloodstock figure to be seen at the July yearling auction. His CV had previously included spells with a variety of trainers in Britain, a time as an amateur jockey (including a Cheltenham Festival ride), work at Greentree Stud in Kentucky...

Dual Group 1 winner Gladiatorus (Silic {Fr}) has been euthanised in Ireland at the age of 19 due to complications from laminitis. The Racing Post first reported the news. Bred by Azienda Agricola le Ferriere di Raponi Giampaolo, the bay was an $8,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling when purchased by Federico Barberini. Trained by Ricardo Menichetti for Razza Dell'Olmo at two in Italy, he made nine starts that season, winning six of them, including four at listed level. His juvenile finale was a second in the G1 Gran Criterium. Purchased by...

Irish businessman Sir Anthony 'Tony' O'Reilly has died after a short illness according to published reports. The husband of the late Lady Chryss O'Reilly who died last year, he was 88. "In the coming days there will be many worthy tributes made to Tony O'Reilly's unique and extraordinary achievements in the fields of business and sport," O'Reilly's family said in a statement. "As well as his extraordinary philanthropic vision which was best evidenced by the establishment of the Ireland Funds at a dark time in this island's history. "But, for...

Peter J. Callahan, a magazine publisher and decades-long Thoroughbred owner and breeder who campaigned the 2020 champion 3-year-old filly and GI Preakness S. victress Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), died May 9 in a New York City hospital in the company of family members. He was 82. The cause of death was a brain tumor, his daughter, Carolyn Callahan, confirmed to TDN on May 15. A celebration of his life will be planned at a later date, she added. "Horse racing really was his passion," Carolyn Callahan said. "He was very practical...

Charismatic hurdler Harchibald (Fr) (Perugino) has died at the age of 25 according to published reports. Best known for his close second in the 2005 Champion Hurdle to Hardy Eustace (Ire) (Archway {Ire})), the five-time Grade 1 winner was enjoying his retirement in Ireland. All told, his record stands at 14 wins from 48 starts, with wins in the Fighting Fifths (2004/2007), a pair of Christmas Hurdles (2004/2008) and the John James McManus Memorial Hurdle in Ireland (2005) among his victories. Bred by Ecurie Bouchard Jean-Lo, the bay was trained...

International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' advisor Dr. Roland Devolz has died at the age of 83, France Galop announced on Wednesday. A veterinarian, he joined the Societe d'Encouragement pour l'Amelioration des Races de Chevaux de Courses in the early 1970s when recruited by Jean Romanet. Besides working for the Societe d'Encouragement, he was invaluable in the implementation of a modernized anti-doping control through the creation of the horse racing laboratory, based on the approach initiated by Dr. Yves Bonnaire. Also one of the greatest experts of the Stud Book, Devolz...

by TTR AusNZ/Keely Mckitterick Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro (Aus) (Octagonal {NZ}--Shadea {NZ}, by Straight Strike) has died at the age of 25, Darley Australia announced on Friday. The Woodlands Stud homebred was pensioned in March of 2023. "A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as 'the people's champion' Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack," said Godolphin Australia's Corporate Director, Ross Cole said in a statement. "Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earnt...

Even the Score (Unbridled's Song--Ashtabula, by Rahy), a resident of Old Friends for the past year, has died at the age of 26 after colicking. He was euthanized at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on Saturday, Apr. 13. A MSGW & GISP during his four-year racing career, Even the Score stood at Rosendo "Ro" Parra's Millennium Farms before he was pensioned in 2020. Among the 17 career black-type winners he sired from his 15 crops are multiple Grade I winners Dullahan and Take the Points. "Even the Score was a...

Paddy Woods, who once rode three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Arkle (Ire) (Archive {GB}) to victory, has died at the age of 93, according to published reports. The Irishman was born in 1930, and began his career in racing at Dan Moore's yard before a few years with Charlie Rogers before returning to Moore. However, he is best known for his association with Tom Dreaper's Greenogue stable which began in 1956. Besides riding work aboard Arkle each morning for Dreaper, the jockey did capture the 1963 and 1965 Irish Grand...

Japanese jockey Kota Fujioka has died from injuries sustained in an Apr. 6 race fall, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) announced on Thursday. The 35-year-old Group 1-winning rider was dislodged from his horse during the seventh race at Hanshin and sustained head and chest injuries. He never regained consciousness his brother revealed on Wednesday to NetKeiba. Born in Shiga prefecture in 1988, Fujioka was the son of JRA trainer Kenichi Fujioka and the younger brother of JRA jockey Yusuke Fujioka. His riding career started auspiciously, as he won on debut...