obituary

Classic winner Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), a winner of the 2003 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, died peacefully in his paddock at Chapel Stud on Tuesday. The son of G2 Prix de Royallieu and G2 Park Hill S. heroine Madame Dubois (GB) (Legend Of France) was 23. Bred by Cliveden Stud, the chestnut was a 62,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, and later brought 95,000gns at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale in 2002. Trained by Paul D'Arcy, he was ridden by John Egan for racing owners Peter Gleeson, Julian Smith, and...

Richard J. Meyer, a Thoroughbred owner and advocate for horsemen and backstretch workers in Maryland, passed away at Anne Arundel Medical Center June 20 after a brief illness. He was 81. A fan of Thoroughbred racing, Meyer in 1984 partnered with his first group of associates to purchase three racehorses. He discovered a new passion in researching bloodlines to aid in the purchase of horses at auction. He created a partnership called M. O. M. Stables, with Josephine Owens and then Timothy Keefe as his trainers. "Richard was not only...

Renowned equine reproduction specialist Dr. Walter W. Zent, D.V.M. passed away June 29 in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 84 years old. A New York native, Zent began his love affair with horses as a young child when visiting family in Kentucky. He graduated from Cornell University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963, interned at Purdue University, then spent two years investigating infectious disease outbreaks and pathology at the University of Kentucky's Department of Veterinary Science. He began practicing at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee, now Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, in 1966 and was synonymous...

GI Cigar Mile H. winner and former Hill 'n' Dale sire El Corredor (Mr. Greeley--Silvery Swan, by Silver Deputy) has died at the age of 26 in Turkey, according to Turkish news source Yaris Dergisi. El Corredor has stood since 2015 at the Turkey Jockey Club's Silivri Stallion Complex until reportedly passing away Tuesday, June 20. A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling from the first crop of Mr. Greeley, El Corredor was purchased by Bob Baffert and raced in the colors of Hal J. Earnhardt III. The dark bay won the...

Edited CHRB Press Release William 'Will' Meyers, a California steward for nearly 40 years, passed away Saturday at the age of 69. Will came from a racing family. His father was a steward and racing secretary. "Naturally, I started working with horses myself," he once said. "When I was a boy we lived in Arcadia, then Coronado, and on weekends I would go down to Caliente to groom and pony horses. Later, I worked as a stewards' aide in Stockton, Sacramento, and Ferndale." Meyers rose through the ranks of racing...

Flemensfirth (Alleged--Ethelreda {GB}, by Diesis {GB}), who was a two-time champion sire in the jumping sphere, died at The Beeches Stud on Friday. The pensioned Coolmore stallion was 31. Bred by Mill Ridge Farm, the Mar. 16 foal was a $45,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $290,000 Keeneland September yearling when sold to Darley Stud Management from the Mill Ridge Sales consignment. Trained by John Gosden, Flemensfirth won on debut at two, before taking the G1 Prix Lupin as a 3-year-old in 1995 and the G1 Premio Roma at four in...

Champion Daylami (Ire) (Doyoun {Ire}--Daltawa {Ire}, by Miswaki), a winner of seven Group 1 races worldwide, has been euthanised due to the infirmities of old age, the Aga Khan Studs announced on Wednesday. He was two weeks shy of his official 29th birthday on Apr. 20. Racing for first his breeder, His Highness The Aga Khan, and later on in the blue silks of Godolphin, the 1994 foal was second in the 1996 G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud at two and grabbed a Classic laurel in the G1 Poule d'Essai des...

Pearling (Storm Cat--Mariah's Storm, by Rahy), the dam of triple Group 1 winner and stallion Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), passed away this week, Imad Al Sagar's Blue Diamond Stud announced on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, who was set to return to Frankel this season, foaled a Frankel (GB) filly this week, the stud confirmed to the TDN. "Very sad to lose Pearling this week," the stud tweeted. "She was one of the first mares to join Blue Diamond and gave us a true star in Decorated Knight. She leaves a lasting...

Japanese and UAE champion and top sire Heart's Cry (Jpn) (Sunday Silence--Irish Dance {Jpn}, by Tony Bin {Ire}) died on Mar. 9, the Japanese Racing Association (JRA) announced on Friday. The 22-year-old was in good health until he passed, due to a sudden inability to stand. Teruya Yoshida, CEO of Shadai Farm, said in a statement, "Hearts Cry ran out of steam last night [Thursday]. I heard from the person in charge of the Shadai Stallion that he left nobly and without showing any weakness until the very end. "When...

Group 1 winner and top-level sire Havana Gold (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}--Jessica's Dream {Ire}, by Desert Style {Ire}), passed away at the age of 13 after sustaining a fatal pelvis injury, Tweenhills announced on Thursday afternoon. Bred by Sir Eric Parker in Ireland, the bay was a 50,000gns buyback at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale turned 80,000 gns Tattersalls October yearling. Bearing the colours of Qatar Racing Limited and CSH on the racecourse, Havana Gold won his first two starts, and by the end of his juvenile season was a victor...

John Veitch, a Hall of Famer who trained numerous stars, including Alydar, whose legendary battles with Affirmed were part of one of the sport's greatest rivalries, passed away Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky. He was 77. The news of Veitch's passing was first reported by the Blood-Horse. Veitch's training career ran from 1974 through 2003. According to Equibase, he had 410 career winners and his stable amassed earnings of $20,097,980. He won 76 graded stakes and 93 stakes races overall. Veitch's best years came as the head trainer for Calumet Farm....

Diana Firestone, who, along with her husband Bert campaigned a number of champion horses, including 1980 GI Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk, passed away peacefully at her home in Florida on Feb. 12. She was 91. In 1980, the Firestones won an Eclipse Award as the nation's top owners. Bert Firestone passed away in 2021. "I can't say enough good things about her and Bert and the opportunity they gave me when I shifted from the Midwest to New York," said Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who was hired by...