Our Industry Loses a Great Friend

[Round Pen]

I recieved a call Early this Mornng telling me That Harry T. Manguarin Jr. Had Passed away. For those of you on the forum that might be to young to Remember Mr. Mangurian here is a small list of his Accomplishments I found.


He entered thoroughbred racing in 1966 and developed 1,100 acre Mockingbird Farm in Ocala, FL. At its peak, his breeding and racing stable of horses numbered over 1,000. Announced dispersal sale in 1999 of all his bloodstock. Mangurian led all breeders in North America in 1998 through 2002 in earnings and races won. He also set North American records during that period with 88 individual stakes winners. During a five year period, Mockingbird freshman sires (1997 DIABLO, 1998 END SWEEP, 1999 RIZZI, 2000 STORM CREEK, 2001 VALID EXPECTATIONS) led the nation in either money or races won. In the years 2000 and 2001, earnings of horses he bred set national and world records. Since his entry into racing he has bred or raced over 175 stakes winners. BEST HORSES – Raced champion and twice Eclipse Award winner (Hall of Famer) DESERT VIXEN, bred and sold Champion GILDED TIME who won 1992 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Bred and raced stakes winner VALID APPEAL who became Florida’s most successful stallion. His progeny won more stakes and money than any Florida stallion. In 2001 EXCITING STORY, which he bred and raced, was the Canadian 2 year old Sovereign Award champion and also won that year’s GRI Metropolitan at Belmont Park. Bred and raced GR1 winner DARK ENDING who won the Selene Stakes and GR 1 winner NANY’S SWEEP who won the Santa Monica Stakes. Mangurian is a member of the Jockey Club, the Thoroughbred Club of America, Inc. and a past Director of the Breeders’ Cup. He has been on the board of The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association (F.T.B.O.A.) for 30 years and is a founder and the original Chairman of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company (O.B.S.) He was honored by the national Thoroughbred Owners’ and Breeders’ Association (T.O.B.A.) as the Breeder of the Year in 1998 and 2000. Ninety-eight percent of his winners were bred to his stallions out of mares he owned. His initial contribution of $1 million to the NTRA “New York Heroes Fund” following the 9/11 attacks inspired others to contribute in excess of $6 million. Additional philanthropic contributions have been made through the Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. private foundation. He received T.O.B.A.’s “Eclipse Award of Merit” in 2002




HE was a great Man I had the Priviledge of Working for him at Mockingbird Farm for many years.
RIP Mr. Mangurian we are all going to miss you.


Round Pen (Mitch Downs)