Lifelong horseman John Greathouse Jr., who helped drive a long time of success on the highest stage for his family-owned and -operated Glencrest Farm close to Halfway, Ky., died June 10. He was 82.
Greathouse had been wrestling with well being points for a number of months, however suffered the most important setback after present process emergency surgical procedure for a bleeding ulcer, in keeping with his son, John Greathouse III.
John IIIÂ mentioned he shall be ceaselessly grateful for the high-quality, free training he received from his father, who he mentioned possessed a unprecedented God-given skill for spying expertise and potential in a younger horse many others would go over.
He recalled being in Fasig-Tipton’s barn space throughout the 2010 The July Sale taking a look at a Might filly by Giacomo along with his father. John III mentioned he remembered the yearling as being not notably spectacular.
“We checked out this filly perhaps six instances and every time he requested me, ‘Do you see it?,'” John III mentioned. “I had been taking a look at horses with him for a number of years by then, and I simply did not see it on this one. She was a late foal, and I did not even suppose she belonged within the sale. However he was decided to purchase her and instructed me the entire time, ‘This one goes to be OK.'”
John Jr. purchased the filly for $45,000 and ultimately despatched her to coach Todd Pletcher. She grew as much as be Disposablepleasure , a a number of graded stakes winner who gained the 2011 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack and was runner-up within the 2012 Mom Goose Stakes (G1) and Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2). She earned $535,460 as a racehorse after which was bought for $600,000 as a broodmare.
Photograph: Adam CoglianeseDisposablepleasure (inside) wins the 2011 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
“He may cope with some issues that different individuals couldn’t. A bit again on the knee didn’t trouble him,” John III recalled. “These days, individuals need them to be cookie-cutter and a few do not even get to the purpose to think about the pedigree. For my dad, pedigree was the whole lot after which the bodily.”
Glencrest Farm was began by John W. Greathouse and later operated by John Greathouse Jr. alongside along with his brothers: David, Allen, and Edward. Since 1982, the farm has bred 69 black-type winners that embrace 25 graded/group winners. Their prime horses bred embrace grade 1 winners Adieu, Dream Empress, Eager Ice  , Pike Place Dancer, Roamin Rachel, Wavering Monarch, and Zoftig.
As an proprietor, Glencrest campaigned one other 25 black-type winners, which embrace 12 graded stakes winners that weren’t homebreds. Excluding homebreds, its secure’s grade 1 winners additionally included Satan Might Care, Honey Ryder, and Panty Raid.Â
John Jr. picked Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval—Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed) out of the 2002 Wimborne Farm dispersal for $70,000 as a yearling. She went on to win greater than $2.78 million and captured the 2005 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) and 2006 Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (G1T) amongst her eight graded stakes victories. Honey Ryder was named Kentucky’s champion grass mare for 2005 and 2006.
John Jr. and John III collectively purchased Satan Might Care (Malibu Moon—Kelli’s Ransom, by Crimson Ransom) for $110,000 out of the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She went on to win the Frizette Stakes (G1) at 2 and took the Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park by 2 3/4 lengths in her second begin at 3. As an alternative of contesting the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Glencrest took an opportunity within the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1) the place she was unplaced. Satan Might Care discovered redemption by successful the Mom Goose Stakes (G1) and the Teaching Membership American Oaks (G1). Additionally educated by Pletcher, she earned $724,000.
About his relationship with Pletcher, John Jr. instructed BloodHorse in 2010 that he favored that they didn’t have to have a variety of conversations about his horses. He trusted the coach implicitly to all the time make the suitable selections.
“I do not want a dialog with him day by day; generally that may be a detriment. The dialog I need to have with Todd is do we have to cease or can we preserve going,” he mentioned.
Pletcher mentioned he’ll bear in mind Greathouse as a educated proprietor who actually beloved and cared for his horses.
“You noticed that with Honey Ryder. He had a tough time parting together with her when it got here time to promote her as a broodmare,” the coach mentioned. “And, he was a wonderful decide and put collectively a heck of a roster of racehorses with out an enormous finances. He was a enjoyable man to coach for, who was very educated about racing and studied it exhausting however, on the similar time, allow you to do your job.”Â
Glencrest additionally stood homebred stallion Wavering Monarch, who’s the sire of a number of grade 1 winner Maria’s Mon, who grew to become the sire of 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos. The farm additionally stood grade 1-placed, a number of stakes winner Intelligent Trick, who sired three graded stakes winners for the farm.
John III mentioned his father beloved the problem of breeding a superb horse and had been energetic in choosing stallions for the farm’s mares till about 10 years in the past.
“I’d proceed to bounce concepts off of him,” he mentioned. “My dad was large on breeding out the issues in your mare. You needed to know your stallions and the broodmare sires. We’d go to take a look at foals and he would ask me, ‘Does it look the best way it’s imagined to look?'”
Aside from his ardour for horses, John Greathouse Jr. was remembered for his charismatic persona and his loyalty to the individuals round him.
“He might be a bit robust generally, however he had a coronary heart of gold,” John III mentioned. “If he favored you, he would do something for you. I’ve had a 100 texts right this moment from individuals who beloved him and revered him. I’m trying ahead to having his celebration of life and listening to some new tales and even a number of the ones I have not heard for some time. He shall be missed, for certain.”
