As the Saratoga meet comes to a close I want to thank all of our owners for their involvement. There is nothing quite like Saratoga and seeing everyone up at the barn at 7 AM to watch the horses gallop or in the afternoon watching a race together. One of the best parts was having all of my owners right there with me.

I am incredibly proud of our horses and the work my team put in throughout this meet. There is so much to look forward to at the new Belmont Park and I cannot wait.

While I am excited for these new opportunities I am also deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and partner, W. Bruce Lunsford, on September 5.

He was an entrepreneur, philanthropist, attorney, US Army veteran, and a long time Thoroughbred owner and breeder. He touched the lives of so many through his generosity and mentorship of young entrepreneurs.

I first got to know Bruce back in the late 1980s when he became a client of mine. We stayed in touch over the years and he ended up partnering with me on many of my horses. He had such a passion for Thoroughbred racing and the enthusiasm was contagious. It didn’t matter what level of race you were running in, the energy and excitement was there every time.

Along with some of his very impressive accomplishments, he raced Art Collector who won many graded stakes, came 4thin the Preakness, and ran in two Breeders’ Cup Races, including the Classic.

Bruce was known for his loyalty, generosity and willingness to offer his time, encouragement and advice to others. I am fortunate to have known him and called him a partner and most importantly a friend.

He will be greatly missed and we extend our deepest condolences to the entire Lunsford family.