Classic-Winning Owner Paul Pompa Jr. Dies at 62

Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning owner Paul Pompa Jr. died Oct. 9, Pompa's cousin-in-law and stable manager Jerry McClenin confirmed. He was 62. Pompa, who lived in New Jersey and owned Truck-Rite Corp. in Brooklyn, N.Y., purchased his first Thoroughbred in 2000, but it was a bay 2-year-old colt by Boundary that carried him to the top of the sport. Pompa went to $190,000 to secure the juvenile from Eddie Woods' consignment at the 2007 Keeneland April 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. He named the colt Big Brown after the nickname for the shipping company UPS, which he renewed a contract with that same year. Big Brown won on debut in his lone start at 2 for trainer Pat Reynolds. IEAH Stables bought an interest in Big Brown, and the colt was then trained by Rick Dutrow Jr. at 3, when he won the 2008 Florida Derby (G1), Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, and Preakness Stakes (G1). Big Brown also won that year's Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1) for a larger partnership group. "We had this tremendous relationship, and we just worked together so well," McClenin said. "He was such a giving person and he treated everybody with respect, and he received respect. He built a pretty big empire that started off from scratch as he really didn't know too much about horse racing. I had some involvement in horse racing from when I was younger. From all the teaching and learning, he just became like a giant in the sport." Outside horse racing, Pompa was an avid fan of the New York Rangers. Chris Brothers, a former bloodstock agent who remained friends with Pompa after transitioning to a role at StableDuel, said he often spoke with Pompa about sports and family. "Besides our working relationship, our personal relationship was really the most important thing about us. We were tremendous Rangers fans. We spoke all the time about hockey, horses, and life in general," Brothers said. "It's a shocking blow to the business. He was a big fan of the sport, a supporter of the sport, but more importantly, he was family first. "He was one of my closest friends," Brothers added. "We spoke multiple times a week, and nothing business-wise. It was just friendship, family, hockey. We're die-hard Rangers fans, and when Henrik Lundqvist got traded, we were trying to find a positive in that situation." As a racehorse owner, Pompa also campaigned Garden City Stakes (G1T) winner Backseat Rhythm, Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) hero Connect, and in partnerships, he raced Prioress Stakes (G1) victress Franny Freud and multiple grade 1-winning filly Stardom Bound. Other graded stakes winners for Pompa include five-time grade 2 winner D'Funnybone and grade 2 scorer Mary's Follies. As a broodmare for Pompa, Mary's Follies produced multiple graded stakes winners Night Prowler and Regal Glory—both raced in Pompa's silks—as well as Cafe Pharoah, a multiple grade 3 winner in Japan this year after selling for $475,000 through Woods' consignment at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Connect and Regal Glory, who won the Sept. 12 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Stakes, are among other horses Woods broke for Pompa prior to their racetrack careers. "He's a great fella to have horses for," Woods said. "He took good news really well and he took bad news really well, and he got lots of it. He understood the business, and he knew the ups and downs." Pompa's standouts on the track this year also include Peter Pan Stakes (G3) winner Country Grammer and homebred Turned Aside, the winner of the Quick Call Stakes (G3T). In recent years, Pompa had horses in training with Chad Brown, Todd Pletcher, and Linda Rice. "Today was a difficult day to get thru after hearing of the passing of my close friend and loyal owner Paul Pompa," Brown wrote on Twitter. "He would always ask how my family was before we even spoke about horses. Extremely generous when we won, and even more understanding when we lost. RIP #oneofakind." "He was a terrific person and he was a great owner to train for," Pletcher said. "He cared about his horses and would ask you questions and let you make decisions. He was very supportive and upbeat. He always found the optimistic side to everything. He was a nice person to talk to and a dedicated family man. I know he worked hard to accomplish what he did in life. When people are successful and maintain their kindness, it's a tribute to the quality of a person he was. It's a big loss for our stable and a big loss for the industry as well. He will be missed." "We are deeply saddened by the loss of owner, Paul Pompa Jr., who was a true sportsman and loved racing and his horses," Rice tweeted. "We enjoyed a lot of success together, most recently with Turned Aside. It was a pleasure and an honor to work for him. Our condolences to his family." Pompa is survived by his wife, Elisa, and sons Michael and Paul III. "He was truly a family man. He has his two boys and his wife. Most of the time, everything revolved around his family," McClenin said. "The horses were more like a playground for him, but he did take it very seriously." Arrangements are pending. For those wanting to make a donation of remembrance, McClenin said Pompa was a big supporter of New Vocations and had sent multiple retired racehorses to the aftercare organization.