Kentucky Horseman Bobby Miller Dies at 82

Respected Kentucky horseman Bobby Miller, the former vice chairman at Ro Parra's Millennium Farms, died Dec. 29 at the age of 82. Miller died following a long battle with cancer at his home on the Millennium Farm's property in Lexington. A third-generation horseman following his father and grandfather, who both worked with Saddlebreds, Miller ventured into the Thoroughbred industry when Walmac founder Johnny Jones offered Miller a management job at his Lexington farm. Prior to that, Miller had spent 12 years working for the Standardbred operation Avondale. After an 18-year tenure at Walmac Farm, Miller joined forces with Parra at Millennium Farms, where he remained until his death. "Bobby is one of the most respected horsemen in our industry," Parra told BloodHorse in 2016 upon Miller's promotion from farm manager to vice chairman. "He has been the architect of the strong foundation of horsemanship and bloodstock management that our customers have come to expect and appreciate. He has been such an integral part of our operation that I can't imagine not being able to lean on Bobby for advice, counsel, and direction going forward." Miller's son Mark, believed his father's quiet but potent influence was arguably his greatest legacy of 45 or so years in the industry. "There was a variety of people in the industry that depended on him and sought out his counsel and guidance," said Miller. "A lot of very important people trusted him a great deal. "He was just a really, solid, smart horseman. He also had an encyclopedic knowledge of bloodstock and horses. It was a little scary at times." Miller remarked that an accomplishment his father was particularly proud of was his acquisition of the multiple grade 1 winner Student Council on behalf of Millennium Farms. The son of Kingmambo went on to capture eight of 31 starts and amass earnings of over $1.5 million under the Millennium Farms colors. He captured races such as the 2007 Pacific Classic (G1) over Hall of Famer Lava Man and the 2008 Maryland Lottery Pimlico Special Handicap (G1). "(My father) made friends everywhere he went. People were just drawn to him," Miller said. "He was sort of quiet and was a man of few words, but what he said you could trust and he really meant it. He wouldn’t offer an opinion unless someone asked him." A visitation for Miller has been planned for Wednesday, Jan. 4 at Kerr Brothers, 463 E. Main St., Lexington, Ky. 40507 from 5-8 p.m. Miller's funeral service will be held the following day at 11 a.m. The family requests that donations be sent to Bluegrass Hospice Care.