Multiple grade 1 winning trainer Howard (Howie) Tesher died Jan. 19 at the Majestic Memory Care Center in Hollywood, Fla. He was 87. His niece, Jodie David, told TDN that Tesher had spent the last five years of his life battling with dementia and ultimately died of pneumonia.
A South Florida native and graduate of the University of Florida, Tesher took out his trainer's license in 1961 and saddled his first winner in 1962 with Weeper's Boy at Suffolk Downs.
Equibase data shows 1,302 wins with career earnings of $31,247,483 for Tesher. He trained seven grade 1 winners, among them turf standouts Influent and Lieutenant's Lark as well as the grade 1-winning mares Andover Way and Weber City Miss. The latter two went on to become stars in the breeding shed, with Andover Way becoming the dam of influential sire Dynaformer and Weber City Miss the dam of two-time grade 1 victor Slew City Slew, best known as the sire of Hall of Famer Lava Man.
After over five decades of training, Tesher saddled his last starter in 2014. In his later years, he participated as an analyst on a TV show in New York for off-track betting.
A colorful and well-liked personality on the racetrack, many of the sport's leading figures have spoken on Tesher's passing, including former champion jockey Richard Migliore, who piloted Bolshoi Boy to victory in the 1986 Illinois Derby (G3).
"I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Howie Tesher," Migliore, currently a racing analyst on XBTV, wrote on Twitter. "He was a tremendous person that I had so many good times with from riding Make the Magic to Bolshoi Boy winning the Illinois Derby to Max’s hotdogs near Monmouth Park. Special person. One of a kind(ness) blessed to have known him."
Bolshoi Boy, a Florida-bred son of Sovereign Dancer, was Tesher's leading earner with a bankroll of $1,039,542. The hardy gelding landed 16 of his 56 career starts for Tesher, including four graded stakes wins.
Donna Brothers and Caton Bredar are two other prominent racing media personalities to comment on Tesher's death.
"May you rest in peace Howie Tesher," Brothers wrote on her social media. "You were a good friend to me when I needed one—always ready with a great joke, a warm smile, a philosophical perspective, and/or a hug. I will always love and miss you."
"Howie Tesher was the real deal," Bredar posted on her Twitter page. "Such a warm wonderful person. Back in the day, he caused outrage crossing racial boundaries bringing a woman of color to the paddock in Chicago. He was one of the first trainers I met when I first worked in New York and was always one of the good guys."
