James "Jim" Brady, the retired former long-time farm manager of Elmendorf Farm, died Aug. 17 in Paris, Ky. He was 93.
Respected by his peers, the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club named Brady its Farm Manager of the Year in 1974. He received the honor after raising a pair of Eclipse Award winners in 1973 in Protagonist, champion 2-year-old male, and Talking Picture, champion 2-year-old filly. Brady also served as president of that organization in 1972.
"Two Eclipse Awards in one year is very pleasing," Brady told the Lexington Herald-Leader in January 1975, 11 years after accepting the farm manager position at Elmendorf in 1964 for owner Max Gluck.
In 1973 Elmendorf set a then-record for purse money by a North American breeder in a single season at $2.12 million. According to a 1981 Daily Racing Form story announcing Brady's plans to leave Elmendorf to devote more time to his own Bradyleigh Farm in Bourbon County, Elmendorf finished second in that category six more times under Brady's watch.
For a 2022 story on Ron McAnally still enjoying training horses at age 90, BloodHorse's Jay Hovdey reached Brady, who recalled powerhouse Elmendorf's success with the trainer.
"Ron will always tell you that it wasn't John Henry that got him in the Hall of Fame," Brady said in July 2022. "It was the Elmendorf horses.
"We were at a sale one time, and this young fellow comes up and says, 'I wish I had the knowledge of you two put together,'" Brady said. "I talked with Ron just the other day. I don't think he cares how old he is. He's been at it a long time, and he's not about to give it up."
Brady attended Nicholas County (Ky.) High School and served in the United States Army.
A funeral service will be held at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home at 2 p.m., Aug. 21, in Paris, Ky. Prior to the service, visitation will take place from 5-8 p.m. Aug. 20, also at Hinton-Turner Funeral Home.
