Nearly half a century ago, Ernest L. Samuel began building a legacy when he founded Sam-Son Farm. At the heart of that legacy is an extraordinary band of broodmares, earning Sam-Son Farm 84 Sovereign Awards, including 2019 Owner and Breeder of the Year. Fifty years in the making, Keeneland offers an opportunity to buy-in to Sam-Son Farm’s prized bloodlines, highlighted by 21 in-foal mares, at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale which begins Jan. 11.
The first Sam-Son mare, Scarlet Butterfly, hip no. 424, sells early Tuesday Jan. 12.
The selling off of mares, all of which are offered without reserve, represents a dispersal of one of the biggest, most successful racing and breeding farms in Canadian history, joining the likes of Kinghaven, Windfields and Gardiner Farms, among others that have shut down in the last two decades.
In the Hamilton Spectator last November, Kinghaven’s David Willmot told Harold Howe:
“It feels like the end of an era for the large breeding to race outfits. Windfields Farm, Stafford Farms, Gardiner Farms — they are all gone. Sam-Son was the biggest, though,” he said.
“And there is no one coming along to fill the void. Ernie Samuel was a great friend and serviced on the board of the Ontario Jockey Club for many years. I gave the eulogy at his funeral and the thing I will always remember the most about Ernie was his love and passion for the horse racing business. He believed in constant improvement in his breeding stock, a concept that his late daughter Tammy shared. It is all very sad but unless a person has that singular passion for the horses, it can’t work. One either feels it or they don’t.”
It may be a case of the latter part of Willmot’s comment that comes into play for Sam-Son which has been operated by Rick Balaz, Mark and Kim Samuel since the passing of Tammy Samuel-Balaz. Michael and Lisa Balaz, the children of Rick and Tammy, were front and centre when El Tormenta won the 2019 Woodbine Mile (G1), talking excitedly about prospects to come, but it appears the family will soon be out of racing.
Longtime farm manager Dave Whitford said young horses that have yet to be broken or entered training will continue in their growth and development before they can be evaluated. There are currently no plans for the farms in Milton or Ocala to be sold.
When El Tormenta won the Woodbine Mile in the fall of 2019, Rick Balaz (far right) celebrated with children Michael and Lisa (to immediate right of jockey Eurico da Silva) and Mark Samuel (second from left)- Michael Burns photo
Broodmare Parade at Keeneland:
Sam-Son at Keeneland link:
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