Toronto, ON – Tammy Samuel-Balaz, one of the most important and influential figures in Canadian thoroughbred racing, passed away at the age of 47 on January 5, after a long battle with cancer.
President and General Manager of Sam-Son Farm, Canada’s foremost breeding and racing operation, Samuel-Balaz was well-known and well-regarded throughout the thoroughbred industry.
An accomplished equestrian champion, Samuel-Balaz was a director of Woodbine Entertainment Group, The Jockey Club of Canada, Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and the Jockey Club of New York. Upon the passing of her father, Samuel-Balaz took over the leadership of Sam-Son Farm in 2000.
Samuel-Balaz was also a director of her family’s business, Samuel Son & Co., Ltd.
Industrialist Ernie Samuel was the founder of Sam-Son Farm and began to build his racing empire in the late 1970s. In 1991, Samuel was named Canadian racing’s Man-of-the-Year as his unbeaten filly Dance Smartly became the first Canadian-owned and bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race, taking the Distaff at Churchill Downs. She also became the only filly to win the Canadian Triple Crown and is the only mare to foal back-to-back Plate winners (Scatter The Gold and Dancethruthedawn).
Sam-Son Farm has produced some of Canada’s most famous thoroughbreds.
Dance Smartly (1991), Sky Classic (1992) and Chief Bearhart (1997) were all voted Eclipse Awards as North American champions. The stable has also won four Queen’s Plates: Regal Intention (1988), Dance Smartly (1991), Scatter The Gold (2000) and Dancethruthedawn (2001) and a record seven Oaks: Classy ‘N Smart (1984), Tilt My Halo (1988), Tiffany’s Secret (1990), Dance Smartly (1991), Catch The Ring (2000), Dancethruthedawn (2001) and Eye Of The Sphynx (2004).
Other major wins include the Atto Mile (Quiet Resolve, 1999 and Soaring Free, 2004) and Canadian International (Sky Classic, 1991 and Chief Bearhart, 1997). Chief Bearhart also took the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Turf, was voted an Eclipse Award as North America’s top male turf horse and was the unanimous choice as Canada’s Horse of the Year. In 2002, he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Throughout the 30-plus years in the thoroughbred business, Sam-Son has received over 60 Sovereign Awards including Canada’s Horse of the Year on eight occasions, Broodmare of the Year six times, Owner of the Year nine times and Breeder of the Year seven times.
Samuel-Balaz is survived by her husband Rick and their children Lisa and Michael.
Woodbine’s flags will be lowered to half-mast today in memory of Ms. Samuel-Balaz.
Visitation will take place at Glen Oaks Memorial Chapel, 3164 9th Line, Oakville from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8. There will be a private family funeral.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
