He Got It - by Chris Owen

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:10:00 GMT

"Nobody’s getting thrown in the tank anymore,” said Marion Gross one afternoon in late May 1986. “By the way, who are y’all throwing in?”

“Chris,” someone answered.

“Go get him,” Marion said, “but watch out for visitors.”

So I ended up in the water tank in front of Gainesway’s stallion barn.

To all of us who worked for Marion in the stallion barn, the tank was where we used to show the stallions.

“Listen up, fellas, I need to see Cozzene, Lyphard, Broad Brush, Wolf Power, and Trempolino in front of the tank. Let’s go get ’em!”

Four different colors: gray, bay, brown, and chestnut; three different continents (North America, Europe, and Africa); different distances raced over different surfaces; different sizes; different body types. Marion knew all there was to know about all of them.

Marion’s commanding voice was distinctive and used with authority. He was called “chief” by some and “boss” by others.

Whether Marion was dealing with his staff or with the stallions, Marion commanded respect.
And, he got it.

On one occasion in July 1970, Marion led a yearling colt by Hail to Reason—Cosmah to the sale ring at Keeneland. After one bid—$100,000—the colt was sold, and the ringman handed Marion the lead shank and said, “Here, take this (expletive deleted) back.” That yearling was Halo.

On another occasion I was told the story about how one of the stalls in the main stallion barn would shake while Marion got its occupant to mind him. That occupant was Bold Bidder. Before long, Marion would go to the stall door and say, “Come here, Bid,” and Bold Bidder would put his head into the halter so Marion could lead him to his paddock.

Marion was, after all, a horseman’s horseman. Horsemen and horsewomen from around the world would come to visit and be greeted by Marion, who would always remove his cap as he introduced himself, a gesture appreciated by many but mentioned by few—mainly because they had no time to; they were anticipating the stallion show. Whether the visitors were tourists or breeders, Marion treated everyone who visited like royalty.

“You’d like a shoe from Cozzene? I think I have one.” And sure enough, Marion would go into the tack room and return with the correct shoe.

Marion loved his job, and he loved his horses, too. He knew all their habits, their phobias, and which paddock would be the most suitable for a particular horse.

When the stallions were coming in from their paddocks, Marion would be waiting by the tree in front of Barn 2 to inspect their legs or their bodies for any cuts and to check for loose shoes. As soon as the stallions heard Marion’s voice, they would stop and pick up their feet.

“This horse is a little light, give him another half-scoop of sweet feed,” he would say. Always watching, paying attention, listening.

A great many people who went on to other roles in the industry passed through Gainesway, and they learned. They learned how to treat horses. They learned how to treat other people. They learned how to present themselves properly.

Marion’s methods have been used all over the world—Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, France, England, and Dubai—whether in the breeding shed or in horsemanship in general.

One stallion in particular needed Marion’s attention. Faraway Son would be quiet one minute and dangerous the next. One day Faraway Son picked up his groom and was carrying him off to savage him. On another occasion Faraway Son pulled his groom into his stall to savage him. Both times Marion was nearby and intervened to diffuse a dangerous situation.

Always generous with his time, Marion was called to work on his day off on a number of occasions. One day in particular was Sunday, May 7, 1990, the day after trainer Carl Nafzger’s famous race call for owner Frances Genter as Unbridled won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). Mrs. Genter was at Gainesway Farm to see her stallions—Dr. Carter, Smile, and Superbity. It now seems appropriate that Unbridled spent his first five seasons under Marion’s care.

Marion, who passed away Feb. 23, will be missed at Gainesway and by many others like me who worked for him. To use his famous catch phrase after a mare was bred: “That oughta get her.”

Marion, you got it.

Chris Owens, who worked at Gainesway Farm from 1986-93, is a bloodstock agent in Lexington.

Thanks, Cozzene - by Sean Feld

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:19:00 GMT

The passing of Cozzene Oct. 8 made me reflect on what my life would have been without our “introduction” when I was young. His presence has been a constant thread throughout my life, beginning when I was about 3 years old. When most kids were watching “Sesame Street,” my dad would keep me occupied by putting in videotapes of past Breeders’ Cups. My favorite Breeders’ Cup to watch was the one held at Aqueduct Nov. 2, 1985.

Some of racing’s greats were on hand that day. The roster of horses that competed included Pebbles, Gate Dancer, Turkoman, Precisionist, Storm Cat, and Lady’s Secret. However, the one I will always remember most was the winner of the Mile (gr. IT), Cozzene. I think what caught my eye at that time was his color. What kid doesn’t love a gray horse? I would watch his race over and over and root for him in the stretch every time. While growing up, family and friends who were into racing would often ask me who my favorite horse and jockey were. I would reply enthusiastically with, “Cozzeeeeeene and Kiss McCarron!” That would always draw a chuckle from the questioning adult.

A few years later, my father, Bob, went to work for Team Valor and helped sell ownership shares in a horse named Star of Cozzene. Included in that ownership were John and Jerry Amerman. In 1991, Star of Cozzene ran third in the same race his sire had won years earlier. He then went on to win the 1993 Arlington Million (gr. IT), and in the process earned more than $2.3 million.

Due in part to the success of Star of Cozzene, the Amermans decided to start a stable of their own and called my dad for advice on their new venture. With a plan in place, my dad attended a yearling sale at Keeneland in 1995 with trainer Ron Ellis in search of a few yearlings that would become the start of Amerman Racing. Wouldn’t you know that in that first crop they bought a colt by Cozzene. The Amermans named him Another Star, a tribute to Star of Cozzene. Another Star went on to earn nearly a quarter-million dollars, and he broke a track record at Hollywood Park with “Kiss” McCarron aboard.

By the age of 9, I had learned how to read the Daily Racing Form. With my new hobby firmly in place I handicapped the entire card for the 1996 Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine. I picked one horse per race and my dad bet $2 to win on each selection.

Watching the races on TV turned out to be tedious for me that day, as a majority of my picks finished second or third. Not one had been able to get to the wire first…that is, until the Classic (gr. I), where Cigar was the odds-on favorite. Once again, Cozzene came into my life. My pick: Alphabet Soup, a son of Cozzene who was also very eye-catching, and was also ridden by “Kiss” McCarron. Turning for home, the nearly white Alphabet Soup hit the front and held off the charge of Louis Quatorze and Cigar to pay $41.70, a small fortune for a 9-year-old.

This past summer, Cozzene came into my life again when I took an internship at Gainesway Farm, where he had stood at stud since 1986. Years earlier, on my first trip to Lexington, my dad had taken me on a visit to Gainesway to see Cozzene in person. Little did I know, I would be working at the farm while a student at the University of Kentucky. I will always treasure the picture I have standing in front of my “hero” at the farm.

I can honestly say that if it wasn’t for Cozzene’s success as a racehorse and sire I would not be where I am today. He was my first favorite horse, and he is what sparked my interest in racing. Last year, the Amermans and my dad purchased a Cozzene filly at Keeneland and named her Fourth Power, because she is the fourth Cozzene they have bought over the years. This year at the Keeneland September sale, they bought their fifth Cozzene, a filly out of Mysterieuse Etoile. I can only hope that those fillies will be able to keep the Cozzene thread alive in my life. If not, it has been a great run.

Thanks, Cozzene.

Sean Feld is a senior at the University of Kentucky and is the Kentucky representative for Bongo Racing Stable.

Final Turn : gainesway

He Got It - by Chris Owen

Thanks, Cozzene - by Sean Feld