In Memoriam: Barry Abrams

Barry Abrams

In a city full of passionate Los Angeles Lakers fans, Barry Abrams stood out. He loved his Lakers so much that he named a homebred Lakerville, ftting for a son of Unusual Heat, the stallion Abrams helped turn into a phenomenal California sire.

1954-2020

It was cruel irony that Abrams died Oct. 9, just two days before the Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship.

Abrams missed out on experiencing the championship, the racing industry was deprived of a true friend, and California lost a trainer who developed many California-breds into stakes winners.

While Abrams trained such top runners as 1997 Del Mar Oaks (G1T) winner Famous Digger, he was especially good with Unusual Heat’s ofspring. Te Abrams

Barry Abrams was one of the good guys in California’s Thoroughbred racing scene

© BENOIT PHOTO

family of Barry, wife Dyan, and brother David collaborated with the mother and son team of Madeline and Harris Auerbach to breed and race a host of Unusual Heat babies.

“He loved the horses, and he was symbiotic with them,” said Madeline Auerbach. “It was almost like he could climb inside their brains and fgure out what it was they wanted to do and what they needed for him to calm them down. He was a master at it. He was a virtuoso of the horse.”

Abrams died at age 66 in Pasadena, Calif., of respiratory failure after a long battle with throat cancer. He was born in Minsk, Russia, in 1954 and lived in Poland and Israel before he and his family moved to Burbank in 1963. Abrams studied business at California State Los Angeles while grooming Standardbreds in the mornings. He trained harness horses from 1978-87, his best horse being multi-millionaire Guts.

Following Roger Stein to Toroughbreds, Abrams worked as an assistant to Stein before going out on his own in 1993. Ultimately, he won 668 Toroughbred races for purse earnings of more than $30 million.

Abrams in a March 2018 article in this magazine explained how he came to claim Unusual Heat for $80,000. He had followed Danish and Swedish champion mare Rossard, winner of the 1984 Flower Bowl Handicap (G1T) at Belmont Park.

“I saw her beat the best older mares in the United States, and, needless to say, she impressed me,” Abrams said.

He watched for Rossard’s foals, coming upon Unusual Heat, a son of Nureyev out of the mare. In 1996 Abrams claimed Unusual Heat for James Auerbach (Madeline’s husband and Harris’ father), Andy Hillas’ Team Green, Russell Wolkof, and himself and brother David.

When Unusual Heat’s foals started running, the Auerbachs and the Abrams were often involved. Abrams trained the likes of millionaire and grade 1 winner Unusual Suspect, Las Virgenes Stakes (G1) winner Golden Doc A, Cal-bred champion Lethal Heat, and stakes winner Lakerville.

In the name of Bardy Farm, Barry and Dyan bred Mo Forza, a son of Uncle Mo out of the Unusual Heat mare Infamed, and campaigned him with OG Boss. Trained by Peter Miller, Mo Forza has earned $734,460 and won fve graded stakes, including the Oct. 3 City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2T).

“He loved his family, his horses, and life,” said Harris Auerbach. “He was the best of friends to many and would give the shirt of his back to anyone who asked.”

Many of Abrams’ friends made up the group that, before COVID-19, met every day at Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner. Trainers Henry Moreno, Gary Sherlock, and Mel and Warren Stute are already gone, but the stories all of them told will linger. Abrams was especially good with all manner of racing statistics.

“He taught me a lot about horses and the business of racing,” said Harris Auerbach. “He was a larger-than-life, Damon Runyonesque fgure. I cannot throw enough superlatives his way.”

In addition to his wife of 38 years and his brother, Abrams is survived by daughters Anna Marie and Natalie, granddaughters Stella and Rose, and nephews Andrew and Aaron.

TA P I N T O TA P I T PROSPEC T PA R K

The ONLY Graded Stakes Winner by TAPIT at stud in California, PROSPECT PARK ($539,770)at stud in California, PROSPECT PARK ($539,770) posted posted posted Triple Digit Beyers on Dirt/ Turf and is the leading money winner Triple Digit Beyers on Dirt/ Turf and is the leading money winner among 2020 West Coast frst-crop sires. among 2020 West Coast frst-crop sires.

Breeder Enthusiasm for First-Crop Foals! Breeder Enthusiasm for First-Crop Foals!

You Me and Emma B Colt You Me and Emma B Colt “Easily the best looking foal “Easily the best looking foal You Me and Ema B has had.” You Me and Ema B has had.” - Stormy Hull - Stormy Hull

Irene’s Cherub Filly Irene’s Cherub Filly “Very athletic flly with a great “Very athletic flly with a great attitude. Happy to breed back.” attitude. Happy to breed back.” - Jim Franklin - Jim Franklin

Third Time Lucky Filly Third Time Lucky Filly Quick Luck Filly Quick Luck Filly “Both fllies have good bone, size “Both fllies have good bone, size and great dispositions.” and great dispositions.” - Jonny Hilvers, Harris Farms General Manager - Jonny Hilvers, Harris Farms General Manager

TAPIT Sons Dominate Early-Crop Sires TAPIT Sons Dominate Early-Crop Sires Four sons of TAPIT ranked among the Top 15 First-Crop sires of 2019 Four sons of TAPIT ranked among the Top 15 First-Crop sires of 2019 TAPIT and their dominance continues with CONSTITUTIONand their dominance continues with CONSTITUTION leading leading leading Second-Crop sires joined by TAPITURE and TONALIST in the Top 10. Second-Crop sires joined by TAPITURE and TONALIST in the Top 10. Additionally, second crops of TAPIZAR and FLASHBACK produced Additionally, second crops of TAPIZAR and FLASHBACK produced and champions MONOMOY GIRL and BRITISH IDIOM.champions MONOMOY GIRL and BRITISH IDIOM.MONOMOY GIRL SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS for “TIZ-Line” Mares and Repeat Breeders. Belmont and Travers Stakes (G1) winner TIZ THE LAW is a grandson of Belmont and Travers Stakes (G1) winner TIZ THE LAW is a grandson of TIZ THE LAW Classic Sires TAPIT Classic Sires TAPIT and TIZNOW.and TIZNOW. 2020 Fee: $2,500 Live Foal

Property of PVNC Stable LLC • Breeders’ Cup Nominated Property of PVNC Stable LLC • Breeders’ Cup Nominated