Howard (Howie) Tesher, winner of 1,302 races, including several Class I events and a popular figure on the New York racetracks for decades, died on Friday. He was 87.
According to his granddaughter, Jodie David, Tesher passed away at the Majestic Memory Care Center in Hollywood, Florida, and spent about five years dealing with dementia. David said the cause of death was pneumonia.
David said: “He was happy until the last minute. “There is no patient there like him. He always grabs girls and hugs them. As he passed, there was a line of staff coming to kiss him goodbye.”
Tesher was born in 1935 in Miami and majored in journalism at the University of Miami. After graduating from college, he worked in his brother’s dental clinic, but quickly discovered that he preferred spending time with horses, even though he was allergic to them.
Tesher ran his first horse at the old Tropical Park in 1961 and won his first race in 1962 with Weeper’s Boy at Suffolk Downs. He has coached famous owners such as Joseph Allen, Telly Savalas and George Steinbrenner.
Coach Steve Margolis said: “I got my assistant license with Howie after leaving Pat Byrne. “He treated me like a son. I went through a divorce while working for him and it was difficult for me because I was young. He was always really helpful and a really personable person. I worked for him for seven, eight years and it was a great job and I learned a lot from him. He is a kind man and a friend to many people.”
“Howie is one of the best people I have ever met on the track,” said former racing agent turned attorney Drew Mollica. “He has a great sense of humor and is a man who knows how to train horses. Race and humanity will miss him. He’s a great stand-up in a game where too many guys don’t stand up. I am proud to say that he is my good friend. Rest in peace his soul.
According to Equibase, Tesher has a career earnings of $31,247,483. In terms of earnings, his top horse is Bolshoi Boy, who made $1,039,702 and won the GII Cornhusker H. and GII Razorback H. in 1987. He also won the GIII Illinois Derby. 1986 in 1986.
Tesher won GI Man o’War S. in 1997 and GI Caesar’s International H. in 1997 with Influent. He won the 1986 GI Washington DC International with Lieutenant’s Lark and the 1993 GI Florida Derby with Bull Inthe Heather. He took over training 1982 GI Kentucky Derby winner Gato Del Sol after the horse was transferred from Ed Gregson stables. Tesher’s Champagneforashley won the 1990 Tampa Bay Derby and then finished third as the favorite in the GI Wood Memorial, which was the start of his final career. Champagneforashley was sent to GI Preakness S., but suffered a career-ending injury two days before the race.
According to Equineline.com statistics, since 1976 alone, Tesher has had 51 classified bet winners. He started his last horse on May 2, 2014 at Gulfstream.
