Page 148 - Speedhorse April 2019

TOM LIPAR
by John Moorehouse
“What you can believe and conceive, you will achieve.”
Tom Lipar likes all kinds of racing: horses, cars, even snowmobiles. Given his affinity for sports where speed is the utmost, it’s no surprise that when Lipar begins a new endeavor, he doesn’t believe in starting slow.
Since opening Paragon Farms just a few years ago, Lipar has seen the organization vault near the top of the Quarter Horse world. According to Equibase’s rankings, Paragon has placed in
the top 10 in owner earnings in each of the past three seasons, including an organization-best finish in third in 2018, with $1,206,652 in accumulated prize money.
“Once I get into stuff, I tend not to do it lightly. I go in with both feet,” Lipar said.
Lipar didn’t just jump blindly into the horse racing world in 2016. He had been involved as a minority or equal owner on horses for a couple
of decades prior, first getting introduced to this industry by Charlie Patterson. Lipar and Patterson were co-owners of several horses through the years, including Jesse James Jr. That stallion’s success both on the track and as a sire introduced Lipar to the nuances of horse breeding.
With a few years of success under his belt and Blane Wood serving as his head trainer, Lipar is excited about what Paragon Farms can accomplish in 2019.
“As far as the wins on the track, that’s Blane. I owe it all to him,” Lipar said. “This is the first year I’m running stock of my own, ones that we raised here on the farm. They’re two year olds now.”
Lipar took a break from his efforts at Paragon Farms to answer some questions about himself.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Harrietta, Michigan.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of horse racing?
A: Hunting. I just got back from New Zealand, hunting red stag.
Q: What is your favorite movie and why?
A: “Princess Bride.” It came out when I asked my wife, Melany, to marry me. She is my princess.
Q: What’s an interesting fact about your family?
A: My father was first-generation born in America. My grandparents immigrated here from Slovenia in 1903.
Q: Do you have a nickname and, if so, what is it and how did it come about?
A: Tommy when I was young, from my relatives. Boss is what I was called by my employees or race team members.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing business, what job would you have?
A: Any type of racing. I would be in some type of racing if it wasn’t horses.
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be? A: My father. I was talking to him in the hospital. He wanted me to stay a little longer. I had to go. He died that night.
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time?
Michael Jordan.
John Moorehouse
146 SPEEDHORSE, April 2019
THE LIGHTER SIDE