Page 9 - March 2008 The Game

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
The Game, February 2008 9
T Sam-Son Farm’s Tammy Samuel-Balaz Passes Away
ammy Samuel-Balaz, Glen Oaks Memorial Chapel Free, 2004) and Canadian International one of the most and a private family funeral (Sky Classic, 1991 and Chief Bearhart,
important and in uential gures in Canadian thor- oughbred racing, passed away at the age of 47 on January 5, after a long battle with cancer.
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.
followed the next day. Industrialist Ernie Samuel was the founder of Sam-Son
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 unani- mous choice as Canada’s Horse of the Year. In 2002, he was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
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.
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 lly Dance Smartly
Samuel-Balaz was also a director of her family’s business, Samuel Son & Co., Ltd.
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),
Tammy Samuel-Balaz was a
terri c ambassador for the horse racing industry in Canada. Her welcoming smile, her terri c personality, her passion for the sport and her willingness to share that passion will always be remembered by those who had the pleasure of meeting her.
She will be sadly missed by all.
Tammy Samuel-Balaz is survived by her husband Rick and their children Lisa and Michael.
A visitation took place on Jan. 8 at
Tammy Samuel-Balaz
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.
became the rst Canadian-owned and bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race, taking the Distaff at Churchill Downs. She also became the only lly 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 thorough- breds.
Dancethruthedawn (2001) and Eye Of The Sphynx (2004).
Other major wins include the Atto Mile (Quiet Resolve, 1999 and Soaring
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