Leading New York breeder Mary Broman dies at age 88
Mary Broman, who with her husband Chester established New York’s leading breeding and racing operations, died Wednesday. She was 88.
The Broman family owns and operates Chestertown Farm in the tiny community of the same name in the heart of New York’s Adirondack Mountains. The couple was honored by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders with the state’s breeder-of-the-year title eight times, the most recent in 2022.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mrs. Broman,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “In addition to her tremendous accomplishments in the New York-bred program alongside her husband Chester, she was also a warm and welcome presence. We express our deepest condolences to Chester and the entire Broman family.”
The Bromans sit well atop the state’s list of leading breeders for 2024 with purse earnings of $2,256,979 through Monday along with 42 wins from 227 starts. Stakes winners in 2024 bred by the Bromans include Bank Frenzy in the Evan Shipman Handicap; Spirit of St Louis in the Hudson Valley, Kingston and Danger’s Hour; and Sweet Brown Sugar in the Niagara and East View.
“Mrs. Broman will be missed by the entire New York breeding and racing community,” said Jeffrey Cannizzo, vice president of government affairs for the New York Racing Association and former executive director of the NYTB. “She was a personal friend, and I sincerely enjoyed all our time spent together. I’d like to extend sincere and heartfelt condolences to Chester and the Broman family.”
“We are so sorry to hear of Mary’s passing,” New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association president Tina Bond said. “She and Chester have been pillars of the New York breeding industry for so many years, and they set a standard of excellence that we all strive to meet. Mary was very much a partner in the Chestertown operations, and she was also a classy and lovely woman. Her passing is a real loss to our community.”
The Bromans also led the state’s breeders list in 2023 with New York-bred earnings of $3,243,042. Hijazi, a finalist for champion 2-year-old male honors in 2022, earned the 3-year-old championship in 2023 and the Bromans also bred 2023 champion older female New York-bred Classy Edition. Spirit of St Louis also earned finalist consideration for champion male turf honors in 2023.
The Bromans racked up New York-bred earnings of $3,157,109 in 2022, nearly $1 million more than the state’s next closest breeder. Leading runners that season included New York-bred champion 2-year-old male Acoustic Ave, who raced in their familiar green and white silks. The Bromans also bred and sold Hejazi, a son of Bernardini who brought $3.55 million at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-year-olds-in-training sale.
Hejazi and Classy Edition were the 11th and 12th New York-bred champions bred by the Bromans since 2000. The group also includes 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold as well as Grade 1 winners Artemis Agrotera and Friends Lake and $1,403,536 earner and multiple stakes winner Mr. Buff. Bar of Gold, who retired with earnings of more than $1.55 million, and Mr. Buff won multiple titles and rank in the top 30 all time among New York-bred earners.