Prominent owner-breeder Paul Pompa Jr. dead at 62

Prominent owner and breeder Paul Pompa Jr., who rose to nationwide prominence campaigning 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, died Saturday. He was 62.

Friends and associates confirmed the news to HRN after it was first reported by Thoroughbred Daily News. The cause of death was not immediately made known.

"A wonderful, kind man who had such great passion for the sport," Kelly Summers Wietsma of the marketing agency Equisponse told HRN. "I had the chance to work with Paul when I represented Big Brown and the team through the Triple Crown in 2008. Huge loss to not only our industry but to everyone who knew him."

Pompa also owned Country Grammer, the Peter Pan (G3) winner who finished fifth in this year's Travers (G1) for trainer Chad Brown. Both races were at Saratoga, where Pompa was a very visible owner over the years.

"Obviously it was something that was unexpected," New York Racing Association senior vice president Martin Panza said. "He was a strong supporter of racing in general and especially so in New York. His presence will be missed."

"I met him back in 2008," NYRA TV analyst Andy Serling told HRN. "Paul came up to me and said, 'You're a huge fan of Backseat Rhythm.' I always really liked her. We started talking, and he was very friendly over the years. He was not what you would say was an absentee owner. He was at the track a lot. The world is a better place for having people like Paul Pompa."

Regal Glory provided Pompa with his final victory when she took the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (G3) on Sept. 12.

Pompa bought his first Thoroughbred in 2000, according to information from NYRA.

"Paul kept on growing in stature in the game getting more and more involved and investing more heavily," NYRA TV analyst and retired jockey Richard Migliore said on Saturday's telecast from Belmont Park. "You don't replace people like that who have his enthusiasm and love of the sport that are willing to put their money up to be a major player, which he was. He is gone way too soon."

Pompa's New York-based company Truck-Rite made a sponsorship deal with United Parcel Service in 2007, leading to the naming of Big Brown in honor of the delivery company's signature color. "I simply named the horse after a very big client of my trucking business," Pompa told The Associated Press in 2008.

Pompa lived in Warren, N.J. He is survived by his wife Elisa and sons Paul III and Michael.

"He was just a good person," Panza said. "Our condolences go out to his family."