John C. Harris, California horse breeder and owner of Harris Farms, dies at 81

[ad_1] John C. Harris, California horse-racing mogul, had a selected love for the thoroughbred breeding and racing sector of his firm, Harris Farms.

A number of horses that had been raised and educated at Coalinga-based Harris Farms went on to turn out to be nationwide champions, together with Tiznow, the 2000 Horse of the 12 months, and California Chrome, a nationwide Corridor of Fame racehorse. An in depth good friend recounted Harris’ response to the latter thoroughbred successful the 2014 Kentucky Derby.

The second California Chrome sprinted over the end line, tears streamed down Harris’ face.

“It was simply figuring out that his farm had such a serious position,” mentioned his good good friend Doug Burge. “It was most likely probably the most enjoyable we ever had.”

Harris, who owned the multimillion-dollar agribusiness Harris Farms, has died. He was 81.

Those that knew Harris described him as an acclaimed rancher, farmer and horse-racing fanatic who devoted himself to his passions to the tip. Harris Farms confirmed his loss of life in an announcement shared on July 3. No particulars, together with reason for loss of life, had been offered.

Harris was born on July 14, 1943, and resided in Fresno County all of his life. He earned a level in agricultural manufacturing at UC Davis earlier than serving within the U.S. Military for 2 years.

Harris took possession of Harris Farms following his father’s loss of life in 1981. He oversaw all operations of the ranch, which encompasses a thriving farm that produces greater than 30 sorts of crops together with garlic, pistachios and wine grapes, in addition to the horse-breeding operation, in accordance with its web site. Harris Farms was identified for the meat it produced, however the cattle-raising portion of the enterprise was offered in 2019.

Harris nurtured a steadfast ardour for horse racing and the thoroughbred breeding trade in Northern California, in accordance with family and friends. He was a former president and board member of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Assn. and served on the board of the Thoroughbred Homeowners of California and the Nationwide Jockey Membership. In line with those that labored with him, he formed the horse-racing trade into what it's in the present day.

“He had a love for the land, all the pieces from farming to elevating horses,” mentioned Burge, the present president of the CTBA, who knew Harris as a mentor and good friend for greater than 30 years.

Harris was a longtime, devoted advocate for the agricultural trade, in accordance with Oscar Gonzalez, the vice chairman of the California Horse Racing Board who beforehand served as assistant secretary of Agriculture through the Biden administration.

“Mr. Harris was only a telephone name away,” he mentioned. “After I was in Washington, D.C. ... and I wanted some extent of reference or background data on a difficulty involving agriculture, or water or immigration, he was at all times someone that had context in that background.”

One in every of Harris’ final advocacy efforts was simply a few weeks in the past, when he fought to reinstate dwell horse racing on the Huge Fresno Truthful, a proposal that was in the end unsuccessful.

“We'll by no means quit persevering with this storied custom of Fresno racing. Right this moment’s story just isn't the tip — we are going to come again once more subsequent yr,” Harris mentioned, in accordance with the Enterprise Journal.

Justin Oldfield, a thoroughbred breeder and a md of the CTBA, mentioned that Harris wished everybody within the trade to achieve success, at all times providing mentorship and assist to those that wanted it.

“For as profitable as a businessman as he was, you'd have by no means have identified it from the best way he handled you,” Oldfield mentioned. “John was a particularly humble, down-to-earth person who handled everybody with respect, handled everybody like they'd worth.”

He mentioned that he as soon as went to a horse racing trade occasion honoring Harris with greater than 3,000 attendees.

“I can’t even think about how many individuals are gonna be at his funeral,” Oldfield mentioned.

Harris is survived by his spouse, Cookie, and others “whose lives had been enriched by his energy of character and enduring compassion,” the assertion from Harris Farms mentioned.