Here’s a link to Fred Hooper’s obituary and a three page story written by the NY Times.
And link to Hoop Jr Derby win, including video of Fred Hooper.
What a great obituary. I, too, own a grandson of the storied Copelan. On the tail-male side, he’s a grandson of another famous two-year-old of my youth, Devil’s Bag.
What a great obituary. I, too, own a grandson of the storied Copelan. On the tail-male side, he’s a grandson of another famous two-year-old of my youth, Devil’s Bag.
I have a Devil’s Bag grandson myself. He’s quite a character.
Hello guys, my name is Paige . This is literally the first post I’ve ever put on here, since I just signed up. I can’t believe I found a thread about Fred Hooper while searching for something else entirely. Fred Hooper was my great-uncle, my paternal grandmother’s brother. Since no one in my immediate family is horsey (but that was all I wanted ever since I could walk and talk!), it took until I was an adult to finally meet him, even though I knew about him almost my whole life.
Late last year I made a chance connection with a couple who live near me that still breeds and races thoroughbreds, and the Copelan/ Tri Jet/ Crozier bloodlines is one of their favorites. When I finally got over to visit last December, they introduced me to an older mare named Masquerade Maid, by Copelan. And they gave her to me! I couldn’t believe I finally had the opportunity to own one of my great uncle’s horses that he bred, raised and raced. Since then, I’ve acquired a 4 yr old unraced filly whose mother is also by Copelan from the same people.
This couple have become very good friends of mine, needless to say. As with a lot of people these days, they’re trying to downsize their herd a bit and they have several other broodmares from the Copelan bloodline for sell, if anyone is truly interested in acquiring one. Let me know and I’ll be happy to share what info I have. It’s so cool to see other people who admired him, it really makes me feel special to be related to him. Dahoss, I read in one of your posts that you worked for him… It would be especially neat to talk to you and hear some stories. Thanks for everyone sharing info about my uncle and his breeding program, and I’d love to learn more.
Hi, Paige! Long shot, but they don’t happen to have Copenqueen, do they? Lucky’s breeder died and I can’t find a record of the mares being auctioned, so either his family has them (FTOB seemed to think that unlikely) or they were privately sold off. She’s a 1991 by Copelan out of Miami Queen and I know of, I want to say three foals of hers–Gypsy Jet, Lucky to Cope, and She Sure Can Cope.
This is my horse:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/fc_display.cgi?userfile=P12106140144502
And this is my old horse, who (not surprising, given he was a 1985 model) has some of your uncle’s horses much closer:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/fc_display.cgi?userfile=P12106140141927
Your uncle created some good broodmare lines from where I’m sitting…
realrush, he was a great man and a good friend of my grandfather. So glad to have brought his name up so we could all share our memories!
great thread, enjoyed reading the personal stories, obit, etc thanks for sharing
Hooper info
I would love to share what little I have about my uncle. One thing I managed to find is an article about Fred’s horse Olympia, and his impact on racing bloodlines, especially sprinters. I wish there was some way I could add an attachment on here. aaargh… I have some pictures of the one visit I managed to get at his farm, and he and Wanda gave me and my dad the dime tour. Got to see the immortal Precisionist in his paddock, Hoop Jr.'s gravesite, and a bunch of other stuff. (I can’t even begin to descibe his trophy room!!!) I also have a magazine, I think it’s from the Florida TOBA, with a big article about Fred for when he turned 100. I’d be happy to scan that and share with anyone interested. I guess it’d have to be by private email. Does anyone know how to share stuff like that on this board? I literally just signed up, so have no clue about all the tricks of the board yet.
Oh, and looking back at my original post, I kinda screwed up when telling how I’m related. He is my great-grandmother’s brother (my dad’s grand-uncle). My grandfather worked for him doing road construction down in Florida, but originally all our family roots go back to the northeast Georgia area. I’d love to hear more stories, if anyone has any to share!
[QUOTE=realrush89;5745545]
I would love to share what little I have about my uncle. One thing I managed to find is an article about Fred’s horse Olympia, and his impact on racing bloodlines, especially sprinters. I wish there was some way I could add an attachment on here. aaargh… I have some pictures of the one visit I managed to get at his farm, and he and Wanda gave me and my dad the dime tour. Got to see the immortal Precisionist in his paddock, Hoop Jr.'s gravesite, and a bunch of other stuff. (I can’t even begin to descibe his trophy room!!!) I also have a magazine, I think it’s from the Florida TOBA, with a big article about Fred for when he turned 100. I’d be happy to scan that and share with anyone interested. I guess it’d have to be by private email. Does anyone know how to share stuff like that on this board? I literally just signed up, so have no clue about all the tricks of the board yet.
Oh, and looking back at my original post, I kinda screwed up when telling how I’m related. He is my great-grandmother’s brother (my dad’s grand-uncle). My grandfather worked for him doing road construction down in Florida, but originally all our family roots go back to the northeast Georgia area. I’d love to hear more stories, if anyone has any to share![/QUOTE]i worked for fred hooper for ten years both of my kids were born while i worked at hooper farms i took care of all the yearlings… lived next door to his brother milan hooper they were great people to work for some of the hores that were running when i lived on the farm were roman envoy…precionist… gus was the stud man willie was broodmare man lot of memories…
Its funny that I just happened onto this. I saw your post and had to sign-up on this site. Mr. hooper was my great grand fathers brother he was killed in an accident around '32 my dads great uncle. So I think you and I are same relations? I lived the early part of my life where Mr. Hooper lived,in northeast GA. before he started moving around out of the state. But now I live on the opposite corner of the country. I never knew Mr. Hooper other than just hearing about him vaguely thru the years. But my dad knew him in his early years. Its nice to see how everyone thought so much of him. Its always nice to hear good things about your kin on matter how distant they might be. my email is tthomasbrice@yahoo.com on the chance this finds you and you would like to connect.
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