Larry Glefke has died

[Midge]

“We are deeply saddened to report the loss of our fearless leader, David Lawrence Glefke. More often known as DLG, Larry or Luvable Lar, he was at the helm of Lane Change since it’s inception, by which time he was already a legend in the Sport and one of the finest horsemen this Country has ever produced.
There wasn’t a horse that Larry couldn’t train or ride and no person more excited to get to the farm to see and work his horses each day. A new horse always brought on the “kid in a candy store” look. Larry undeniably embodied passion in every aspect of his life…his desire to win, his enthusiasm for the Wednesday morning model, his opinions on any subject, his signature whoop ringside, his conversations with his riders and staff, his golf game, his love of his dogs…it would be hard to find a more passionate spirit among us. His passion inspired many and offended probably just as many but as he said many times, he hoped he was buried naked and face down so everyone could kiss his ass. For those lucky enough to embrace his brand of passion, he will live on in the knowledge he passed down, the support he gave and the example he set in believing in yourself, your horses, your staff, your friends and lovers and never backing down for fear of confrontation.
We know that he was welcomed on the other side by his past dogs, some of the greatest horses that ever graced the earth and some very worthy competitors…horse showing just got a whole lot more exciting there! We will miss him terribly and hope we can carry his legacy on to his standards and if we listen carefully, maybe hear that whoop on the wind.

Stay tuned for celebrations of life and if you feel so moved, please donate to the Kevin Babbington Foundation or Equestrian Aid to honor his memory.”

[Bonnie2]

I’ll always remember him as a guy who deadbeated on his bill at a time of my life that I really needed the money.

[CuriosoJorge]

His legendary knowledge of the medicine cabinet?

[BrownDerby]

I appreciate that whoever wrote the announcement asked that donations be sent to the Kevin Babbington Foundation.

Home - Kevin Babington Foundation

[MHM]

Speaking of which:

Babington Benefit Clinic Yorkfield Stables - Kevin Babington Foundation

And also:

Babington benefit show is now a special tradition - Nancy Jaffer - Equestrian...

I love the fact that they are bringing back the ride-a-buck class for the occasion. If I were in the neighborhood, I would totally do that one!

[Smiles]

Yah I wouldn’t say he was a great guy. He sure could make a lame horse sound though.

[Jackjoe1]

I thought it was really disappointing how many of the big-name trainers were talking about what a horseman he was. This industry is never going to change, what he did to the horses was cruel. You could simply post something but a great horseman he was really?! It’s sick, Jimmy Toronto’s post was disgusting.

[Railbird]

Larry was incredibly talented with horses and I think still would have been one of the greats of our sport without the cheating and drugs. It’s a shame that is his legacy and not the parts of him that perhaps the people sharing those memories were fortunate enough to see, but we all make choices. I know my experiences with him weren’t everyone’s, but I certainly was sad to hear of his passing even though he hasn’t been himself for some time.

I am reminded of Jesse Rouson’s (another deeply flawed genius) legendary tale of when Larry tried to run out on a bill with her and brought her a check short for a bridle or something. I think he tried to tell her he forgot about it or something and she hauled off and decked him in the face so hard her went home and called her and said “you’ll never believe it, I found that bridle you were talking about!”

[Hattie]

This thread certainly points out how the dynamics of the COTH BB has changed over the years.
Larry Glefke has died (7 comments) VS The Barbie Movie (1000 comments). This thread would have been off the rails years ago, but now the COTH BB traffic has strayed off its equestrian roots.

Meanwhile, back to Larry. He was a talented chemist.

[NaturallyHappy]

I like it…talented chemist. I haven’t been able to come up with an appropriate response.

[Pokerface]

@Hattie

This thread certainly points out how the dynamics of the COTH BB has changed over the years.
Larry Glefke has died (7 comments) VS The Barbie Movie (1000 comments). This thread would have been off the rails years ago, but now the COTH BB traffic has strayed off its equestrian roots.

Meanwhile, back to Larry. He was a talented chemist.

I mean… the Barbie thread is nearly 2 months old. Larry JUST died. Plus, he was a flawed man. Some people may just chose to keep their comments to themselves, or they are working through their thoughts on all of it.

Larry did some amazing things.

[MHM]

@Pokerface

Some people may just chose to keep their comments to themselves

Exactly.

[beowulf]

@Hattie

This thread certainly points out how the dynamics of the COTH BB has changed over the years.
Larry Glefke has died (7 comments) VS The Barbie Movie (1000 comments). This thread would have been off the rails years ago, but now the COTH BB traffic has strayed off its equestrian roots.

Meanwhile, back to Larry. He was a talented chemist.

In fairness it is a societal stigma to say anything negative about the dead, especially freshly deceased. It may be there are many people who felt compelled to say something on this thread, but kept it to themselves in light of the circumstances.

I usually totally ignore OT and find the forum is still as hopping as ever. If anything, I appreciate that in the last ten or so years COTH has become a little kinder.

[Texarkana]

It’s a tough thread to comment on. What do you say when someone with a marred reputation passes? You don’t want to be an ass and point out their shortcomings. You don’t want to falsely glorify them. So sometimes it’s easier to say nothing.

[findeight]

Or just say condolences to his loved ones in this difficult time.

[mrsgrieves]

Normally don’t like anything Piper Klemm posts, but I thought her obituary/piece in honor of LG was very well written, and done.

Larry Glefke: A Horseman—and an Obituary—Like None Other - The Plaid Horse...

[2bayboys]

Good quote from that article:

“Larry was not exactly known for being a role model, and yet there was so much to learn from him. So much knowledge and horsemanship died with him, whether it is how you would do it or not. No one has ever trained a larger quantity of winning hunters to more prize money, and it was an era of Derby Kings and Queens that seems to have passed, so it is unlikely that we will see it again.”

[ASB_Stars]

That was brilliantly written.

We have a trainer in the ASB world who was also known as being a “great chemist” He’s been gone awhile, but he is still consistently lauded for all of the wins. It makes it hard.

[JBCool]

Agreed. While some people choose to use their skills improperly, it doesn’t mean they aren’t knowledgeble.

I realize this is an odd connection, but this is immediately what I thought of when I read the above article.

[Mara]

I hope to never become the sort of person whose death inspires people to make comments implying that I have made the world a better place by leaving it.