Activist Brian Sweeney loved racing and its history

There was a side to the late Brian Sweeney that not many saw. He will be widely remembered as general manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association during the 1970s-the relentless mover and shaker, anti-status quo guy who for years worked the political machine in Sacramento to get things done for local breeders. He ruffled feathers and courted bitter controversy along the way. His voice was sharp, articulate, to the point. But like him or not, he was inarguably a powerful player during a pivotal time when California's Thoroughbred industry was evolving from provincial entity to international force.

My personal recollections are of a different Brian Sweeney-a soft-spoken, introspective, and sometimes self-critical man of profound intellect and deep sensitivity. I was only 20 when I went to work for him as an editorial assistant for the Thoroughbred of California magazine. "Mr. Sweeney" terrified me at first. He was impeccably groomed, sophisticated, and outwardly self-assured; I, on the other hand, was an immature slob with wild, frizzy hair. Nevertheless, he was unfailingly kind to me, and in time we discovered common ground-a shared appreciation of racing's wonderful history.

Brian gave me opportunities as a neophyte journalist that I may not have deserved. I learned on the job, and he liked my work. In the process, he put up with idiosyncratic behavior that others would not likely have tolerated and allowed me generous latitude in which to grow both as a person and as a writer. He once gently chided me on my somewhat non-traditional office uniform, which comprised jeans, T-shirt, and clodhoppers. To this, I ludicrously asked what he would prefer me to be: A good writer or a fashion model? Fortunately, he saw the humor in this and played along-choosing the latter option.

Around 1978 Brian came to me with an intriguing proposal. He was concerned about an aging Turf writer he knew who was "in the doldrums." A former Daily Racing Form editor/ columnist and CTBA staffer, Kent Cochran had recently retired at age 89 and now seemed to be struggling to find a purpose in life. Brian wanted to give him one. He suggested that we become "pen pals," and that Cochran provide me with reminiscences about racing's good old days for a series of articles. As it turned out, Brian's project gave us both a sense of purpose. Though nearly 70 years separated us chronologically, Cochran and I had loads of fun exchanging letters, right up until his death at 92. The resulting series became one of my proudest achievements as a writer and was later published in book form as A History of the Thoroughbred in California.

Brian Sweeney left the CTBA around 1982, and it wasn't quite the same for me after that. In 1985, I packed my own bags and moved to Kentucky to marry, raise a family, and return to college, but I never lost touch with my former mentor. As for Brian, he became active in the California Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, trained a few winners, collected equine art, and read good books. Life did not go quite the way he'd planned. He lost his wife, Ann, to cancer, and I believe he always missed those exciting days at the epicenter of major industry happenings.

But in a way, Brian was lucky. Time mellowed him. In his 60s, he could laugh jovially at the foibles of the world around him-and at himself as well-and his intellectual curiosity never abandoned him.

Brian Sweeney passed away on November 14-unexpectedly, and far too soon. Like a father, a mentor, and a good friend, he long ago helped lay the foundation on which I would build my professional future. Ever after, he remained a background presence in my life, always good for a word of encouragement if needed. I will miss him very much.