Thoroughbred Times
bookmark this page subscribe RSS twitter facebook
Subscribe to Thoroughbred Times

LOG IN TO THOROUGHBRED TIMES

 
Need to reset your password?
 


Don't miss the deadline!

Sign up now for the Freshman Sire Contest presented by Markel and Thoroughbred Times

Chance to win cash prizes for picking leading freshman sires in 2012

To sign up and enter your Stallion Barn, click here.

  • Hard Spun sire of Gleaning 1st Mdn (May 23, 4th PID). Owner, Robert T. Manfuso; Breeder, Nursery Place & Robert T. Manfuso...
  • City Weekend sire of City Sweets 1st Mdn (May 23, 3rd IND). Owner, Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; Breeder, Robert Gorham & Mast Thoroughbreds LLC...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • Hard Spun sire of Ribbon Taffy 1st Mdn (May 23, 5th IND). Owner, Pucek, John Paul and Marcinek, Paige; Breeder, Matthew R. Herbener...
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Yankee Gentleman sire of Little Dale 1st Alw (May 23, 7th BEL). Owner, Vaccarezza, Priscilla, Amante, Anthony and Garrity, Christine; Breeder, Philip Birsh...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...
  • Strut the Stage sire of Head Honcho 1st Alw (May 23, 7th WO). Owner, Annecchini and D'Alimonte Holdings Inc. and Kingfield Farm; Breeder, William D. Graham...
  • Luftikus sire of Joyful Kiss 1st Alw (May 23, 7th CT). Owner, Winfred L. Hess, Jr.; Breeder, Ann M. Casey...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Philanthropist sire of Rob the Cradle 1st Alw (May 23, 2nd WO). Owner, Andrews, Denny and Paradox Farms Inc.; Breeder, Gardiner Farms Limited...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...
  • Posse sire of Parody 1st Alw (May 23, 4th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Don Mattox & Pam Mattox...
  • Mancini sire of Ride Around Sally 1st Alw (May 23, 6th IND). Owner, Joe Uliano; Breeder, Spade Stable...
  • Include sire of Window Boy 1st Grover (Buddy) Delp Memorial S. (May 23, 8th DEL). Owner, Luis Arenas; Breeder, Shelby Lane Farm Inc. & IncludeSyndicate...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • Proud Citizen sire of Citizen Kat 1st Alw (May 23, 7th PEN). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Mark Reid & Charles Zacney...
  • Jazil sire of Love Me Good 1st Mdn (May 23, 2nd PID). Owner, Sheltowee Farm and Blazing Meadow Farm; Breeder, Sheltowee Farm...
  • Indian Charlie sire of Nechez Dawn 1st Alw (May 23, 7th AP). Owner, Tresner, Coby and Matsas, Alex; Breeder, B. P. Walden Jr., Hargus Sexton & SandraSexton...

NEWS

E-Mail this articlePrint this article

Industry News bullet



Most Popular Stories bullet

Most E-mailed Stories bullet

Vessels dies in plane crash

Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:59 AM

FRANK VESSELS

Benoit & Associates photo

by Jeff Lowe

Frank “Scoop” Vessels, owner of Vessels Stallion Farm in Bonsall, California, reportedly died on Wednesday in a plane crash in Eastern Oregon.

According to published reports, Vessels’ twin-engine plane crashed about at 9 a.m. PDT on Wednesday morning.

A past president of the American Quarter Horse Association and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Vessels oversaw the transition of his family’s prominent Quarter Horse farm into a dual-breed operation that is one of California’s top breeding, training, and sales-prep facilities. The farm stands In Excess (Ire), perennially one of California’s leading sires, and bred his son, Notional, who stands at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.

Vessels was the grandson of Frank Vessels Sr., the founder of Los Alamitos Race Course and a pioneer in Quarter Horse racing in California. Scoop Vessels managed San Luis Rey Downs Training Center and oversaw the design and construction of the current Vessels farm, which opened in Bonsall in 1986, shortly after his mother, Millie, sold Los Alamitos.

After Millie Vessels died in 1992, Vessels took over the family operation and bought half of young sire In Excess for $250,000, eager to expand into the Thoroughbred market. Bolstered by the success of In Excess, Vessels developed a Thoroughbred stallion roster that complements its Quarter Horse contingent that includes all-time leading sire First Down Dash.

A member of the Jockey Club, Vessels is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and sons Bryan, Colt, and Kash.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer

Reaction to Vessels' death:

“To his wife, Bonnie, and their children, the Los Alamitos Race Course family sends its most heartfelt sentiments of sorrow.  We are in shock. The suddenness of this event has disturbed me deeply. When the news of his passing was confirmed it devastated me. Scoop Vessels and I have been business partners and friends for a long time. I will always respect his love for racing and I had a great deal of admiration for the man that he grew up to be.  He was a man of ideas and always looking forward to helping improve the sport of Quarter Horse racing. 

“The passing of Scoop will be hard for Quarter Horse racing not only in California but also nationally to overcome. There could not be a person in this sport more significant in terms of ability, background and family heritage. Vessels Stallion Farm has been the dominant source of Quarter Horse racing bloodlines for many years and we depend on their racing stock. Above and beyond that, Scoop was devoted to this sport and the horses, not only Quarter Horses but Thoroughbreds as well. As a past president of the American Quarter Horse Association and the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Scoop spent his life working in the production and promotion of fine horses. We will have to dig deep to overcome, survive and thrive as a sport without him. It will be a difficult task. It’s the biggest blow this industry could have suffered. We couldn’t have lost anyone of more importance.”--Edward C. Allred, president of Los Alamitos Race Course

 


E-Mail this articlePrint this article

Post Comment

READER COMMENTS

Posted by: Jennifer, Culver, IN on May 18, 2011 at 06:36 PM

I just discovered the passing of Scoop Vessels this morning while reading the Culver Academy Spring Magazine. I was fortunate to meet Scoop and his wife when their son Colt started going to school at the Academy. They were looking for a rental home while Colt would be in school. I was very taken with them as a couple, enough so that when I would see them at the Cafe Max, they always gave me a smile. Although I did not get to know Scoop very much, for the few days I worked with him, I could tell what a very nice man he was, and he earned my respect quickly. I am so sad to hear of his passing, and how hard that must be for his family. My prayers are with you all.

Report Abuse

Posted by: Mike, Mapleton, UT on November 28, 2010 at 07:55 PM

I was truly saddened by the news of Scoop Vessels death. My prayers go out to the Vessels family. I first met Scoop back in 1973 while working for his parents at Los Alamitos Race Track. I was the groom who attended to Timeto Thinkrich and Gofarther Faster for the 1973 All American, which was won by Timeto Thinkrich. Both parents Frank and Millie were so kind to me and treated me like someone important, while just a groom. Scoop and I were about the same age. I'll never forget those memories! God Bless,
Mike Wilson

Report Abuse

Posted by: BRYAN, BONSALL, 0 on August 26, 2010 at 12:22 AM

Hi there. This has been a bad dream frank scoop vessels was a great father for me and my other too brothers colt and kash vessels. My name is BRYAN . We miss you SCOOP R.I.P DAD frm me and MOM bonnie vessels and COLT vessels and kash vessels. We all will miss you DAD love you very much dad

Report Abuse

Posted by: Audra, Alamosa County, CO on August 18, 2010 at 06:35 PM

During the wildfires around Camp Pendleton a couple of years ago, my Marine officer brother found himself (not a horse person!) shepherding several horses over to Scoop Vessels' farm for safety. Scoop was there, greeting everyone, helping them find stalls/paddocks for the refugee horses. My brother commented on Scoop's graciousness and hospitality. Truly a great man in the quarter horse industry. He will be missed. Blessings to the Vessels family.

Report Abuse

Posted by: Nan Keil, Midway, AR on August 17, 2010 at 09:36 AM

Though I did not know this man personaly, I had a great admiration for his knowledge and wisdom. His ability to choose great sires and mare was truly a gift. His vision to see into the future of Quarter and Throughbred racing was astounding. I have read many articals in the Quarter Horse Journal and other circulars, and absorbed every word. I send my condolences to his family and friends. The racing industry has lost a vital asset.

Report Abuse

View more comments

View more comments