NEWS
Parrish Hill's Roach, co-breeder of Charismatic, dies at 63
Posted: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 12:11 PM
by Frank Angst
Tom Roach attempted to breed Thoroughbreds that would excel on the track. And, the Parrish Hill Farm owner often succeeded. Roach, a co-breeder of 1999 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and Horse of the Year Charismatic died at the age of 63 on September 3 in Versailles, Kentucky.
Summerfield Sales co-owner Francis Vanlangendonck said besides having superior ideas about pedigree and conformation, Roach’s winning personality helped him succeed in the Thoroughbred business.
“Tom was a great, great guy,” Vanlangendonck said. “I can’t even remember when we first met. It seems like we’ve always known each other and our families each got along so well. But Tom was like that with a lot of people. He just made everyone feel welcome. He was a friendly person that people enjoyed being around. And, he had great integrity.”
Roach and his father, the late Dr. Ben Roach, and sister, Helen Rentch partnered with William S. Farish as breeders of Charismatic. In the foal-share deal, Parrish Hill contributed Bali Babe, who already had produced Grade 2 winner Tossofthecoin, and Farish contributed stallion Summer Squall.
Bali Babe is by Drone, which caught Tom Roach’s eye.
“We bought [Bali Babe] for $7,700 from Barry Schwartz,” Roach said after Charismatic’s 1999 Derby victory. “I was looking for Drone mares and she was in the [1987] Keeneland [January horses of all ages] sale. She was just what I was looking for. I like big, tough kind of mares and she was a big, tough mare who got big, tough foals.”
Another Drone mare, Parrish Princess, produced Ben and Tom Roach’s other champion, Princess Rooney.
Princess Rooney won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to secure champion older female honors in 1984. Bali Babe also would produce 2001 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Millennium Wind.
Other top horses bred by Parrish Hill Farm include 1993 Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (G1) winner Storm Tower, Grade 2 winners Inca King and Queen of Song, and Grade 3 winner Lawyer Talk. Grade 1 winner Get Stormy and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Volponi were born at Parrish Hill.
“Tom was a student of pedigrees and confirmation,” Vanlangendonck said. “He made those decisions based on what he thought was right for his mares. I admired him for doing things the right way. He didn’t give in to commercial pressures. He was looking to breed racehorses and wasn’t swayed by commercial concerns. Really, I wish our industry would get back to more of that.”
Roach grew up in a racing family. His great-uncle, Jim Parrish, first operated a Midway farm in 1908. His father would launch Parrish Hill Farm on that property in 1962. Ten years later, Tom would leave law school to work at the farm, where he would become general manager and later owner with his wife Robyn Pulley Roach.
In 2008, the Midway farm was sold to Mike Moreno’s Southern Equine Stables. Tom and Robyn Roach continued their Parrish Hill operation at their farm in Versailles, Kentucky
Visitation is 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Parrish Hill Farm, 1065 Rose Lane in Versailles, Kentucky. The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday at Midway Christian Church.
Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times.
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: Babette, Richmond, VA on September 06, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Confirmation is used several times in this article. Do you possibly mean conformation? Please let me know if I am wrong.
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