Marion Gross, who served as stallion manager for historic Gainesway Farm for 41 years, died Monday following a brief illness according to a statement released by the farm.
Gross first joined Gainesway when the farm was in its original location adjacent to Keeneland. At a party commemorating his 40th year at the farm in 2003, Gainesway founder John Gaines recalled how he met Gross: “Showed up at our front door on Versailles Road looking for a job.” Gaines took a chance on “the kid from the mountains,” and he recalled it as one of the best business decisions he ever made. Gross became the stallion manager in 1968.
“It is safe to say that very few working in the horse industry today have not been affected in some way by the career and work of Marion Gross,” farm president Antony Beck said in the statement.
Gainesway stood only four stallions when Gross arrived in 1963, and he oversaw the expansion of the stallion ranks to a roster of 50 in the early 1980s.
I’ve had the good fortune to visit Gainesway on numerous occasions and have witnessed first hand Marion Gross’s care and dedication as he showed off each stallion like a proud father. His depth of knowledge was virtually without peer and he graciously discussed the changes he has seen in the breeding industry with me years ago for a story I was working on about the increasing size of stallion books.
“For years and years we never bred more than 45-50 mares,” Gross said back in 2006. “Then other people started doing it, and I guess you have to follow the Joneses.”
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Kerr Brothers in Lexington, with services tentatively planned for Friday, Feb. 27. Further details will become available when arrangements have been finalized by Gross’ family.
Alicia Wincze Hughes is the turf writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. She started riding at age 8 and was a four-year member of the Pace University equestrian team.
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