Harry Meyerhoff, owner of Spectacular Bid, dead at 86

The Baltimore Sun on Monday reported the February 11 death of Harry Meyerhoff, best known as the owner of Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Spectacular Bid. The paper reported Meyerhoff died of complications from a stroke at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center in Easton at the age of 86.

Meyerhoff owned Hawksworth Farm, the name in which he, his son, Tom, and former wife, Theresa, campaigned Spectacular Bid. Considered one of the greatest horses of all time, Spectacular Bid was a divisional champion at ages two, three, and four and captured the 1979 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1).

Trained by the colorful Buddy Delp, Spectacular Bid won 26 of 30 career starts and culminated his career with an undefeated Horse of the Year season in 1980. His final race was a walkover in the Woodward (G1) at Belmont Park.

In addition to "The Bid," other Meyerhoff-owned notables included 1990 Woodward winner Dispersal and eight-time graded stakes winner Sunny Sunrise.

Among Meyerhoff's survivors is his brother, Robert, a noted Thoroughbred owner in his own right who has campaigned the likes of Broad Brush, Concern, and Include.

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)