Breeder/Owner Lewis L. Tuck Dead

Lewis L. “Lou” Tuck, whose Go West Young Man was one of California’s top runners in 1980, died April 13 in Littleton, Colo. He was 89.

Tuck owned Wild Plum Farm near Littleton and raced Go West Young Man in the farm name. Trained by his daughter, Mary Lou, Go West Young Man scored the biggest win of his career in taking the 1980 Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) while defeating a field that included a three-horse Charlie Whittingham-trained entry. Go West Young Man, by Advocator, also won that year’s Century (gr. IT), Del Mar Invitational (gr. II), and Eddie Read (gr. IIIT) Handicaps, the last-named in course-record time at Del Mar. Go West Young Man earned a career total of $642,245.

Alone and in the farm name, Tuck bred a dozen stakes winners and raced 10 added-money winners, most of which were homebreds.  His runners regularly competed at Arapahoe Park in Colorado. Tuck earned a 1996 Thoroughbred  Owners and Breeders Association Award as the Centennial State’s top owner/breeder. His wife, Elizabeth, also was involved with racing as an owner and breeder.

Tuck was born in St. Louis and was a petroleum engineer by profession. He served as a fighter pilot in World War II, seeing action in both the fight against Germany and Japan. After the war, he specialized in oil and energy exploration.

Tuck is survived by Elizabeth, to whom he was married 66 years; Mary Lou; and two sons and another daughter.