Trainer Alan Seewald died the morning of April 12 at his home in Middletown, N.J. He was 62.
Seewald, born Jan. 15, 1948 in Brookly, N.Y., he was a mainstay on the New Jersey racing circuit since taking out his license in 1984, sent out 962 winners from 5,757 starters according to Equineline.com. His runners won 22 stakes races.
Trainer of longtime New Jersey favorite Teddy Drone, Seewald was also the trainer of grade III winner Vinemaster and Uptowncharlybrown, who is slated to run in the April 17 Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.
Uptowncharlybrown, a winner of his first two starts by a combined 15 lengths, won the Pasco Stakes for Fantasy Lane Stables, and then was third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III). He was most recently fifth, beaten just 2 3/4 lengths in the March 13 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III). The colt worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 the morning of April 9.
Teddy Drone, a Florida-bred son of Drone—Teddy’s Tune, by Jet Action, made 89 starts and won 31 times from 1988-1995, winning stakes at Monmouth Park, Meadowlands, Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, and Hialeah Park for S K S Stable. The horse is a member of the Monmouth Park Hall of Champions.
“Alan’s passing is a tremendous loss for the entire Monmouth Park community,” said Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager of the racetrack. “He was a good friend and horsemen—an all-around great guy. Alan was one of those people that everyone rooted for. He was just such a kind person. I speak on behalf of everyone at Monmouth Park in offering our sympathies to his wife Kate and his boys, Ryan and Shane.”
He is survived by his wife Kathleen, sons Ryan and Shane, and grandson Blake.