Elizabeth Samuel, co-founder of Canadian-based Sam-Son Farm, died March 16 following a lengthy battle with cancer and emphysema. A daughter, Sam-Son president Tammy Samuel-Balaz, died Jan. 5 of cancer.
Samuel, along with her late husband, Ernie Samuel, started Sam-Son Farm in 1972. The outfit developed into one of Canada’s top homebred operations.
In its history, Sam-Son has received more than 60 Sovereign Awards denoting Canadian racing supremacy. Since 2000, the farm earned five Sovereigns as outstanding breeder and four as top owner. Its chief runner over the years has been Dance Smartly, who was both a Sovereign and Eclipse Award winner. Dance Smartly is a member of the Canadian Hall of Fame, plus the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Sam-Son’s other top runners include champions Chief Bearhart and Sky Classic, plus grade I winner Smart Strike, sire of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.
Samuel, who went by Liza, was a graduate of Trinity College at the University of Toronto. She was a director and former chairman of both the steel firm Samuel, Son, and Co., as well as Samuel Manu-Tech, an industrial products company.
Samuel’s survivors include a son, Mark, and a daughter, Kim. Ernie Samuel died in 2000.
