David Greathouse, a second-generation horseman, owner of Greathouse Bloodstock, and partner in Four Star Sales, died Oct. 8 at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, after an illness. He was 63.
Greathouse was a member of the Keeneland Club and previously served as a member of the board of the Thoroughbred Club of America. Along with brothers John, Allen, and Edward, Greathouse was involved in the operation of 800-acre Glencrest Farm, the Midway, Ky., nursery started by their father, John W. Greathouse.
Glencrest Farm has bred alone and in partnership at least 44 stakes winners and raced another 16 stakes winners as an owner or co-owner since 1991. Among the many outstanding horses the farm has bred were grade I stakes winners Adieu, Dream Empress, Pike Place Dancer, Roamin Rachel, Zoftig, and 2010 U.S. steeplechase champion Slip Away.
As an owner, Glencrest has caught lightning in a bottle several times with top fillies and mares. From 2004 through 2007, the farm won 10 stakes (seven of them graded stakes) with Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval—Cuando Quiere, by Affirmed) who was bought for $70,000 as a yearling out of the Wimborne Farm dispersal. She would go on to win more than $2.78 million and capture the Flower Bowl Invitational Handicap (gr. IT), the Sheepshead Bay Handicap (gr. IIT) twice, the Orchid Handicap (gr. IIT in 2005, gr. IIIT 2006) twice, The Very One Handicap (gr. IIIT), and the Glens Falls Handicap (gr. IIIT). Honey Ryder was named Kentucky's champion grass mare for 2005 and 2006.
Glencrest also raced multiple grade I winner Devil May Care (Malibu Moon —Kelli's Ransom, by Red Ransom), who won the Frizette Stakes (gr. I) at 2 and took the Bonnie Miss Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park by 2 3/4 lengths in her second start at 3. Instead of contesting the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), however, her owners took a chance in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), where she was unplaced. Devil May Care redeemed herself later in the year by winning the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) and the Betfair TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I).
Kerry Cauthen, managing partner of Four Star Sales, said that although Greathouse had been ill, he had been doing well and his death came as a surprise. He said the horseman will be sorely missed.
"He was one of the originals in the game and it is great loss," Cauthen said. "He was the best."
Cauthen said Greathouse was an insightful participant in all aspects of the industry and had the ability to adapt to the changing business climate.
"He was a participant in every part of the game. He would always find the void in the industry and adjust accordingly," Cauthen said. "Over the last seven or so years, he had very successful weanling to yearling pinhooking partnerships and partnerships that pinhooked yearlings to 2-year-olds."
Visitation will be held Thursday, Oct 10 from 4-8 p.m., at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home on Harrodsburg Road in Lexington. Private funeral services will be held Friday, Oct.11.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in honor of David Greathouse are suggested to Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dept. of Radiology, 1275 York Ave., Room C-278, New York, NY 10065.
