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Submitted: 1/16/21 • Approved: 1/16/21 • Last Updated: 1/19/21 • R1360358-G0-S3
1934 - 2011
Legendary thoroughbred trainer Robert "Bob" Holthus passed away Nov. 22, 2011, in Louisville, Ky., at the age of 77 years.
Bob was born in Table Rock, Neb., on June 24, 1934, to Paul and Alice Holthus. Bob grew up around horses and often commented that he was born into the racing industry. His father purchased his first thoroughbred the year that he entered the world. While most rural Midwestern children walked to school, Bob had four-legged transportation in the form of his trusted pony, Billy.
In 1950, his keen interest in equines led him to the University of Nebraska's undergraduate veterinary program. Academically gifted, he excelled in his studies but longed for the excitement of the racing circuit. In 1952, at age 18, he applied for and was granted a Thoroughbred Trainer's License. His first win came the same year, when Colleen won at the Columbus Fair Grounds in his home state.
Bob went on to be a dominant force in the racing industry. For 59 years, he operated a very successful public stable. Holthus Stable scored 2,824 wins from an estimated 20,000 starts and earned more than $46 million. From the 1960s until 2009, Bob co-owned and operated Kilkerry Farm, a 160-acre full service breeding and training center in Royal, Ark.
His greatest success came at Oaklawn Park, in Hot Springs, Ark., where he holds nine training titles. A two-time winner of the Arkansas Derby, he is known as Mr. Oaklawn and the Dean of the Backstretch. His stellar racing accomplishments are widely known from New York to California, but wins taken at Oaklawn brought him the most joy. Simply put, "Hot Springs is special because it is home." Arkansas feels the same about Bob. In 2000 he was inducted into the Arkansas Walk of Fame and in 2009, he was honored as Oaklawn Park's Man of the Year.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Bonnie Holthus, of Louisville, Ky., and Hot Springs, Ark.; children, David Holthus, of Little Rock, Ark., Paul Holthus and Debbie Holthus, of Hot Springs, Ark.; granddaughters, Kaitlin Chamblin, of California, and Ashley Holthus, of Virginia; nephews, Jason and Justin Evans, of El Dorado, Ark.; sisters-in-law, Barbara Newcomer and husband John, of Sarasota, Fla., and Carol Waldman and husband Mike, of Shreveport, La.
Bob and his wife, Bonnie, of 25 years, started off their marriage winning the 1988 Arkansas Derby – owned by Mr. and Mrs. James Winn, Proper Reality. Lawyer Ron and Pure Clan were among two of his favorite multi-million dollar stake horses. Bob credited his success in the industry to good owners, good jockeys and good fans.
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"Bob" was an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. [1] As a second generation trainer, Holthus learned the profession from his father, Paul Holthus.
His accomplishment's are as follows:
Major racing wins
Rebel Stakes (1964, 1972, 1977, 2005, 2006)
Churchill Downs Handicap (1966, 1967)
Phoenix Stakes (1966)
Lafayette Stakes (1976)
Arkansas Derby (1988, 2006)
Metropolitan Handicap (1989)
Philip H. Iselin Handicap (1989)
Martha Washington Stakes (1993, 1996, 1999)
Southwest Stakes (2000, 2001, 2006)
Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (2004)
Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Futurity (2006)
Pocahontas Stakes (2007)
Golden Rod (2007)
Regret Stakes (2008)
American Oaks (2008))
Modesty Handicap (2009))
Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (2009)
Racing awards:
Leading trainer at Oaklawn Park
(1969, 1971, 1977-1978, 1982, 1985, 1989-1990-1991)
Honours:
Arkansas Walk of Fame (2000)
Significant horses
Proper Reality, Bay Phantom
Lawyer Ron, Officer Rocket, Pure Clan
OBITUARY INFORMATION:
Holthus is survived by his wife, Bonnie, who accompanied him to the races with regularity; his sons, Paul, a longtime former assistant who also trained a public stable before working in other capacities in the racing industry, and David; and his daughter, Debbie, also a longtime stable assistant who worked in recent years overseeing the family farm in Arkansas. Bonnie Holthus said her husband was getting ready for work early Tuesday when he suffered a heart attack. Emergency personnel were on the scene within minutes, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Photo courtesy of Wayne Shaw
Contributed on 1/16/21 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1360358
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