Former owner Gary Hallman dies at 74

ARCADIA, Calif.- Funeral services were held on Sunday for Gary Hallman, a professional gambler who bred and owned horses through his Winning Ways Stable, according to his stepson, trainer Peter Miller.

Hallman fought cancer and died on Thursday at his Monrovia, Calif., home, not far from Santa Anita. He was 74, Miller said.

As an owner Hallman owned such runners as Spirited Susan, the winner of the 1991 CTBA Marian Stakes at Fairplex Park; and Spirited Jaclyn, who won the Great Lady M and Valkyr handicaps at Hollywood Park in 1998.

As a gambler, Miller recalled that Hallman was an avid baseball handicapper in the 1970s and shifted his attention to the pick six when that bet grew in popularity in the 1980s.

“He never missed a day at the races,” Miller said.

Hallman kept horses with trainers such as Joe Manzi, Mike Mitchell, Sandy Shulman, and Miller. “He was my first owner,” said Miller, 46.

Hallman owned fewer horses in the last decade, but maintained a keen interest in racing through wagering. In the last year, Hallman followed racing on television.

“He’d been sick for the last year, but he watched the races at home,” Miller said.

Hallman introduced Miller to racing after Hallman married Miller’s mother, Susan, in the 1970s.

“He was the first person to bring me to the races,” Miller said.

Survivors include Susan Hallman; a stepson and stepdaughter, Billy Miller and Elizabeth Tuch; and three adult children from a previous marriage – Kim, Jason, and Sean Hallman.