Former trainer Lloyd Romero dies at 79

Lloyd Romero, a retired trainer and the father of Hall of Fame jockey Randy Romero, died Thursday night at his home in Erath, La.

Romero, 79, trained for decades and conditioned both Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, winning 907 races on the flat. His best Quarter Horse, Rocket’s Magic, finished third in the 1975 All American Futurity and, along with Romero and his family, was the inspiration for the Hollywood movie “Casey’s Shadow.”

Romero’s best Thoroughbred was Hallowed Dreams, a multiple stakes-winning Louisiana-bred mare whose 16-race winning streak to start her career earned national attention. Hallowed Dreams, who raced between 1999 and 2002, was retired with 26 wins from 30 starts.

Four of Romero’s five sons, including Randy and trainer Gerald Romero, pursued careers connected to horse racing.