Leading Maryland breeder Richard Golden dies at 82

Richard L. Golden, one of the founders of nationally prominent Northview Stallion Station in Maryland, died of natural causes in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 18. He was 82.

Golden, a native of the Bronx, purchased an undeveloped property in Chesapeake City in 1986 and created Sycamore Hall Farm, which was successful in turning out dozens of Maryland-bred stakes winners. Just two years later, he was part of the team that stepped in to create Northview Stallion Station, located just a mile down the road from Sycamore Hall.

When Windfields Farm, the anchor of the state’s breeding industry, shut down abruptly in 1988, Golden, Allaire duPont, and Tom Bowman stepped in to keep a number of Windfields’ stallions in the state. Northview opened in 1989, on the site of Windfields Farm’s former Northview annex, before moving to the main farm and present location in 1991.

As president and CEO of Northview, Golden was able to retain Windfields sires Smarten, Caveat, and Two Punch to stand in the region, and made a mark with new arrivals that included Waquoit, Polish Numbers, Private Terms, and Not For Love, the latter Maryland’s leading sire 13 times. Great Notion, who entered stud at Northview in 2005, is the state’s current perennial leader.

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In 2016, Golden was the breeder of three Maryland-bred champions – Giant Run, Greatbullsoffire, and Top Striker – and in 2018 was named Maryland Breeder of the Year.

He is survived by his son Michael; daughter and son-in-law Lisa and Gregg Hofstetter; and two grandchildren, Sam and Ben. Michael Golden, a small animal veterinarian in Crofton, Md., is the current vice president of Northview Stallion Station.

Due to ongoing public health concerns, graveside services will be private and Shiva will not be observed.