Longtime horseman Olin B. Gentry dies at 51

Prominent horseman Olin B. Gentry died Saturday at North Florida Regional Medical Center, a stroke facility in Gainesville. He was 51.

Gentry had collapsed in the stable area at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s June sale of 2-year-olds in training in Ocala, Fla., one day prior.

“Prayers for Olin tonight,” Mark Taylor of Taylor Made Sales posted on Twitter. “He was a good guy. Very loyal and a champion of the underdog always. Very sad to hear this news.”

Gentry was the son of Tom Gentry, who died last October at age 80 after a life spent as a prominent breeder and consignor. Grandfather Olin Gentry managed Idle Hour Stock Farm and Darby Dan Farm.

Olin B. Gentry was instrumental in the success of the former Gainesway Farm owner's John R. Gaines Bloodstock and went on to be the manager of Gaines-Gentry Thoroughbreds. He bred Lovely Maria, the 2015 Kentucky Oaks winner, in partnership with Thomas B. Gaines.

Gentry was also longtime partners with Tom VanMeter, most recently in VanMeter-Gentry Sales. That operation sold a Tapit filly for $2.7 million to Coolmore to top last year's Keeneland September yearling sale, making her the most expensive filly sold at the bellwether auction since 2008. The filly, a full sister to Grade 1 winner Cupid, was bred in Kentucky by Turner Breeders, a partnership whose broodmares were managed by Gentry.

Gentry was active in the bloodstock world until his death. At the OBS sale, which concluded Friday, he purchased an Uncle Mo colt for $75,000 and an Uncle Mo filly for $105,000 in partnership with bloodstock agent Dennis O'Neill. Professional hockey player Erik Johnson, a Thoroughbred owner and a client of Dennis and brother Doug O’Neill, said the Uncle Mo filly will be named in honor of Gentry.

“Absolutely gutted,” Johnson said of Gentry’s death.

Gentry is survived by his son, Olin Gentry II, and his life partner, Athena Gentry. Memorial arrangements are pending.